A collection of small scripts for 3ds Max
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In this article, I will compile several small 3ds Max scripts that I shared on my personal Facebook page and design groups between 2021 and 2023. These tools are designed to address specific tasks and are provided for free. You are free to use, modify, or share them as you like. Although the scripts should work with all 3ds Max versions, feel free to contact me if any issues arise. Larger scripts, like “Paste From SketchUp” and “Quick Attach & Detach,” can be found on my software store page.
General Instructions
The scripts are downloaded as ZIP files. After extracting, you can install most by simply dragging them into the 3ds Max viewport. To add a button to the toolbar, go to Customize (1) > Customize User Interface (2) > Toolbar, then select D95 DESIGN (3). Drag and drop the relevant command (4) onto your toolbar.
To set up shortcuts, go to Customize > Hotkey Editor. Then, search for the relevant command in the “Type to search by Actions…” field, and assign a shortcut key in the Hotkeys section on the right. Some scripts come with suggested shortcut keys that I often use, which you can refer to for convenience.
Silent Group
Silent Group is identical to the default Group command in 3ds Max, but it skips the pop-up window for entering a group name, making it more streamlined, similar to grouping in SketchUp. I have assigned the shortcut Ctrl + G for this command.
Add Color Correction – SME
Automatically adds a Color Correction map to the diffuse slot of selected materials for color adjustments. I frequently use this tool, especially for libraries of books, plants, and fabrics. The ZIP file includes two versions: one for 3ds Max’s Color Correct and one for Corona Renderer’s.
Note: This script only supports Slate Material Editor (SME), not Compact Material Editor (CME). For CME users, there’s an updated version available below.
Usage: Select materials in the SME, then press the assigned shortcut to add the Color Correction map.
Download Add Color Correction (SME) >
Add Color Correction – CME
Add Color Correction – CME is identical to the Add Color Correction – SME command mentioned above, but it is specifically designed for the Compact Material Editor (CME).
Download Add Color Correction (CME) >
Quick Rotate
Quick Rotate is a script that allows you to rotate objects by 90 degrees using shortcut keys. I prefer this method over using the E key with snap set to 90 degrees, as I like to snap at 5 degrees for finer adjustments. After downloading, assign shortcut keys for the following commands: Rotate X +90, Rotate Y +90, Rotate Z +90, and Rotate X -90. I use the arrow keys ←, →, ↑, and ↓ for these commands, respectively.
Select Filter
Changes the selection filter mode in 3ds Max, allowing you to quickly select Geometry, Cameras, Lights, Shapes, or All using shortcut keys. I have assigned the following shortcuts: Shift + 1 for All, Shift + 2 for Geometry, Shift + 3 for Shapes, Shift + 4 for Lights, and Shift + 5 for Cameras. This enables more precise and efficient object selection.
Quick Center
Pivot is used to center the pivot of selected objects (Set Pivot Center – Selection) or all objects in the scene (Set Pivot Center – All). With the Set Pivot Center – All command, you don’t need to manually select every object; the script will automatically adjust the pivot for the entire current scene. This is equivalent to the Center to Object command found in Hierarchy > Pivot > Alignment. Additionally, you can modify the line o.pivot.z = o.center.z to o.pivot.z = o.min.z if you want to set the pivot at the center-bottom of the object instead.
Fix Object Normal
Fix Object Normal is a tool designed to correct the issue of objects appearing black (not due to the 2-light shading mode or smooth errors). This problem often occurs in situations such as after attaching multiple objects, using Floor Generator, converting Editable Mesh to Editable Poly, or trimming objects with Boolean operations. I have assigned the shortcut Ctrl + F for this command.
Clay Switch
Clay Switch is a script that allows you to quickly toggle between Clay mode and Default mode using a shortcut key. I have assigned the Tab key for this function, making it very convenient during modeling.
Create Aligned Camera
Create Aligned Camera is a script that automatically creates a Corona Camera or V-Ray Camera with an aligned target. When you run the command, it creates the camera as usual, and holding Shift while creating the camera ensures that the target is aligned straight. Update: The macro has been fixed so that it correctly creates a Corona Camera instead of a V-Ray Camera.
Download Create Aligned Camera >
Pick Material
To Paste allows you to grab the material from another object and apply it to the selected object. This function also captures any UVW Map and UVW Xform if they are present.
Download Pick Material To Paste >
Place At Polygon
Duplicates an object and places the copies at the center of the selected polygons. To use it, select the polygons, run the command, and then pick the object you want to duplicate. This tool is useful for placing lights or in certain modeling scenarios that require Boolean operations, such as creating a pegboard.
Snap Mode Cycling
Allows you to cycle through the snap modes: 2D, 2.5D, and 3D. This makes it easy to switch between different snapping options quickly.
Silent Clone
consists of three commands: Silent Copy, Silent Instance, and Silent Reference. These commands allow you to clone objects (default shortcut Ctrl + V) without displaying the options dialog. I typically use Alt + V for the Copy command and Shift + V for the Instance command.
Select Object by Material
Allows you to select objects that share the same material. It’s quite similar to the existing Select Similar command in 3ds Max, but it also works across groups, making it more versatile for object selection.
Download Select Object by Material >
Auto Add CoronaAO
Automatically adds a Corona Ambient Occlusion (CoronaAO) map to the diffuse slot of selected materials. The script supports both the Slate Material Editor (SME) and the Compact Material Editor (CME). By default, the MaxDistance parameter is set to 2, but you can adjust this value in the line cc.maxDistance = 2 as needed.
Lỗ Ban Ruler
Checks whether a distance is considered “good” or “bad” based on three measurement systems: 52.2 cm, 42.9 cm, and 38.8 cm. You can either pick two points to measure the distance or manually drag to set the dimensions.
Prepare Basic Corona Material
Adjusts the Glossiness, adds an Ambient Occlusion (AO) map, and applies a Round Corner map to the materials in the scene or to the selected materials. This script only supports Corona materials. Update: Fixed several issues and set the Only Selected Objects option as the default.
Download Prepare Basic Corona Material >
Two Lights Toggle
Allows you to quickly switch between the two Default Lights modes: 1 Light and 2 Lights. The 1 Light mode often results in completely black shadows, which can make the objects appear more prominent but can be quite inconvenient for modeling. I have assigned the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + L for this function.
Source: dangtiendung.com
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