One of the first things you need to do when creating a graph in MCG is to add an output node. The type of the output node determines what the graph can do and where the resulting tool appears in
3ds Max.
There are several different nodes in the
Outputs category:
-
geometry
- Use this to create a mesh object in the scene. Your graph is responsible for creating the mesh itself, for example, by copying another mesh or by setting the vertex positions, edges, and other data directly. When the graph is saved and evaluated, the new geometry tool appears on the
Create panel, when you select the
Max Creation Graph sub-category from the
Geometry category.
-
modifier
- Use this to create a modifier that can be applied in the modifier stack of a mesh in the scene. Your graph is responsible for setting the new mesh, and can use implicit parameters to get the current mesh, as well as other data like its transformation matrix and bounding box. Modifiers appear in the
Modifier List on the
Modify panel.
- shape
-
Use this to create a shape consisting of one or more splines. Your graph is responsible for setting the spline data, such as the knot positions, segment types, and tangents. Shapes appears on the
Create panel, when you select the
Max Creation Graph sub-category from the
Shapes category.
- controller
- Use this to create an animation controller to set or modify animatable parameters. There are several different types, corresponding to the different parameter types such as float, position, transform, and so on. Controllers appear in the appropriate
Assign Controller window in the
Track View and
Motion panel.
- compound
- Use this to define a subgraph that can be easily reused in other graphs. Compounds can have inputs for connections, but no parameters or implicit parameters. Compounds appear in the
Available Nodes/Operators window in the
Max Creation Graph Editor.
- If you choose
and specify a
Category, the compound appears in that category. Note that you can enter a new string to create a new category.
- If you do not specify any category, the compound appears in the
Compounds category.
Note: Don't forget to save a compound as a .maxcompound file instead of a .maxtool file.
- MAXScript function
- Use this to create a function that can be called from MAXScript.
- utility
- Use this to define a scripted utility plug-in. Utilities appear in the
Utilities list that is displayed when you click the
MAXScript button on the
Utilities panel.