The latest update to
MachStudio Pro adds a dedicated exporter for 3ds Max 2009. This exporter makes it fast and easy to export geometry, animation, and cameras out of Max. The update also adds an extensive Materials/shader library, animatable fog, and additional render channels (for outputting to compositing software).
If you are not already familiar with MachStudio Pro, it is stand-alone, visualization and rendering software that lets 3D artists import their 3D models and then create and manipulate lights, materials, and HDR cameras in a real-time, non-linear workflow environment to achieve film quality results. Processes which normally would be separated into specialized tasks in production, or off-loaded to render farms, are instead possible as part of the creative workflow. It's difficult to describe without actually seeing it in action, but this YouTube video gives a a taste of the real-time lighting workflow.
Samples of several 3ds Max architectural projects lit and rendered in MachStudio Pro can be seen at
http://www.studiogpu.com/showcase.
