I think there is a bug with UVW channels and the Unwrap uvw modifier.

I often use uvw channel 2 to apply a dirt mask.

I will typically apply a uvw map on channel 2. Then test render, maybe collapse the stack. Then apply a unrwrap uvw modifier to channel 2. When I open the edit window, the uv’s will change to whatever they are for channel 1.  I see the change happen on my model as well.

Makes it really hard to edit them. I’ve been forced not to use Unwrap for anything other than channel 1 uv’s

WHERE IS THE LINK TO THE THREAD DISCUSSING THIS?

I’ve found a problem with the mr Production Shaders. When I apply an opacity map to a Matte, Shadow, Reflection material, the mr Camera Map in the Background slot no longer reflects correctly on other objects.

The steps
1. Start a scene with mr as the renderer.
2. Create a large object central to the view.
3. Create some more objects around it, and give them a reflective chrome like A&D material.
4. Make a Matte, Shadow, Reflection material and apply it to the main object.
5. In the MSR material’s Background slot, add a mr Camera Map, and put an image in it.
6. If you render now, the reflective objects should reflect the image correctly.
7. Now add an mr Camera Map to the Opacity slot, apply a matte image to this.
8. If you render again the reflections will be mapped incorrectly, per pixel.

Link to the thread with example:-
click on the link

Incorrect “About to Overwrite file created by previous version” warning.

I open a scene named “test01.max” created with a previous version; the “Obsolete data format” warning appears (correctly).
I use my shortcut key for “Save Incremental”; which saves it as “test02.max” in the current format.
I do some work, and choose “Save” from the File menu; the following warning appears: “You are about to overwrite a file that may have been created by a previous version...”

This behaviour has been around for a while now!
WinXP SP2 32bit ; 3dsMax Design 2009

WHERE IS THE LINK TO THE THREAD DISCUSSING THIS?

MIssing maps report when rendering with Backburner & Mental Ray

click on the link

cheers

pete

Sometimes my undo list will not update until I restart Max. Suddenly when I move an object and want to undo it I cant. Frustrating when you move something that you have in its perfect place but you move it just to test something because you know you can undo it. Only to find out you cant…

Another thing is that I get keyframes created at Target Distance for my free camera when animating in Auto Key mode.

And I also get the viewport thingy where it switches to perspective when I clone something.

/Andreas

WHERE IS THE LINK TO THE THREAD DISCUSSING THIS?

these are the main problematic bugs I’m having

1. I am getting random flickers in my environment maps when using the mia_envblur shader to blur floating point exr images

2. importing FBX files from maya 2008 now the camera lens information sometimes doesnt translate properly. again. It works in max 2008.

3. using BSP2 with fast skin shaders seems to produce black flecks on the fast skin materials

4. undo does not work after importing an FBX file. Max needs to be restarted to fix

WHERE IS THE LINK TO THE THREAD DISCUSSING THIS?

Issue with switching between Region and View in the Render Viewport. Also using VRay 1.5 SP2 at same time, but don’t know if is the cause. Here is the maxscript error:

-- Error occurred in UpdateRegionWarning(); filename: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\stdplugs\stdscripts\VFB_methods.ms; position: 6060
-- Frame:
-- b: undefined
-- renderType: #region
-- warningVisible: false
-- called in updateUI(); filename: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\stdplugs\stdscripts\VFB_methods.ms; position: 10937
-- Frame:
-- called in NotifyImageViewerUpdate(); filename: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\stdplugs\stdscripts\VFB_methods.ms; position: 13631
-- Frame:
-- called in anonymous codeblock
-- Frame:
>> MAXScript Callback script Exception:—Unknown system exception <<

Any work around or fix compared to restarting max each time?

WHERE IS THE LINK TO THE THREAD DISCUSSING THIS?

WHERE IS THE LINK TO THE THREAD DISCUSSING THIS?

______________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL:

BRITTNELL: Render Elements Kill Shadows

I haven’t locked down all the specifics of this one, but here’s what I’ve found so far:

If you add and enable certain elements (I’ve found z-depth and velocity so far), scene shadows will disappear.

I’ve attached sample renders, and a scene file. 

With the scene file, simply open the scene and render.  Then activate the existing element and render again… buh bye shadows!

In the “During Render” image, you can see that shadows are visible for the FG pass, but disappear during the final aa pass.

This is a bummer, as I need to render z-depth for a current project, and hate sending off a separate render just for that.  Then, couple this with the missing ”Render Final Image” button problem, and you’ve got the makings for good times.

[edit] I’ve just confirmed that the error occurs with photometric lights as well the Daylight System, and with both shadow-mapped and ray-traced shadows.  Yikes.

______________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOWUP:

ANDREA:

brittnell - 14 May 2008 10:48 PM

Render Elements Kill Shadows
With the scene file, simply open the scene and render.  Then activate the existing element and render again… buh bye shadows!

Your problem is described in the support area under the Headline ”Shadows not being rendered”

The following solution is provided:

There is a known issue with the Render Elements when they are used under mental ray. When you enable a Render Element, the shadows will not appear in the Rendered Frame Window (Virtual Frame Buffer).

To work around this issue, add a Shadow Render Element to the list of Render Elements. When you do this, the shadows will reappear.

______________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOWUP:

BRITTNELL: Andrea, thanks SO much for that link.  I have to remember to look there first.
Ps.  Weird, and a little concerning that you couldn’t open my file.  I’m not using any external files, and the files comes out of “plain old” Max 2009.
[edit] I tried the above solution, and while it does work (shadows are again visible), it multiplies the render time by around a factor of 3 (45 seconds vs. 15 in this example scene).  So, I’ll still put my vote in for this bug to be fixed (hopefully soon).

Bug in Hair&Fur Styling - Toggle Collisions button does not stay pressed

I’ve added collision objects and turned on “Polygon” in the Dynamics rollout.  I would like to style with collisions turned on. But the “Toggle Collisions” button does not stay pressed when it is clicked in the Styling section. 

The MaxScript listener says “$.modifiers[#Hair_and_Fur].ToggleCollisions()” every time the button is clicked.  No indication whether “Toggle Collisions” is on or off.

Link to the thread

-Andrea

Symmetry Mirror Position - Link to thread.

I just experienced a bug that needs to be fixed in order for me to accurately position a group of objects. I selected 48 different objects, grouped them. Then used the Symmetry modifier on the group, but when I go to set the mirror’s position, I am not allowed to enter a X, Y or Z value for the mirror so I cannot position it accurately on X=0.0 to mirror it to the other side. I have to do it by eye with the Offset Mode Transform Type-In feature. I think this happened in other versions as well.