by lightcube·Modeling
Images © lightcube. Used for product review; image policy.
PropLine earns its place in the ScriptSpot library as a parametric alternative to the Spacing Tool, keeping prop transformations retrievable for later export.
PropLine is a scripted geometry plugin for 3ds Max that places props along splines, with various parameters to control how the props are distributed and transformed. It works as a parametric, non-destructive replacement for the Spacing Tool in Max, and the transformations applied to the props can be retrieved later for export into game engines or other formats.
Distribution modes cover several approaches: placing a prop at each knot along the spline, at each interpolated corner, at regular intervals set by a Spacing value, or based on the dimensions of the props themselves. Props can be pulled from the Source Object list in list order or randomly, with a Seed value to vary random results. Additional options include randomly flipping objects 180 degrees in the Z axis and progressively affecting the scaling of props.
Recent releases added a separate Divide amount parameter, support for CorVexSpline, and better support for BorderSpline. Version 5.2.8 was last updated in October 2022 and is compatible with 3ds Max 2012 and later.
PropLine is best for 3ds Max artists distributing props along splines in a parametric, non-destructive workflow with export in mind.
PropLine is completely free to download and use.
PropLine is compatible with 3ds Max 2012 and later, so it covers a wide range of releases from that version onward. The catalog entry lists version 5.2.8, last updated in October 2022. If you are running a specific build of Max and want to confirm behaviour, the developer's page at dev.wallworm.com is the best place to check current details before installing.
PropLine replaces the Spacing Tool in Max in a totally parametric, non-destructive fashion. Rather than baking the placement, it keeps the distribution editable through its parameters, and the transformations of the props can be retrieved later to export into game engines or other formats. It also offers multiple distribution modes, including Knot, Interpolation, Spacing and Size, along with list-order or random prop selection controlled by a Seed value.
PropLine supports random distribution, where props from the Source Object list are used randomly, and a Seed value changes the random results so you can try different variations. It also includes an option to randomly flip objects 180 degrees in the Z axis and options to progressively affect the scaling of props. These controls let you vary placement while keeping the setup parametric and editable.
PropLine is listed as free in this catalog, though pricing and licensing can change over time. For the current terms and the most up-to-date download, it is best to visit the developer's page at dev.wallworm.com. PropLine is a scripted geometry plugin that distributes props along splines and works with 3ds Max 2012 and later. A demo video is also available if you want to see how it distributes and transforms props before installing it in 3ds Max.
Also in Modeling for 3ds Max.
by Marius Silaghi
Clothify Pro is a modifier for 3ds Max for modeling and animating cloth in a non-destructive way. It delivers instant results without waiting for a simulation to finish, and edits update as you change parameters.
by Denys Almaral
px3DDisplacer is a scripted utility plugin for 3ds Max that reshapes Editable_Poly surfaces using any geometric object as a displacer, instead of relying on grayscale maps. It ships as a single script file.
by rauquenrol
Combine is an add-on for Blender that merges objects into one with a single click, removing the need to press different keys to complete the operation. Documentation is included with the add-on.
by FishMan
UV Set Editor by FishMan is a 3ds Max script modeled on Maya's UV Set Editor. It loads all UV channels from a selected object and lets you create, rename, duplicate, clear, and delete UV channels.
by miauu
miauu's Scalpel is a 3ds Max script that interactively subdivides geometry by drawing cut lines. Each cut originates from a vertex or edge, with snapping to vertices, edge midpoints, angles, and precise positions along an edge.
by Atelier Bump
DesignToolBox is a collection of modeling tools for 3ds Max, built to accelerate and simplify basic modeling tasks for architectural models, furniture design, and other work where accurate modeling is needed.
by KSTUDIO
Sweep Profile is a 3ds Max tool from KSTUDIO for building architectural profiles with the Sweep modifier. It ships with pre-made profiles and lets you add your own from the scene or a folder.
by ITOOSOFT
SplineOffset is a modifier for Autodesk 3ds Max that clones and offsets splines, creating multiple clones with incremental offset, translation, and rotation. It works fully non-destructively and can heal overlapping splines.
by Christophe Blattmann
FAST ARCHITECTURE Trial is a procedural mesh object for 3ds Max that generates architectural structures with parameters you can adjust in real time. It creates an FA_Building object usable like any standard 3ds Max object.
by SiNi Software
Scatter by SiNi Software is a free 3ds Max tool for distributing 3D geometry across large surfaces. Add objects, proxies and cache files, then use a distribution map that can place up to one million points.
by Autodesk, Inc.
Explode Geometry is a 3ds Max plug-in that breaks one or more selected scene nodes into individual three- or four-sided faces, with options to add modifiers and refine the resulting geometry.
