The Data_Channel Modifier uses operators to build its operation stack. These operators all derive from the IDataChannelEngineClass, and are of three types: input, process, and output (although some input operators can be used as process operators). This topic covers the available operator classes.

• Input Operators
  • Operator_ColorElements : IDataChannelEngineClass {4bbc203f,0}
  • Operator_ComponentSpace : IDataChannelEngineClass {e11aa33,0}
  • Operator_Curvature : IDataChannelEngineClass {e12bb44,0}
  • Operator_DeltaMush : IDataChannelEngineClass {c8b201a3,0}
  • Operator_Distort : IDataChannelEngineClass {11fa2bba,0}
  • Operator_EdgeInput : IDataChannelEngineClass {23300ccd,0}
  • Operator_FaceInput : IDataChannelEngineClass {24421ae,0 }
  • Operator_Maxscript : IDataChannelEngineClass {9acb27da,0}
  • Operator_NodeInfluence : IDataChannelEngineClass {cba6531d,0}
  • Operator_TensionDeform : IDataChannelEngineClass {4879315b,0}
  • Operator_TransformElements : IDataChannelEngineClass {271928c8,0}
  • Operator_Vector : IDataChannelEngineClass {44e12ccd,0}
  • Operator_Velocity : IDataChannelEngineClass {e21bb55,0}
  • Operator_VertexInput : IDataChannelEngineClass {da12aa01,0}
  • Engine_Local_Space : IDataChannelEngineClass {e11aa22,0}
• Process Operators
  • Operator_Clamp: IDataChannelEngineClass {20e12bba,0}
  • Operator_ConvertToSubObjectType : IDataChannelEngineClass {ac311ccd,0}
  • Operator_Curve : IDataChannelEngineClass {73e12bba,0}
  • Operator_Decay : IDataChannelEngineClass {10fa2cc9,0}
  • Operator_GeoQuantize : IDataChannelEngineClass {1d9111c5,0}
• Operator_Invert: IDataChannelEngineClass {43aebba1,0}
  • Operator_MaxscriptProcess(Maxscript Process) : IDataChannelEngineClass {bd92d5af,0}
  • Operator_Normalize : IDataChannelEngineClass {62ebba1,0}
  • Operator_Point3_To_Float : IDataChannelEngineClass {43cceb55,0}
  • Operator_Scale : IDataChannelEngineClass {10e12bba,0}
  • Operator_Smooth : IDataChannelEngineClass {93e12bba,0}
• Outputs
  • Operator_VertexOutput : IDataChannelEngineClass {abcdaa33,0}
  • Operator_FaceOutput : IDataChannelEngineClass {323fa2e,0}
  • Operator_EdgeOutput : IDataChannelEngineClass {111aa3d,0}

Input Operators

Input operators query data from the mesh and create a channel to flow down the stack.

Operator_ColorElements : IDataChannelEngineClass {4bbc203f,0}

Colors the elements of an object based on the stack information, a map, soft selection or vertex colors. Output can be randomized based on hue, luminance and saturation.

Properties:

  .inputOption : integer

The color data input, where:

• 0 = Vertex Colors
• 1 = Map
• 2 = Soft Selection
• 3 = From Stack

.mapChannel : integer

The map channel, when inputOption = 1.

.map : texturemap

The map, when inputOption = 1.

.vertColorChannel : integer

The Vertex color channel, when inputOption = 0.

.colorOption : integer

The color option, where

• 0 = Face
• 1 = Element

.useColors : Boolean

Indicates whether to apply colors to luminance.

.color1 : RGB color

The luminance color 0.

.color2 : RGB color

The luminance color 1.

.outputChannel : integer

The output VC channel.

.randomize : Boolean

Indicates whether to randomize the output.

.unused1 : float

.seed : integer

.HRand : Boolean

Indicates whether the randomizeHPercent value is used.

.SRand : Boolean

Indicates whether the randomizeSPercent value is used.

.LRand : Boolean

Indicates whether the randomizeLPercent value is used.

.randomizeHPercent : float

The Hue luminance value.

.randomizeSPercent : float

The Saturation luminance value.

.randomizeLPercent : float

The Lightness luminance value.

.useElementCenter : boolean

Indicates whether to use the element center when inputOption is 1 (Map).

Operator_ComponentSpace : IDataChannelEngineClass {e11aa33,0}

Copies the geometry’s X, Y, or Z position to the stack to be processed.

.component (Component_Space) : integer
  .min : float

The minimum value.

.max : float

The maximum value.

.normalize : Boolean

Indicates whether to normalize the values.

.space (XYZ_Space) : integer

The space dimension to use, where

• 0 = X
• 1 = Y
• 2 = Z

.node : node

The node from which to take the component space.

Operator_Curvature : IDataChannelEngineClass {e12bb44,0}

Uses the local surface curvature of the mesh to define a float value.

.convex (Convex) : float

The Curvature convex value.

.flat (Flat) : float

The Curvature flat value.

.concave (Concave) : float

The Curvature concave value.

.scale (Scale) : float

The scale value applied to the convex, flat, and concave values.

.hardEdgesOnly (Hard_Only) : Boolean default: False

Indicates whether to compute hard edges only.

Operator_DeltaMush : IDataChannelEngineClass {c8b201a3,0}

Uses the mesh's default pose to smooth the mesh when it is deformed while retaining the original detail of the mesh.

.strength : float default: 1.0

The strength value.

.iterations : integer default: 10

The number of iterations.

.pinBorders : Boolean default: True

Indicates whether to pin the borders.

.mask : boolean default: False

Indicates whether to mask with vertex colors.

.maskMapChannel : integer default: 2

The map channel to use, if mask is True.

.outputMode : integer default: 0

The deform setting, where:

• 0 = Relaxed Base Mesh
• 1 = Relaxed
• 2 = Relaxed Delta

Operator_Distort : IDataChannelEngineClass {11fa2bba,0}

Uses a map to distort the vertex value.

Uses a map to distort the vertex value.

.map (Distort) : texturemap

The map associated with the distort.

.amountBox (Amount) : float default: 1.0

The strength value applied to the distort.

.holdTex (Distort) : texturemap

Internal and renamed

.holdMat (Distort) : material

Internal and renamed

Operator_EdgeInput : IDataChannelEngineClass {23300ccd,0}

Adds edge data into the stack.

.input : integer

The Edge Input mode, where:

• 0 = Selection
• 1 = Crease Weights
• 2 = Edge Angle

Operator_FaceInput : IDataChannelEngineClass {24421ae,0 }

Adds face data to the stack.

.input : integer

Selects the edge input, where:

• 0 = Selection
• 1 = Material ID
• 2 = Smooth Group
• 3 = Area
• 4 = Normal
• 5 = Planarity

Operator_Maxscript : IDataChannelEngineClass {9acb27da,0}

Uses MAXScript to manipulate a channel's values. Possible return values are float or point3.

.dataType : integer

The output data type, where:

• 0 = Float
• 1 = Point3

.elementType : integer

The output element type, where:

• 0 = Vertices
• 1 = Faces

.script : string

Gets or sets the MAXScript file associated with this operator.

Operator_NodeInfluence : IDataChannelEngineClass {cba6531d,0}

Returns a float value based on the distance between a selected node and a mesh vertex or a mesh element.

.node : node

The node associated with the operator.

.minRange : float default: 1.0

The minimum Radius setting.

.minValue : float default: 1.0

The minimum value setting.

.maxRange : float default: 80.0

The maximum Radius setting.

.maxValue : float default: 0.0

The maximum range value.

  .mode : integer

The Influence mode, where:

• 0 = By Vertex
• 1 = By Element
• 2 = By Object

.hold (Hold_Frames) : integer

The hold time value.

.falloffCurve (Falloff_Curve) : maxObject

The curve controlling the weight falloff over time. This object is of type CurveControl.

.radiusCurve (Radius_Curve) : maxObject    

The curve controlling radius over time. This object is of type CurveControl.

.strengthCurve (Strength_Curve) : maxObject

The curve controlling strength over time. This object is of type CurveControl.

Operator_TensionDeform : IDataChannelEngineClass {4879315b,0}

Uses the mesh’s deformation to compute squash and stretch to define a value. These values can be used to drive morph targets within the operator.

.mode : integer

The tension deform mode, where:

• 0 = Edge Length Based
• 1 = Edge Angle Based

.enableDisplay : boolean

Not used.

.deformMesh : boolean

Indicates whether to deform the mesh.

.stretchColor (Stretch_Color) : color

Not used.

Stretch Adjustment Settings:

.stretch : float

The stretch value.

.stretchRange (Stretch_Range) : float

The stretch range

.stretchGrowShrink (Stretch_Grow_Shrink) : float

The stretch grow/shrink value.

Stretch Deform Settings:

.stretchPush (Stretch_Push) : float

The stretch deform push value.

.stretchRelax (Stretch_Relax) : integer

The stretch relax value.

.stretchUseMorph : boolean

Indicates whether the stretch deform uses a morph target.

.stretchTarget : node

The node representing the stretch target.

.stretchMask : boolean

Indicates whether to mask with vertex colors.

.stretchMapChannel : integer

The map channel to use for masking when stretchMask is True.

Squash Adjustment Settings:

.squashColor (Squash_Color) : color

Not used.

.squash : float

The squash amount.

.squashRange (Squash_Range) : float

The squash range amount.

.squashGrowShrink (Squash_Grow_Shrink) : float

The squash grow/shrink amount.

Squash Deform Settings:

.squashPush (Squash_Push) : float

The squash deform push amount.

.squashRelax (Squash_Relax) : integer

The squash relax value.

.squashUseMorph : boolean

Indicates whether to use a morph target, indicated by the squashTarget.

.squashTarget : node

The squash target, used when squashUseMorph is True.

.squashMask : boolean

Indicates whether to mask with vertex colors.

.squashMapChannel : integer

The map channel to use if squashMask is true.

Channel Output Settings:

.outputSquash : boolean

Indicates whether to output the squash value.

.outputStretch : boolean

Indicates whether to output the stretch value.

Operator_TransformElements : IDataChannelEngineClass {271928c8,0}

Uses channel information from the data channel’s operator stack, soft selection or vertex color to transform the elements’ position, rotation or scale.

.inputChannel : integer default 0

Gets or sets the input channel, where:

• 0 = From Stack
• 1 = Soft Selection
• 2 = Vertex Color Luminance
• 3 = Vertex Color as XYZ
• 4 = None

.transformType : integer default: 3

The transform type, where:

• 0 = Position
• 2 = Rotation
• 3 = Scale %
• 4 = Scale % Uniform

Offsets Settings

.XEnable : boolean
.YEnable : boolean
.ZEnable : boolean

Indicates whether the x, y, or z offsets are enabled.

.xoffset1 (XOffset) : float
.yoffset1 (YOffset) : float
.zoffset1 (ZOffset) : float

The minimum x, y or z offset.

.xoffset2 (XOffset) : float
.yoffset2 (YOffset) : float
.zoffset2 (ZOffset) : float

The maximum x, y, or z offset.

Point at Node Settings

.pointAtNode : boolean

Indicates whether to point at a node.

.pointNode : node           

The node to point to, if pointAtNode is true.

.axisMode : integer           

The axis mode, where:

• 0=X
• 1=Y
• 2=Z

.pointElements : boolean           

Indicates whether to point at individual elements.

Randomize Settings

.randomize : boolean

Indicates whether to randomize the data.

.randomize1 (RandomizePercent) : float 
 .randomize2 (RandomizePercent) : float

The minimum and maximum randomize settings.

.seed : integer          

The randomization seed.

.phase : float           

Controls the speed of the animation of the randomization function.

Operator_Vector : IDataChannelEngineClass {44e12ccd,0}

Allows you to combine an external vector with the stack data.

.space : integer

.dir : integer

.node : node

.x : float

.y : float

.z : float

Operator_Velocity : IDataChannelEngineClass {e21bb55,0}

Uses the mesh's velocity to return a Point3, where the (x,y,z) equates to the motion of the three axes.

.timeOffset (Time_Offset) : integer

.worldSpace (World_Space) : boolean

.noTranslation (No_Translation) : boolean

Operator_VertexInput : IDataChannelEngineClass {da12aa01,0}

Uses channel information from the mesh as an input. Channels include, existing map channels, average normal, vertex position and vertex selection values.

.input (Channel) : integer           

The input type, where:

• 0=Position
• 1=Average Normals
• 2=Map Channel 1
• 3=Map Channel 2
• 4=Vertex Selection
• 5+ = any additional populated data channels

.internal (Channel_Num) : integer           

Internal use only, do no use.

.XYZ (Sub_Channel_Num) : integer           

Indicates the axes to include in the data, where:

• 0=XYZ
• 1=X
• 2=Y
• 3=Z

.deprecated (Name) : string           

Deprecated, do not use.

Engine_Local_Space : IDataChannelEngineClass {e11aa22,0}

Copies the geometry's position on to the stack to be processed.

.min : float 
.max : float  

The minimum and maximum values to use.

.normalize : boolean           

Indicates whether to normalize the data.

.space (XYZ_Space) : integer           

The reference coordinate system to use, where:

• 0=Local
• 1=World
• 2=Node

 .node : node           

The node to use for the coordinate system, when space = 2.

Process Operators

Process operators modify data by applying operations to the data flowing through the stack.

Operator_Clamp: IDataChannelEngineClass {20e12bba,0}

Limits the value of channel flowing through the stack.

.clampMin (Min) : float 
.clampMax (Max) : float 

Minimum and maximum clamp values.

Operator_ConvertToSubObjectType : IDataChannelEngineClass {ac311ccd,0}

Copies the data from one sub object type to another.

.subObject : integer           

The sub object type to convert to, which corresponds to the selected item position in the Convert To dropdown in the UI, and which depends on the incoming data type. For example, when the incoming data is from the vertex channel, 0 = Edge and 1 = Face.

.vertex : integer           

When the Convert To target is vertex, this corresponds to the Vertex Channel Type selection, where:

• 0=Position
• 1=Normal
• 2=Map

.mapChan : integer           

When vertex=2 (Map), this indicates the map channel.

Operator_Curve : IDataChannelEngineClass {73e12bba,0}

Remaps the value of data in the channel based on a curve.

.curve : maxObject           

The curve object.

.normalize (Normalize) : boolean Engine_Decay (const MAXClass): decay           

Indicates whether the curve is normalized.

Operator_Decay : IDataChannelEngineClass {10fa2cc9,0}

Causes the changes in a channel to persist or decay over time.

Properties:

.decay : float          

The decay per frame.

.samples : integer          

The number of record samples.

.smooth : boolean          

Indicates whether to apply smoothing.

.iterations : integer          

The number of smoothing iterations, if smooth=true.

.deprecated (Max_Crossing) : integer          

Deprecated, do not use.

.curve : maxObject          

The custom decay curve.

.useCurve (Use_Curve) : boolean          

Indicates whether to apply a custom decay curve.

.resetType : integer          

The Cache reset type where:

• 0 = "Use Frame For Reset Data"
• 1 = "Reset Data To Zero"

.resetFrame (Reset_Frame) : integer          

The reset frame, when resetType = 0, "Use Frame For Reset Data".

Interfaces:

Decay

Provides access to the Reset() and Record() methods.

Operator_GeoQuantize : IDataChannelEngineClass {1d9111c5,0}

Modifies the data based on geometry so that all vertices in an element share the same value.

.mode : integer           

The data source, where:

• 0=By Vertex
• 1=By Element
• 2=By Object

Operator_Invert: IDataChannelEngineClass {43aebba1,0}

Inverts the values in the data channel.

 .invert (Invert) : boolean           

Indicates whether to perform an inversion.

Operator_MaxscriptProcess(Maxscript Process) : IDataChannelEngineClass {bd92d5af,0}

NEW in 3ds Max 2024.2 Update: This operator provides a way to manipulate mesh channel data using MAXScript, and is useful for performing manipulations not provided by other operators.

Overview

Whenever the Data Channel modifier is processing an object, the MAXScript Process operator will have its "Process" function called with arguments reflecting the data available for processing as well as the desired output options. The function format is:

on Process theNode theMesh inputElementType inputIndexChannel inputDataType inputData outputElementType outputIndexChannel outputDataType outputArray theTime do ( return 1 –- 1 == success; 0 = failure )

The arguments are:

theNode: The node containing the object being processed

theMesh: The poly mesh being processed

inputElementType: The element type being processed. This is determined by the preceding operator’s output. The types are:

1: Vertex 2: Edge 3: Face 4: None 5: Don’t Care

inputIndexChannel: The index channel of the data being processed. This is determined by the preceding operator’s output. The types are:

1: None 2: Position 3: Normal 4: Map Channel

inputDataType: The data type of the data being processed. This is determined by the preceding operator’s output. The types are:

1: Integer 2: Float 3: Point3 4: Matrix3 5: Integer Array 6: Float Array 7: Point3 Array 8: Matrix3 Array

inputData: The input data, matching the inputDataType, also determined by the preceding operator’s output. For example, if the inputDataType is 7, the inputData will be a Point3 array.

outputElementType: The element type of the output data to be produced by the script. This is determined by the "Output" group’s "Element Type" selection in the user interface, and the values are the same as for the inputElementType, above.

outputIndexChannel: The index channel of the output data to be produced by the script. This is determined by the "Output" group’s "Index Channel" selection in the user interface, and the values are the same as for the inputIndexChannel, above.

outputDataType: The data type for the output to be produced by the script. . This is determined by the "Output" group’s "Data Type" selection in the user interface, and the values are the same as for the inputDataType, above.

outputArray: The array containing the output data. The array type must match the outputDataType and should be the appropriate length, based on the inputElementType (for example, if the element type is Vertex, the array should contain a value for each vertex in the mesh.)

theTime: The time at which the evaluation is happening.

Default Script

The default script contained in the operator provides a simple example of processing. To try it out:create a Box and apply a Data Channel Modifier.

In the Data Channel modifier UI, add the following operators, in this order, then close the Add Operators dialog:

• Vertex Input
• Maxscript Process
• Vertex Output

Select the Maxscript Process operator and set the Output options to the following:

• Element Type: Vertices
• Index Channel: Position
• Data Type: Point3 Array

Now move the time slider back and forth. You will see the box moving along the X axis, with the X values increasing and decreasing in sync with the time slider position.

If you open the Listener, you will see some output from the script, which is printing the various values.

Properties

  .script : string

Gets/sets the script string. A default script is provided that processes channel data as an example.

  .outputElementType : integer

The type of data the script should output, where:

• 0 = vertices
• 1 = edges
• 2 = faces
• 3 = none
• 4 = don't care

  .outputDataType : integer

The type of data the script will produce, where:

• 0 = int
• 1 = float
• 2 = Point3
• 3 = Matrix3
• 4 = int array
• 5 = float array
• 6 = Point3 array
• 7 = Matrix3 array

  .outputIndexChannel : integer

The channel for the output data, if any, where:

• 0 = None
• 1 = Position
• 2 = Normal
• 3 = Map Channel

Operator_Normalize : IDataChannelEngineClass {62ebba1,0}

Normalizes the values in a channel to a range.

.normalizeMin (Min) : float
.normalizeMax (Max) : float          

The minimum and maximum values to normalize to.

.rangeOverride (Use_Range) : boolean

Indicates whether to limit normalization to values in a range.

.rangeMin (Min_Range) : float
.rangeMax (Max_Range) : float

The range minimum and maximum to limit normalization to, if rangeOverride is true.

Operator_Point3_To_Float : IDataChannelEngineClass {43cceb55,0}

Converts a Point3 channel to a float channel.

.floatType (Point3_To_Float) : integer

The type of float to convert to, where:

• 0=Length
• 1=X
• 2=Y
• 3=Z

Operator_Scale : IDataChannelEngineClass {10e12bba,0}

Multiplies a channel by a value.

.scale : float

The factor by which to scale the channel data.

Operator_Smooth : IDataChannelEngineClass {93e12bba,0}

Smooths the values of a channel based on their neighbor's value.

.iteration : integer

The number of smoothing iterations.

.amount : float

The smoothing amount to apply.

.deprecated (Geom) : boolean

Deprecated parameter, do not use.

Outputs

Output operators output the stack data back to the mesh.

Operator_VertexOutput : IDataChannelEngineClass {abcdaa33,0}

Outputs the stack data to a specific geometry channel in the mesh.

.output (Channel) : integer

The output data type, where:

• 0=Position
• 1=Vertex Color
• 2=Map Channel
• 3=Normals
• 4=Vertex Selection
• 5=Vertex Crease
• 6=VData

.channelNum (Channel_Num) : integer

When the output type is Map Channel or VData, this is the Channel Number.

.XYZ (Sub_Map_Channel) : integer

The X, Y, or Z setting, when the output type is Position, Vertex Color, Map Channel, or Normals, where:

• 0=X
• 1=Y
• 2=Z

.deprecated (Channel_Name) : string

Deprecated parameter, do not use.

.replace (Replace_Type) : integer

The replacement method, where:

• 0=Replace
• 1=Add
• 2=Subtract
• 3=Multiply

Operator_FaceOutput : IDataChannelEngineClass {323fa2e,0}

Outputs the stack face data to the mesh.

.output : integer

The data type to output where:

• 0=Selection
• 1=Material ID
• 2=Smoothing Group

.type : integer

The type of output operation, where:

• 0=Replace
• 1=Add
• 2=Subtract
• 3=Multiply

Operator_EdgeOutput : IDataChannelEngineClass {111aa3d,0}

Outputs the stack edge data to the mesh.

.output : integer

The data type to output where:

• 0=Selection
• 1=Crease Weights

.type : integer

The type of output operation, where:

• 0=Replace
• 1=Add
• 2=Subtract
• 3=Multiply