ctrl_Colors as a Max plugin

[maxplugins]

I've just finished writing a plugin front-end for Francescas ctrl_Colors shader set. It makes it a lot easier to understand all of the shader settings, and can be applied like any other texture map in Max 8 or 9.

It comes with the shader DLL and an adapted Include file so that only the plugin versions of the shaders show up in the list of textures.

The plugin contains all of the 11 different shaders: color_balance, color_correction, color_compose, color_keyer, color_picker, color_smoothranges, color_math and 4 shaders for color conversions.

You can download it here: http://www.maxplugins.de/r9_files/maxplugins/ctrl_colors_max.zip
If anyone finds any bugs, let me know...

Dave

[Spacelord]

Hi Dave,
I've got to say thanks for this.
I just started to use them in 3dsmax, I used them last year with XSI and missed them.
Anyone out there having troubles trying to get accurate colours and textures. The color correction is the best !! no more washed out textures or colours.
Just using the gamma part of the shader adjusting it 0.454 !!

[Glacierise]

Will check this out ;)

[maxplugins]

Glad you like it :)

I've been using the shaders for a long time now, but the plugin version makes it so much easier to use.

Dave

[Spacelord]

What did the plugin version do ?
I haven't tried them in max until this version.

Have you tried ctrl_buffers ? I'd love to see them working in 3ds Max.

[maxplugins]

The plugin version is what I've just released, the shader itself has been around for a couple of years.

Dave

[Spacelord]

Sorry I was ment to ask whats the difference ?
between the two ?

[maxplugins]

There is no difference! The plugin just allows Max to show a proper UI for the shaders, which isn't normally possible. For example there is normally no way of having dropdown lists to choose settings in the shader, but this is possible using the plugin.

A good example is the color_math shader. Without the plugin, you have to set the math operation using a number from 0 to 9, but you don't know what the numbers mean. With the plugin you can set the math operation by selecting a name from the dropdown list (Add, Multiply, etc.)

Another advantage is that with the plugin you can see which settings are active. The color_math shader without the plugin lets you adjust the Clamp Min and Clamp Max values regardless of the Clamp checkbox being checked, which is pointless. With the plugin, you can only adjust the clamp values if the clamp checkbox has been checked.

Hope this clears things up a bit...

Dave

[Spacelord]

Dave thanks for the explantion.

[maxplugins]

I've just uploaded a 64-bit version of my ctrl_Colors plugin for anyone that might need it. And because the plugin won't work without a 64-bit mental ray shader, I've recompiled that as well :)

Plugin link: http://www.maxplugins.de/r9_files/maxplugins/ctrl_colors_max.zip

Shader link: http://www.maxplugins.de/mr_files/ctrl_colors_v1.0.zip

If you're downloading the plugin, you don't need to download the shader as well, because it's in the plugin zip file.

Dave

[nisus]

Hi Dave,

I'm a bit confused. What version do I download to have the 64bit version? (The one on top of this thread, or the last one?)

rgds,

nisus

[maxplugins]

Sorry for the confusion... I forgot to mention that I added the 64-bit version to the Zip file, which means that all versions (Max 8, Max 9-32, Max 9-64) are in there. Just download the last link I posted (which is the same as the first one :D )

Dave

[nisus]

okay. Tnx a lot for the extra info and the implementation of course

rgds,

nisus