A new version of the already fantastic “BonesPro” skin tool for 3dsmax is out, adding in new skin weight painting features and smoothing functions. All around faster, it now also has a nice new MAXscript interface, making it perfect for integration into professional customized pipelines. A short list of some of the new features:
- A new paint tool with smoothing mode allows artists to make quick local weight adjustments
- 3ds Max default conform undo system added to the existing legacy workflow.
- MetaBones now have an optional real-time mode similar to ParaBones.
- BonesPro now works natively with object types and no longer converts them internally. This improves performance with large modifier stacks and interoperability with other modifiers.
- Bone groups can now easily be turned into selection sets through a new option in the Bones rollout.
- Bones with non-orthogonal local coordinate systems can now be used like normal bones without causing distortions.
Full details after the break.
Press Release: BonesPro 4.50 Release – skin paint and smooth tools
Following the numerous improvements and add-ons from the last releases, the 3d-io development team is proud to release a major update of BonesPro, the sophisticated skinning tool for Autodesk 3dsMax. BonesPro version 4.5 adds the production-proven fast and easy skin painting similar to ZBrush: artists can now paint weight adjustments in real-time and even smooth them out with the brush to achieve exact and elastic skin look & feel, just like using ZBrush / Mudbox.
Skin Painting and Skin Smoothing
BonesPro 4.5 introduces paint brushes for efficient skin weight painting. In addition to standard brush functions 3ds Max users are familiar with, BonesPro 4.5 brings Skin Smooth Brush, which smooths the skin, creating perfect folds, blending and equal surfaces with just using few mouse moves.
Performance Increase & History
Many core functions were improved in their calculation speed, making BonesPro faster than ever before. To make working with BonesPro more intuitive for artists the default 3ds Max undo system is now supported in addition to the original undo options from earlier versions.
Complete MAXScript interface overhaul
BonesPro 4.5 features a completely overhauled MAXScript interface, making the integration into a company production pipeline and the automated control of the skinning process easier to implement than before. Backwards compatibility for the old interface is included for already existing scripts.
List of changes and new features of BonesPro 4.50
- A new paint tool with smoothing mode allows artists to make quick local weight adjustments
- Completely new MAXScript interface for easier and more extensive third party access.
- 3ds Max default conform undo system added to the existing legacy workflow.
- MetaBones now have an optional real-time mode similar to ParaBones.
- Significant performance increases for the most often used actions in BonesPro.
- BonesPro now works natively with object types and no longer converts them internally. This improves performance with large modifier stacks and interoperability with other modifiers.
- Bone groups can now easily be turned into selection sets through a new option in the Bones rollout.
- Bones with non-orthogonal local coordinate systems can now be used like normal bones without causing distortions.
- Various minor fixes.
The BonesPro plug-in and associated training materials are available at http://www.bonespro.com
