Maxigo-07 v.01b
(...another Indigo exporter for Max) (c) by Suvakas - February 2007
==============================================================================
This is an exporter script from 3DS Max to Indigo 07 render engine.
Indigo is an unbiased renderer, that is actively developed by Nicholas Chapman (http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/nickamy/ or http://www2.indigorenderer.com/)

It is my first maxscript ever.. so.. use it at your own risk. I'm not taking any responsibilities of what it may do to your system or if it even works.

If you have any suggestions or ideas ( or want to thank me =) , then You can email me at jastudio@hot.ee

Have Fun !
Suvakas



Installation Instructions:	
============================
* Close Max if it is running.
* Copy Scripts and UI folders from the zip file to your Max root (over existing Script and UI dirs).
* Start Max and go to Customize -> Customize User Interface -> Toolbars
* Select "Indigo" from the Category list 
* Drag the "Maxigo" exporter button to new or existing toolbar.
* Start the script by clicking the button.
* On exporter dialog window go down to "Indigo Setup" rollout
* Browse to your Indigo installation directory and pick Indigo.exe
* Done =)

During the first export process there will be a following folder structure created under your Indigo root:

\Exported_Fom_Max\ - Contains Indigo inifile.txt, log.txt and all the XML scenes exported from Max.
\Exported_From_Max\3ds\ - Contains all the exported *.3ds models
\Exported_From_Max\Obj\ - Contains all the exported *.obj models
\Exported_From_Max\renders\ - Contains all the rendered images (also *.igi images when enabled in inifile.txt)

Ps. All exported XML scenes and images will have the same name as your Max scene + images will have the frame number added to the end of the filename.






Usage tips:
===========

* Always use Target Camera

* Always have at least one light in your scene (either Direct light or mesh light)

* When exporting into XML and if no material is assigned to model, then model will be rendered using its screen/wire color.

* Models must have material assigned When exporting to OBJ format. (If not, then Indigo will give an error message - "Face defined without specifying material first")

* When exporting to 3DS, then models without material assigned will be rendered red.

* Use standart Max Blend material for Indigo Blend material

* use Direct Light for Sun

* Use XML format for small/medium scenes. It should produce less errors than OBJ or 3DS formats.

* Use OBJ for heavy models.

* If you want to edit Indigo ini file, then it is located under  Your_Indigo_Installation_dir/Exported_Fom_Max/inifile.txt. (ps. Changes made to inifile.txt that is under Indigo root will not work with exporter.)

* Materials are named in Max like that:	Indigo Diffuse - (Maxigo)
					Indigo Phong - (Maxigo)
					Indigo Medium/SSS - (Maxigo)
					Indigo Emitter - (Maxigo)
					Indigo Null - (Maxigo)

  (word "Maxigo" is added to avoid any conflicts with other Indigo exporters.)


* Indigo Medium/SSS with default settings = glass material.

* NK Data files for Phong material are located under your Indigo_dir/nkdata.

* Exporter must be running while rendering animation.

* To stop the animation rendering close the exporter dialog.

* NB. Animation feature is highly experimental !!!







Changes in v.01b :
===================
* added option for Custom Image name
* added option to save EXR image
* added possibility to open the rendering in Max Frame Buffer
* Geometry format selection gets saved
* HDR environment has now more reasonable gain value (should render out nicely with default settings)
* Max version checking when viewing environment EXR image. (EXR is not supported in Max 7 and down)



Supported in v.01 :
===================

* geometry export to xml format 
* geometry export to 3ds format 
* geometry export to obj format
* Mesh instancing
* Meshlights
* Camera export (Image aspect, F-Stop, Bloom, Autofocus)
* Physical Sky/Sun (using Direct Light)
* HDR Environment map (only EXR format at the moment)
* Bitmap textures (no procedural textures yet)
* Tone mapping
* Diffuse Material
* Phong Material
* Medium/SSS Material
* Null Material
* Emitter Material
* Blend Material (through Max Blend material)
* Multi-Material
* Animation support (experimental)
* Indigo Setup using *.ini file (no manual editing required)
 




To Do:
=======
Skin Material
Network Rendering
Procedural Textures

a lot of bug fixes =)
...
what else?



Take Care!
Suvakas
