How to Create Photorealistic Grass in V-Ray for 3ds Max with Autograss Plugin
Autograss Plugin for 3ds Max 201: A Review
If you are looking for a way to create photorealistic grass in V-Ray for 3ds Max, you might want to check out Autograss, a plugin developed by Happy Digital. Autograss is a one-click grass generator that works in any scene and with any object. It is easy, fast, and realistic, and it offers you a lot of options to customize your grass. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and pricing of Autograss plugin for 3ds Max 201.
Autograss Plugin For 3ds Max 201
What is Autograss and why do you need it?
Autograss is a plugin that allows you to create photorealistic grass in V-Ray for 3ds Max. It is designed to simplify the process of adding grass to your scenes, whether it is a simple lawn or an entire city block. Here are some reasons why you might want to use Autograss in your projects:
Autograss is a one-click grass generator for V-Ray
With Autograss, you don't need to model any grass or use any complex tools. All you need to do is select your object, click Autograss, and you're done. You've got photorealistic grass in V-Ray for 3ds Max.
Autograss works in any scene and with any object
Autograss can generate grass on any surface, whether it is flat or curved, smooth or rough, open or closed. It can also handle multiple objects at once, so you can add grass to your entire scene in one go. You can even use Autograss on animated objects, such as cars or characters.
Autograss is easy, fast, and realistic
Autograss uses Happy Digital's advanced memory management system, which means it uses only a fixed amount of RAM no matter how much grass is in the scene. This prevents crashes and ensures fast rendering. Autograss is also fully multi-threaded, so it utilizes all your cores to their full potential.
Autograss includes eleven preset grass types covering the most commonly used grasses. You don't need to tweak any parameters or adjust any colors. The grass presets have true-to-life shape and color when used with V-Ray's physical cameras and sun / sky system. You can also use mapping and variation options to create special effects like worn-out trails or lawnmower paths.
How to use Autograss in 3ds Max 201?
Using Autograss in 3ds Max 201 is very simple and straightforward. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Install Autograss and activate your license
You can download the installer for Autograss from Happy Digital's website. After downloading, run the installer can adjust the settings of the grass in the Autograss dialog. You can open the dialog by double-clicking on the Autograss object, or by clicking on the settings button in the toolbar.
The Autograss dialog has three tabs: Grass Type, Material, and Variation. In the Grass Type tab, you can choose from eleven preset grass types, or create your own custom grass type by using a bitmap or a spline. You can also adjust the density, length, and bend of the grass blades.
In the Material tab, you can assign a V-Ray material to the grass, or use the default material that comes with the preset. You can also change the color, glossiness, and translucency of the grass material.
In the Variation tab, you can add some randomness and diversity to your grass. You can use maps to control the length, bend, color, and density of the grass blades. You can also use maps to create effects like patches, stripes, or paths on your grass surface.
Use mapping options to create custom effects
One of the most powerful features of Autograss is the ability to use maps to control various aspects of the grass. You can use any type of map that is supported by 3ds Max, such as bitmap, noise, gradient, or procedural maps. You can also use UVW mapping or object mapping to apply the maps to your grass surface.
By using maps, you can create realistic and interesting effects on your grass. For example, you can use a noise map to create variations in the length and color of the grass blades. You can use a gradient map to create a transition from short to long grass. You can use a bitmap map to create a logo or a text on your grass surface. You can also use a spline map to create a custom shape or a pattern on your grass surface.
To use maps in Autograss, you need to enable the mapping option in the Variation tab of the Autograss dialog. Then you need to assign a map to the parameter that you want to control, such as length, bend, color, or density. You can also adjust the map strength and offset values to fine-tune the effect.
What are the benefits of using Autograss in your projects?
Autograss is not only easy and fast to use, but also offers you many benefits for your projects. Here are some of them:
Autograss saves you time and memory
With Autograss, you don't need to spend hours modeling and texturing your grass. You don't need to import any models or textures from external sources. You don't need to worry about polygon counts or memory usage. Autograss does everything for you in one click.
Autograss uses a smart memory management system that ensures that only a fixed amount of RAM is used for rendering your grass. It doesn't matter how much grass is in your scene or how big your render resolution is. Autograss will always use the same amount of RAM and will never crash your system.
Autograss enhances your render quality and realism
Autograss produces photorealistic grass that looks great in any lighting condition. It uses V-Ray's advanced shading and rendering features, such as global illumination, depth of field, motion blur, and displacement. It also supports V-Ray's physical cameras and sun / sky system, which give you accurate exposure and color for your grass.
Autograss includes eleven preset grass types that cover the most commonly used grasses in different regions and climates. You can also create your own custom grass types by using bitmaps or splines. You can adjust the density, length, bend, color, and material of the grass to suit your needs. You can also use maps to create variations and effects on your grass surface.
Autograss offers you flexibility and creativity
Autograss works in any scene and with any object. You can add grass to any surface, whether it is flat or curved, smooth or rough, open or closed. You can also use Autograss on animated objects, such as cars or characters. You can even use Autograss on multiple objects at once, so you can add grass to your entire scene in one go.
Autograss gives you a lot of options to customize your grass. You can choose from different grass types, materials, and variations. You can also use maps to control various aspects of the grass, such as length, bend, color, and density. You can also use mapping options to create custom effects, such as patches, stripes, paths, logos, texts, shapes, or patterns on your grass surface.
Where can you get Autograss and how much does it cost?
If you are interested in using Autograss in your projects, you can get it from Happy Digital's website. Here are some details about the pricing and availability of Autograss:
You can buy Autograss from Happy Digital's website
You can purchase Autograss online from Happy Digital's website. You will need to create an account and provide some basic information. After completing the payment process, you will receive an email with your license key and a download link for the installer.
You can choose between a single-user or a network license
Autograss offers two types of licenses: single-user and network. A single-user license allows you to use Autograss on one computer only. A network license allows you to use Autograss on multiple computers connected to a network server. The network license also includes a license manager tool that lets you monitor and manage your licenses.
The price of a single-user license is $295 USD. The price of a network license depends on the number of seats you need. For example, a 5-seat network license costs $995 USD. You can check the full price list on Happy Digital's website.
You can get a free trial version for 15 days
If you want to try Autograss before buying it, you can download a free trial version from Happy Digital's website. The trial version is fully functional and has no limitations. However, it will expire after 15 days from the date of installation. To continue using Autograss after the trial period, you will need to purchase a license.
Conclusion
Autograss is a plugin that allows you to create photorealistic grass in V-Ray for 3ds Max. It is easy, fast, and realistic, and it offers you a lot of options to customize your grass. It works in any scene and with any object, and it saves you time and memory. It also enhances your render quality and realism, and it gives you flexibility and creativity.
If you are looking for a way to add grass to your scenes in V-Ray for 3ds Max, you might want to check out Autograss plugin for 3ds Max 201. You can buy it from Happy Digital's website for $295 USD for a single-user license or $995 USD for a 5-seat network license. You can also get a free trial version for 15 days.
FAQs
What are the system requirements for using Autograss?
To use Autograss, you need the following system requirements:
A computer running Windows XP or higher (32-bit or 64-bit)
A copy of 3ds Max 2008 or higher (32-bit or 64-bit)
A copy of V-Ray 1.5 SP2 or higher (32-bit or 64-bit)
An internet connection for activating your license (online or offline)
Can I use Autograss with other renderers besides V-Ray?
No, Autograss is designed to work only with V-Ray for 3ds Max. It uses V-Ray's shading and rendering features to produce photorealistic grass. It does not support other renderers such as Mental Ray or Scanline.
Can I use Autograss with other plugins or scripts for 3ds Max?
Yes, Autograss is compatible with most plugins and scripts for 3ds Max. However, some plugins or scripts may interfere with the functionality of Autograss, such as those that modify the geometry or the material of the object. If you encounter any issues with using Autograss with other plugins or scripts, please contact Happy Digital's support team for assistance.
Can I edit or modify the grass generated by Autograss?
No, the grass generated by Autograss is not editable or modifiable. It is a procedural object that is created on the fly during rendering. You cannot select, move, rotate, scale, or edit the individual grass blades. However, you can use the settings and options in the Autograss dialog to customize your grass as much as you want.
Can I export or save the grass generated by Autograss?
No, the grass generated by Autograss is not exportable or savable. It is a procedural object that is created on the fly during rendering. You cannot export or save the grass as a mesh, a bitmap, or any other format. However, you can render your scene with Autograss and save the rendered image as a file. dcd2dc6462