by Denys Almaral·Modeling
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px3DDisplacer earns its place in the scriptspot library as a script-based approach to displacement that draws its shape from geometry instead of maps. It targets 3ds Max 5.1 through 9.0.
px3DDisplacer, from developer Denys Almaral, is a scripted plugin for 3ds Max that modifies Editable_Poly vertices directly. Rather than driving displacement from grayscale maps, it uses any geometric object as a displacer effector.
To use it, you place the displacer object very close to the Editable_Poly surface so the two interpenetrate, then click the apply button. The surface takes on the volume shape of the displacer object, displacing its vertices to match. According to the developer, this functionality was almost impossible to emulate with standard Max tools at the time of the Max 9.0 release.
The plugin is distributed as a single script file, px3DDisplacer.ms, and is categorized as a utility. It runs on 3ds Max versions 5.1 through 9.0 and is listed here as free. For current details and licensing, check the developer's page.
px3DDisplacer is best for 3ds Max artists working with Editable_Poly geometry who want to shape a surface from another object rather than from grayscale maps.
px3DDisplacer is completely free to download and use.
px3DDisplacer is compatible with 3ds Max versions 5.1 through 9.0. It is a scripted plugin delivered as a single file, px3DDisplacer.ms, and is categorized as a utility. Because its stated compatibility range ends at Max 9.0, artists working on newer releases should confirm behaviour on the developer's page before relying on it. Within that supported range, the tool operates directly on Editable_Poly geometry rather than through any map-based workflow.
px3DDisplacer works by taking any geometric object as a displacer effector. You position that object very close to the Editable_Poly surface so the two interpenetrate, then click the apply button. At that point the surface takes on the volume shape of the displacer object, displacing its vertices to match. This differs from the standard grayscale-map approach, since the result is driven by real geometry rather than by an image. The developer notes this was almost impossible to emulate with standard Max tools at the Max 9.0 release.
px3DDisplacer is listed here as free, and the developer states it is given away as a scripted plugin utility. It comes as a single script file, px3DDisplacer.ms. Licensing terms can change over time, so it is worth checking the developer's page at denysalmaral.com for the current status before you download or distribute it. The listing does not tie the plugin to any subscription or paid tier, and it targets 3ds Max versions 5.1 through 9.0.
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