Need Help figuring something out...

[Dash-X]

I guess I'll start at the beginning. I have a model that I've been working on (attached image), and somehow, it looked better in the preview window of Max than it did in the renders, so I figured that I may as well try to make the project fully realtime. ShaderFX was used for the effect in the attached image, and everything was going pretty smoothly until I found out that I couldn't get a software render of the material... Long story short, I've got a while (two weeks... Because that's when I have to start making images to turn in for class...) to figure out what to do...

I'm trying to figure out how I can get a large high-quality realtime render of this project (once I'm in the final stages of it, that is...) . I wish I could use Marmoset Toolbag with this, but it doesn't look like there's a way to use .fx files... I tried importing the .fx file into NVidia's FX Composer, but for one reason or another, the current version doesn't support the loops necessary to generate the shells for the fur to work. A teacher recommended RenderMonkey, but it's Greek to me (and it looks like visual studio...)...

Does anyone know of an engine or viewer that I can use to make high-quality screenshots (that allows for the importing of .fx files and can support the loops necessary to make the fur work)? I'm doing research myself, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask...

Alternately, does Max have a way to hardware render stuff like Maya does? What I mean by this is that in Maya, you can select software, hardware or mental ray... In Max, I've only seen the default scanline stuff and mental ray...

Thank you.

[Ace-Angel]

OK, I'm not exactly getting what the issue but I'll try and understand with my sleepy head.

Nice model BTW!

ShaderFX: If you want to keep something in real-time, why not just keep in 3DS Max? Use a 3rd party screen-recorder and voila, you'll have shaderFX within the viewport and recordered.

It's a sloppy job, I know, but that's the easier route for you.

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Marmoset: The tool already applies it's own post-process effects, the only things it needs are the textures. Try and see if it renders out the way you want it to, if not, then I guess that is that?

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Xnormal: Like marmoset, but slighly different. Again, it doesn't take in FX files, relies on textures, but it's much more easier to use I would say.

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3DS Max: I'm not sure if Max has those options per say, but did you try ActiveShade right at the bottom of the render window? I never used it, but I think thats the option you're looking for?

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Engines: UT3 and CE2 are the two other engines your might want to consider using...sorry, cannot help you here since I never used both.

[Dash-X]

Thanks Ace-Angel!

As far as ActiveShade is concerned, it seems to be more akin to Maya's IPR than its Hardware Rendering option.

Right now, I'm researching UE3 and CE2...

[TheQiwiMan]

Yeah I'd say try puttin that bad boy into Unreal.
Beautiful model! :)

[Dash-X]

Thanks, TheQiwiMan!

Say, do you know of a way to get the fur into Unreal? Or somehow generate a similar material?

In my research, I've come across something that makes it seem possible, but I have no clue how it was done.
This here... (http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=52149)
About half-way down the page.

EDIT:
So far, all of my google searches on the subject of fur and UE3 yield naught but German.

EDIT 2:
It looks like there may be a way to get HLSL into UE3... Something called a custom shader... It seems to be documented on the UDN: This here. (http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/MaterialsCompendium.html#Custom) Problem... It's not showing up in my editor... WHY MUST FATE BE SO CRUEL!?

[xerious3d]

Hey bud not sure if this will help, but i hope it does.

http://eat3d.com/free_ue3_import

http://eat3d.com/free_ue3_turntable_rotate

Can help you test out UE3 see if it helps with the results you are looking for.

[Dash-X]

Thanks, xerious3d. It will definitely help.

UPDATE:
I may have found a way to make a fur material in Unreal, but sadly, I no longer have the time to experiment with it (though, nothing will be stopping me once the project is over... heh heh heh (or other menacing laughter here...)).

What I'm gonna wind up doing (at least for the initial "renders") is just creating screenshots from Max. I don't mind so much since I've found out about Expert Mode. I've got a fairly large screen resolution, so it might not be too bad... Let's cross our fingers.