Using MAXScript to Work with V-Ray

Automatically Render All *.vrscene Files in a Specific Directory

Note: -imgfile="%%a.jpg" attribute overrides the output file name and format. Use this 
parameter only if output is not specified in *.vrscene files.

echo off 
FOR %%I in (*.vrscene) DO ( 
    FOR /F "tokens=1 delims=. " %%a in ("%%I") DO ( 
        "C:\Program Files\Chaos Group\V-Ray\Standalone for x64\bin\vray.exe" -scenefile="%%I" -autoclose=1 -imgfile="%%a.jpg" 
    ) 
)

 

 

Change the Mode of All VRayLightSelect Render Elements to Direct Diffuse

MAXScript

manager = maxOps.getCurRenderElementMgr() 
numElements = manager.numrenderelements() 
for n = 0 to (numElements-1) do 
( 
    element = manager.getRenderElement n 
    if classof element == VRayLightSelect then 
    ( 
        element.mode = 2 
    ) 
)

 

 

Select All VRayProxy Objects Sharing the Same *.vrmesh File as the Selected Prox

MAXScript

if classof($) == VRayProxy then 
( 
    searchFileName = $.fileName 
) 
else 
( 
    print "Not a VRayProxy" 
    deselect $ 
) 
for each in Objects do 
( 
    if classof(each) == VRayProxy and each.fileName == searchFileName then 
    ( 
        selectmore each 
    ) 
) 
searchFileName = null

 

 

Turn off Unlocked Highlight Glossiness of All VRayMtl Nodes in the Scene

MAXScript

for each in SceneMaterials where 
classof each == VRayMtl do 
( 
each.reflection_lockGlossiness = true 
)

 

 

Export All Objects in 3ds Max Selection Set to *.vrmesh Files

(Works with wildcards *)

Note: Replace "OUTPUT_FOLDER" with the path where the the *.vrmesh files will be exported. 
For example "C:\proxy-library\"

MAXScript

rollout ProxyExport "Proxy Export" width:300 
(   
    label label1 "Enter Selection Set Name (wildcards * or partial-name):" 
    edittext setQuery 
    button createBtn "Create" 
    on createBtn pressed do 
    ( 
        for i = 1 to getNumNamedSelSets() do 
        ( 
            if matchPattern (getNamedSelSetName i) pattern:(setQuery.text) then select selectionSets[i] 
        ) 
            vrayMeshExport meshFile: @"OUTPUT_FOLDER" 
        ) 
) 
createDialog ProxyExport

 

 

Change the Specified V-Ray Object Properties of the Selected Objects

Note: V-Ray Object Property names could be found in:
3ds Max Object Properties > User Defined Tab 
Note that the property names are written only if the V-Ray Objects Properties window has 
been opened at least once.

MAXScript

for each in Selection do 
( 
    try(setUserProp each "VRay_GI_Generate" true)catch() 
    try(setUserProp each "VRay_GI_Receive" true)catch() 
)

 

 

Find 3ds Max Hair and Fur Effect and Adjust Motion Blur Duration and Interval Type

Note: It is important to specify the X and Y values for the Duration and respectively, for 
the Interval Type.

MAXScript

TheEffects = (for i = 1 to numEffects where classof (getEffect i) == HairEffect collect (getEffect i)) 
theEffects[1].mbDuration = X 
theEffects[1].mbIntervalType = Y

 

Find and Disconnect All VRayDirt Maps

MAXScript

maps = getClassInstances VRayDirt asTrackViewPick:on 
for map in maps do 
    for ref = 1 to refs.getNumRefs map.client where refs.getReference map.client ref == map.anim do 
    ( 
        refs.replaceReference map.client ref undefined 
        notifyDependents map.client 
    )

 

Reset the Self-illumination Parameters of All Assigned VRayMtl Instances to Default

Note: This script works only with materials assigned to scene objects.

MAXScript

for each in sceneMaterials do 
( 
    if classOf each == VRayMtl then 
    ( 
        each.selfIllumination = color 0 0 0; 
        each.selfIllumination_gi = false; 
        each.selfIllumination_multiplier = 1.0; 
        each.texmap_self_illumination = undefined; 
        each.texmap_self_illumination_on = true; 
        each.texmap_self_illumination_multiplier = 100.0; 
        each.compensate_camera_exposure = false; 
    ) 
)

 

Work with VRayOptionRE

Add VRayOptionRE, set metadata, enable render elements if disabled, set the Raw image output and initiate a render

Note: Replace the "OUTPUT_PATH\OUTPUT_FILE.exr" value to the location and filename where 
you want to save the output file.

MAXScript

re_manager = maxOps.GetCurRenderElementMgr() 
metadata = "MyMetaData=True" 
current_element = VRayOptionRE() 
current_element.elementName = "file_metadata" 
current_element.exr_metadata = metadata 
re_manager.AddRenderElement(current_element) 
if re_manager.GetElementsActive() == false then re_manager.SetElementsActive(true) 
renderers.current.output_saveRawFile = True 
renderers.current.output_rawFileName = @"OUTPUT_PATH\OUTPUT_FILE.exr" 
render vfb:False

 

Export Selected Objects and Their Materials to *.vrmesh and *.mat Files

Note: *.vrmesh and *.mat filenames are taken from object-name

MAXScript

function ExportProxyAndMatLib = 
( 
    filesSavePath = getSavePath() 
    for eachObject in selection do 
    ( 
        try 
        ( 
            local matLib = MaterialLibrary() 
            append matLib eachObject.material 
            saveTempMaterialLibrary matLib (filesSavePath + "\\" + eachObject.name + ".mat") 
            vraymeshexport meshfile:(filesSavePath + "\\" + eachObject.name + ".vrmesh") 
        ) 
        catch() 
    ) 
) 
ExportProxyAndMatLib()

 

Select and Delete the Currently Active Camera

MAXScript

cam = getActiveCamera() 
select cam 
delete cam

 

 

Replace VRayFastSSS2 Nodes with Default VRayMtl Keeping the Outgoing Connections

MAXScript

for each in (getclassinstances VRayFastSSS2) do 
    replaceinstances each (VrayMtl())

 

 

Select All Objects with Specific Value of a Specific Custom User Property

Note: Custom properties are defined from 3ds Max Objects Properties > User Defined rollout

MAXScript

for each in objects where (getuserprop each "my_property" == 2) do 
( 
        selectmore each 
)

 

 

Turn Selected Object into VRayClipper in Mesh Mode with Replace Mesh on Pick Option Enabled

MAXScript

clipMesh = $ 
clipper = VRayClipper() 
clipper.enable_mesh_mode = True 
clipper.mesh_replaceOnPick = True 
clipper.mesh_source = clipMesh 
clipper.pos = clipMesh.pos 
clipper.parent = clipMesh 
clipMesh.renderable = false 
hide clipMesh

 

 

Export Each Camera to Separate *.vrscene File in Specified Folder

Note: If the camera is animated (position only), the *.vrscene will be exported with 
animation from the first to the last keyframe. The script also sets a separate image output 
sub-folder for each animated camera.

MAXScript

fn ExportCamerasToVRScenes = 
( 
  savePath = getSavePath() 
  for eachCam in Cameras where classof eachCam != Targetobject do 
  ( 
    if savePath == undefined then continue 
    renderers.current.output_saveRawFile = true 
    renderers.current.output_rawFileName = savePath + "\Output\\" + eachCam.name + ".exr" 
    viewport.SetCamera eachCam 
    exportLocation = savePath + "\\" + eachCam.name 
    if eachCam.pos.isAnimated then 
    ( 
      renderers.current.output_rawFileName = savePath + "\Output\\" + eachCam.name + "_Sequence\\" + eachCam.name + ".exr" 
      animRange = getTimeRange eachCam.position.controller #allKeys #children 
      animRangeStartFrame = (integer)animRange.Start 
      animRangeEndFrame = (integer)animRange.End 
      vrayExportVRScene exportLocation startFrame:animRangeStartFrame endFrame:animRangeEndFrame 
    ) 
    else 
    ( 
      vrayExportVRScene exportLocation 
    ) 
  ) 
) 
ExportCamerasToVRScenes()

 

 

Clean up Leftover Animation Layers and MotionClips Controllers

The benefit of this cleanup is that the scene will save and load faster and the file size will be smaller.

MAXScript

t=trackviewnodes 
n=t[#Anim_Layer_Control_Manager] 
deleteTrackViewController t n.controller 
gc() 
t=trackviewnodes 
n=t[#Max_MotionClip_Manager] 
deleteTrackViewController t n.controller 
gc()

 

 

Apply Existing Material to Selection

Note: Non-assigned materials are not listed. Only the ones assigned to geometry are.

MAXScript

try(destroyDialog AssingExistingMat)catch() 
rollout AssingExistingMat "Assign Existing Material" 
( 
    listbox matListUI "Material List" 
      
    fn PopulateList = 
    ( 
        for each in sceneMaterials do 
        ( 
            appendString = each.name + " (" + (classof(each)as string) + ")" 
            matListUI.items = append matListUI.items appendString 
        ) 
    ) 
      
    on matListUI doubleClicked itm do 
    ( 
        try 
        ( 
            $.material = SceneMaterials[itm] 
            destroyDialog AssingExistingMat 
        )catch() 
    ) 
      
    on AssingExistingMat open do 
    ( 
        try (PopulateList())catch() 
    )   
) 
createDialog AssingExistingMat

 

 

Print All Property-Value Pairs of the Selected Object’s Material

MAXScript

for p in getPropNames $.material do 
format "% = %\n" p (getProperty $.material p)

 

 

Toggle Selected Physical/V-Ray Camera’s Cone On or Off

MAXScript

for p in getPropNames $.material do 
format "% = %\n" p (getProperty $.material p)

 

 

Custom V-Ray Raw Image Save File Dialog

MAXScript

try(destroyDialog saveRollout)catch() 
rollout setRawFile "Save Raw file" 
( 
    edittext pathText 
    button browseButton "Browse" 
    checkbox useHalf "EXR/VRST 32-bit output" 
    checkbox useDeep "Deep EXR" 
    checkbox useDots "Dot-deliminated frame number" 
    checkbox useCorr "Save VFB color corrections to RGB channel" 
    on setRawFile open do 
    ( 
        renderers.current.output_saveRawFile=true 
        useHalf.checked = not renderers.current.output_rawExrUseHalf 
        useDeep.checked = renderers.current.output_rawExrDeep 
        useDots.checked = renderers.current.fileName_addDot 
        useCorr.checked = renderers.current.output_rawSaveColorCorrections 
        pathText.Text = renderers.current.output_rawFileName 
    ) 
    on useHalf changed current_state do renderers.current.output_rawExrUseHalf = not current_state 
    on useDeep changed current_state do renderers.current.output_rawExrDeep = current_state 
    on useDots changed current_state do renderers.current.fileName_addDot = current_state 
    on useCorr changed current_state do renderers.current.output_rawSaveColorCorrections = current_state 
    on browseButton pressed do 
    ( 
        try 
        ( 
        renderers.current.output_rawFileName = getSaveFileName types:"V-Ray image files(*.vrimg)|*.vrimg|OpenEXR image files(*.exr)|*.exr|V-Ray deep image files(*.vrst)|*.vrst|" 
        pathText.Text = renderers.current.output_rawFileName 
        )catch() 
    ) 
) 
CreateDialog setRawFile 500 150

 

 

Render Custom Frame Range and Output to File Only the effectsResult Channel

Note: The frame range is controlled by the startFrame and endFrame variables. The Output 
location is controlled by outputImg variable

MAXScript

fn SaveEffectsResultOnly = 
( 
    startFrame = 0 
    endFrame = 50 
    for i = startFrame to endFrame do 
    ( 
        slidertime = i 
        max quick render 
        outputImg = @"D:\" + i as string + ".exr" 
        vfbControl #setchannel (vfbControl #getchannel effectsresult)[1] 
        vfbControl #saveimage outputImg 
    ) 
) 
try(SaveEffectsResultOnly())catch()

 

 

Replace Part of or the Whole Filename String of All VRayBitmap Nodes in the Scene

Note: Enter the string you would like to replace in “STRING_TO_REPLACE” and the replacing 
string should be added to “STRING_TO_REPLACE_WITH”.

MAXScript

fn ReplaceVRayHDRIFilePath = 
( 
    replaceThis = @"STRING_TO_REPLACE" 
    withThis = @"STRING_TO_REPLACE_WITH" 
    for each in (getclassinstances vrayhdri)  do 
        ( 
            each.hdrimapname = substitutestring each.hdrimapname replaceThis withThis 
        ) 
) 
try (ReplaceVRayHDRIFilePath())catch()

 

 

Add Path as Prefix to the Filename of the VRayBitmap Node

It works if the said path doesn’t already exist in the string.

Note: Enter the string in the vraymatlibpath variable.

MAXScript

vraymatlibpath = @"D:\Test\" 
for each in (getclassinstances VRayBitmap) do 
( 
if ((findstring each.hdrimapname vraymatlibpath)==undefined) then 
each.hdrimapname = vraymatlibpath + each.hdrimapname 
)