Topics in this section
- Get Started with Max Creation Graph
This section provides several brief tutorials to help you learn the basics of Max Creation Graph. - Data Flow and Data Types
A Max Creation Graph encodes a computation. It does so by defining a data flow: Data is input to the graph, flows through nodes that manipulate it, and emerges from an output node. - Max Creation Graph Editor
The Max Creation Graph (MCG) editor dialog is the main interface for working with node-based programming in 3ds Max. It provides a wide variety of modules for use in graphs, tools for wiring them into graphs, and facilities for testing and packaging your graphs. - Choosing a Graph's Output Type
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. - Supplying Data to a Graph
There are different ways to supply data to a graph, depending on its output type. - Creating a Simulation Graph
Simulations update iteratively based on the values at the previous frame. MCG lets you create simulation graphs for modifiers, controllers, and geometries. - Working with Splines
MCG offers several ways to create and manipulate splines. The Splines category contains many nodes and compounds that you can use in your graphs. - Working with External Files in MCG
The Max Creation Graph includes a number of nodes for reading data from and saving data to external files. Follow these guidelines for the best results and performance. - Validating a Graph
A graph is validated whenever you save it (File
Save or Ctrl+S), request validation (Build Validate), or evaluate it (evaluation requires you to save first, anyway). - Evaluating a Graph
When you evaluate the graph (Build Evaluate or Ctrl+E), then the computation you have coded (the new geometry, modifier, or utility plug-in, or the MAXScript function) becomes available in the 3ds Max interface. - Customizing the UI of an MCG Tool
You can modify the user interface of an MCG tool by entering standard MAXScript in the Custom UI property of the graph to redefine its rollout. - Customizing an MCG Tool with MAXScript
Tools built with MCG are scripted plug-ins, just like any other. You can customize and extend a tool by adding MAXScript to its Custom UI property. This allows your MCG tool do anything that a scripted plug-in can do. - Packaging and Distributing an MCG Tool
You can share a tool that you created using MCG with other users as a single file. - Installing a Packaged MCG Tool
You can easily install an MCG tool created and packaged by someone else.