RayFX Shadows - Shadow generator plugins

These are shadow generator plugins for Max 3.1.  They require the latest version of the RayFX raytrace engine to function.  They use raytracing to generate hard or soft edged shadows and generally are much faster than using the standard max raytraced shadows, with many more capabilities.

Motivation:
For various reasons, the standard shadow generators available in Max are not sufficient when it comes to do photoreal work.  As a studio, we are getting requests for work now that consistently challenges both shadow maps and the current quad tree based raytraced shadows.  We needed alternatives that wouldn't require us to switch renderers.

It should be noted that properly configured standard Max raytraced lights can outperform the RayFX shadows under certain circumstances.  The quadtree method used by Max is very fast in quadtree friendly scenes.  Narrow beam spotlights are generally very fast, whereas Directional lights are nearly always grindingly slow.  RayFX shadow performance is much less sensitive to scene structure and light configuration.  The point being, if the quality of Max's raytraced shadows is sufficient, and it outperforms the RayFX shadows, by all means, use the default Raytraced light.


Installation:
You must have the latest version of rayfx.dlu and blurlib.dlu installed for these plugins to work, just follow the RayFX installation instructions.   The plugins will be selectable in the Shadow Parameters rollout of any standard Max lightsource. They appear in the drop-down list along with Shadow Map and Ray Traced Shadows, the default Max shadow generators.

Usage:
Standard Shadows
Area Light Shadows

Release Notes:
Standard Shadows
Area Light Shadows


The usual disclaimers apply - Blur Studio cannot support or guarantee this thing in any way. Its free - enjoy. If you have any comments or questions, direct them to blurbeta@blur.com - If we have the time, we'll do what we can.

You may not distribute this without permission from blur studio.

If you use it, your company has cool T-Shirts, and your looking for a way to show your gratitude, send a shirt or two to:

R&D at Blur Studio, Inc.
1130 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291

software@blur.com
Steve Blackmon - Blur.

Last Modified : 5/20/2000