Xfrog 4 Maya 7 Multiplatform WHATS NEW This release works with Maya 7, fully functional, for 30 days.
AVAILABILITY Xfrog 4 for MAYA is available for purchase from www.xfrog.com -> shop for $ 399 and from Alias resellers worldwide..
QUICK START - 1. If you are a mac user, Open the folder as an archive - force this, so it does not attempt to open as an application..
If you are a WIndows or Linux user, simply open the Zip.
then extract the .app or .zip into your own Maya folder containing Maya
the contents will then go to the correct subfolders, except for the Xfrog 4 shelf. 2. Extract the shelf_Xfrog4.mel to your personal Maya /shelves directory ( Documents and Settings/user_name/My Documents/maya/6.5/prefs/shelves ) 3. Make sure it does not extract into a subfolder below /shelves - if it does, please move it to /shelves. this is the Xfrog 4 shelf which appears inside Maya. 4. Launch Maya, open the Xfrog 4 Shelf and click on the first Object on the left. You will get a message, that a key is needed. Click on temp key. 5. Fill out temp key request, check your email and install the emailed key. 6. This software will then run fully functional for 30 days. 7. Please Purchase a key to use Xfrog for any commercial use. INSTALLATION (IF YOU GET STUCK IN THE QUICK START) You should extract the zip to /Program Files/Alias/Maya 6.5 (or wherever Maya 6.5 is installed ). for mac users only: The zip will think it is an application, as it is named Maya.app . but you want to extract it as an archive. extract Xfrog 4 into the /bin and /scripts folders Now move your shelf_Xfrog4.mel, which is installed by default to /Program Files/Alias/Maya 6.5 to: Documents and Settings/user_name/My Documents/maya/6.5/prefs/shelves directory. Now start Maya 6.5 - on the far right there will now be a Xfrog 4 shelf. Click on the first Xfrog Object on the left, and you will get a screen that prompts you to for a key.
Fill out the form, and you will be mailed a temp key. Install that key and you are good to go. Please note - Xfrog will run fully functional for 30 days. You need to purchase a key after that time if you want to continue, or if you use Xfrog for any commercial usage. GETTING STARTED
Please download the Getting Started and the flower tutorial from the News page for August 04 from xfrog.com you need both those to get started. the flower tutorial has excellent videos to help you get started. You can now import any Xfr model into Maya, there are about 1000 of those in 21 XfrogPlants libraries on xfrog.com. WHAT IS XFROG ? Xfrog is an procedural organic modeling and animation software. It was created in 1995 by bernd lintermann and oliver deussen, and is a procedural hybrid software containing some of the mathematical rules found to exist in Nature, combined with the ability to freely edit the parameters which drive those rules. As a simple example - one component is called the tree component, and this component mimics how trees in Nature branch, yet allows you to edit a large set of parameters which are fed to this procedure, to the extent that a very artistic result, or, a very specific model, can be obtained, as you desire, with several tree components connected together and each with your own specific parameters applied. Confused ? don't be. just remember this - cool software that can make really interesting organic shapes inside Maya. XFROG HISTORY 1995 SGI IRIX Xfrog 1.0 standalone modeler
1996 SGI IRIX Xfrog 2.0 standalone modeler and organic animation
1999 Windows standalone, Xfrog 3.0
2002 Windows standalone, Xfrog 3.5 Windows standalone, Xfrog Tune (branching poly reduction) Windows API - realtime Xfrog MLOD Importer plugs for Maya (Maya 1.0...), Cinema 4D, Lightwave and 3ds max (all free) XfrogPlants Libraries, over 1000 plant models, botanically accurate
2003 Xfrog 4 for C4D - new xfrog core and all components of Xfrog inside C4D.
2004 Xfrog 4 for MAYA - xfrog core and all components of xfrog inside Maya. 2005 Xfrog 4 for 3DS MAX - xfrog core and all components of xfrog inside 3ds max. www.lenne3d.com multi-million dollar large scale realtime work. 6000 low poly models and realtime environment software. Version 2.0 XfrogPlants - 22 libraries on DVD in 9 different 3d formats - 1500 botanically accurate plants. 2006 California office large expansion of low poly work for game and smaller shows Xfrog 5 for all platforms. XFROG CUSTOMERS Pixar(the Incredibles), Digital Domain(Time Machine), Sony Imageworks(Polar Express, War of the Worlds), MacGuff (Blueberry, Renegade), Disney Imagineering(tests), WETA(Matrix 1), ESC(Matrix redux tests), and thousands of other animation houses, architects, and home users have our XfrogPlants and Xfrog software products. Collaborations with archvision, nemetschek, better homes and gardens. USER SUPPORT Please consider to join our large online Xfrog user community if your purchase, (or if you wish to obtain guidance regarding Xfrog or XfrogPlants quality or usefulness - please ask direct questions to our users)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Xfrog/ over 2500 users online. SHOW CREDITS War of the Worlds, The Polar Express, The Incredibles, Time Machine, Blueberry, and several other large budget shows-in-progress. COMMON USES 1. using our XfrogPlants highly accurate plant models, or building your own detailed plant models and animations, for film or TV. 2. animating plant growth, phototropism, gravitropism, wind, and the like. 2. experimental iterative architecture using our procedural components for natural-based form studies. 3. special effects work, dream sequences, etc. wherever natural organic abstract shapes with a natural basis are useful. 4. specialized shots, such as a bird feather, highly detailed dandelion, etc, where you need film res quality of any branching structure. ISSUES
Nothing shows up in Maya a) please make sure the shelf file, shelf_Xfrog4.mel, is installed into your shelves folder. by default it goes to the wrong place, i.e. your /Program Files/Maya6.5 folder.. you have to move it - to your Documents and Settings/My Documents/maya/6.5/prefs/shelves folder now the Xfrog 4 shelf should appear to the right of the normal Maya Shelves. b) did all the mel scripts, plugins, etc, get installed into the proper locations - ? For example, after you extract, the first file in the zip, addy.xpm should be found in your Maya /icons folder and the .mel files, should end up in scripts/others, etc. (look at the paths in the zip file). If you have any problems with installation into the correct folders, please extract to a temp folder, and then cut and paste the files into the proper locations under your install of Maya. email: xfrog4maya@xfrog.com for support and/or bug reporting . LEGAL
Xfrog 4 Maya, is copyright (c) 2003-2005 by Lintermann und Deussen GbR greenworks organic software Greifenhagener Str. 9 10437 Berlin, Germany +49 30 46 79 63 31 +49 30 46 79 63 32 (fax) all rights reserved. This release is freely distributable in its entirety as a 30 day fully functional trial. Please note - Lintermann und Deussen Gbr / greenworks, assumes no liability for the usage or misusage of this software. This software should not be used for any commercial purpose without purchase - please contact xfrog.com or any Alias reseller to purchase Xfrog 4 for Maya.