Laser Show Technology for Lighting Professionals https://wiki.pangolin.com/ 2026-04-29T09:34:34+00:00 https://wiki.pangolin.com/ https://wiki.pangolin.com/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=wiki:logo.png text/html 2021-05-03T08:01:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:about_object_settings&rev=1620028886&do=diff Utility: About object settings The Lasershow Converter MAX utility panels allow you to specify settings on an object-by-object basis. You will need to do this if each object requires a different setting for optimal display. For example, one object might use the text/html 2021-05-02T21:50:03+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:connection_to_beyond&rev=1619992203&do=diff Utility: Connection to BEYOND This panel allows you to connect to, and disconnect from BEYOND. As long as you start BEYOND before starting 3ds Max, then the plugin will automatically start and connect to BEYOND. ---------- Go Back text/html 2021-05-03T09:12:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:contour_axis&rev=1620033176&do=diff Contour axis With the Object line types panel, you can assign which axis you want the contours to run over. You can choose the object’s X, Y or Z axis, or the view (camera's) X, Y or Z axis. The default is the object’s Z-axis. Object X, Y, Z Original rendered sphere text/html 2021-05-02T20:31:38+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:filter_settings&rev=1619987498&do=diff Renderer: Filter Settings Occasionally while using 3ds Max, you will run into an object that is a bit rough. When rendering a rough object to the laser, many small incomplete and runt lines can be created. Obviously if the laser tries to scan all of these short runt lines, flicker might result. For this reason, Lasershow Converter MAX includes several filters to aid in the creation of smooth paths for the laser to follow. text/html 2021-05-03T11:41:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:fixing_extra_lines_on_cone_objects&rev=1620042114&do=diff Tips: Fixing extra lines on cone objects The Cone object in 3ds Max is very versatile. It offers the ability to change the radius of the bottom of a cone (Radius 1) and the top of the cone (Radius 2). When using the Silhouette or Silhouette + Folds text/html 2021-05-02T20:39:44+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:include_z-axis_data_in_laser_frame&rev=1619987984&do=diff Renderer: Include Z-axis data in laser frames This section allows you to select the inclusion of and also to control the Z-axis data in the frames generated by Lasershow Converter MAX. As a non-photorealisic renderer, Lasershow Converter MAX typically creates only two-dimensional output in the laser frames. That is, the laser frames have only X and Y data that change, and normally the Z-axis data is set to zero. However, for certain special effect applications, it may be handy to have the pl… text/html 2021-05-02T12:33:37+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:instal&rev=1619958817&do=diff Installing Lasershow Converter MAX Utility Plugin Once the installer has installed the files, Lasershow Converter MAX needs to be integrated into 3ds Max. This process is described below: * Start 3ds Max * Click on the Utilities tab. This has an icon of a wrench. text/html 2021-05-02T12:30:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:intro&rev=1619958619&do=diff Introduction Lasershow Converter MAX is a plug-in for the computer graphics program 3ds Max (sometimes called 3D Studio MAX). Lasershow Converter MAX automatically converts 3D objects into laser show animations. The objects can be any geometric or shape object, including meshes text/html 2021-05-02T20:35:01+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:laser_output&rev=1619987701&do=diff Renderer: Laser Output This section allows you to control the frames generated by Lasershow Converter MAX. Framenote Allows you to enter text that will be assigned to each frame rendered by Lasershow Converter MAX. This framenote can be used in BEYOND to search for frames. text/html 2021-05-02T19:48:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:laser_preview&rev=1619984888&do=diff Utility: Laser Preview This panel allows you to review the laser frames, and also provides additional information. When this panel is opened, you will see the laser frame in the preview window. Also, as long as you have Show Laser Output selected, you will also see it projected on the laser projector as you move the time slider in 3ds Max, and if you press Play in 3ds Max, you will see the complete animation in the preview window and also on the laser projector. text/html 2021-05-02T20:44:45+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:line_color&rev=1619988285&do=diff Renderer: Line Color Each object in 3ds Max may have a material assigned to it. (If a material has not been explicitly assigned to an object, Lasershow Converter MAX will create a material based on the Object's color.) This material controls the color, texture, reflectivity, and other visible attributes of the object when it is rendered. Among the settings of the material are the text/html 2021-05-03T11:45:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:line_types&rev=1620042308&do=diff Renderer: Line Types The default line types that are selected when you create a new scene with Lasershow Converter MAX are: * Silhouette + Folds * Crease * Surface Intersections with other objects These line types will work for most scenes. However, there will be times when you need a different combination of line types. You can check as few or as many as you like, to get your desired results. text/html 2021-05-02T20:01:37+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:modifier_contours&rev=1619985697&do=diff Modifier: Contours The Contours portion of the modifier plug-in gives you the ability to place contours over the entire object, or even selected parts of the object. Apply contours in multiple directions You can even place multiple contours in different directions if desired (for example, some contours going horizontally, and some going vertically). text/html 2021-05-02T19:59:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:modifier_line_color&rev=1619985546&do=diff Modifier: Line Color The Line Colors portion of the modifier plug-in basically offer the same options as the renderer and the utility plug-in. Please see the Renderer - Line Color and the Utility - Object Line Color topics for a detailed description. Once you applied the modifier plug-in to a selection you can assign the parameters of the modifier plug-in, independently from the settings from the object itself. text/html 2021-05-02T19:55:48+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:modifier_line_types&rev=1619985348&do=diff Modifier: Line Types The Line Types portion of the modifier plug-in basically offer the same options as the renderer or the utility plug-in. Please see the Renderer - Line Types and the Utility - Object Line Types topics for a detailed description. Once you applied the modifier plug-in to a selection you can assign the parameters of the modifier plug-in, independently from the settings from the object itself. text/html 2021-05-02T19:56:23+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:modifier_overview&rev=1619985383&do=diff Modifier: Overview In contrast to the renderer and the utility plug-ins, the Modifier allows specific adjustments for lines and colors to “sub-objects” (i.e. specific object mesh selections). Moreover, this plug-in offers the possibility to animate text/html 2021-05-02T21:33:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:object_beam_brush&rev=1619991207&do=diff Utility: Object Beam Brush This panel allows you to control the Beam Brush (dynamic divergence), and also separately Z-based brightness depth cueing of lines, on an object-by-object basis. Beam Brush is dynamic beam divergence technology manufactured by the ScannerMAX division of Pangolin, and included in certain projectors manufactured by Kvant. The Beam Brush features of the Lasershow Converter MAX plug-in allow you to effectively map the Z-axis coordinate data from 3ds Max onto the beam d… text/html 2021-05-02T21:54:50+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:object_filter_settings&rev=1619992490&do=diff Utility: Object Filter Settings Filter settings can be specified on an object-by-object basis, in case each object benefits from a different setting. The picture below shows the default settings: Gap filter Allows the laser to jump across small gaps in the lines generated for the laser. text/html 2021-05-03T09:40:31+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:object_line_color&rev=1620034831&do=diff Utility: Object Line Color This panel allows you to control the colors generated on an object-by-object basis. It also allows you to control the color of intersecting lines. [IMG] Assigning line color To assign a line color, first select the 3ds Max object (or objects) that you want to modify. Then click a radio button to specify which color you want (ambient, diffuse, specular, custom, texture, texture & lights, or texture lights & shadows) for that object. Finally, click the text/html 2021-05-03T09:05:51+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:object_line_types&rev=1620032751&do=diff Utility: Object Line Types This allows you to set the line types on an object-by-object basis. Assigning line types To assign line types, first select the 3ds Max object (or objects) that you want to modify. Then click the check boxes to specify which line type you want (silhouette, creases, contours, etc.) for that object. Finally, click the text/html 2021-05-03T11:47:11+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:object_point_spacing&rev=1620042431&do=diff Utility: Object Point Spacing This panel allows you to control the point placement on an object-by-object basis. Although the default values (shown in the picture below) give good results for most scenes, it is still very useful to specify the point placement settings on an object-by-object basis. text/html 2021-05-03T08:51:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:object_quick-setup&rev=1620031888&do=diff Utility: Object Quick-Setup Each 3ds Max object can have its own laser parameters. For example, a cube may need very different settings from a sphere. This panel lets you quickly choose from common objects. As soon as you click the button, the line types, filter settings and text/html 2021-05-02T21:29:45+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:object_soft_line&rev=1619990985&do=diff Utility: Object Soft Line This panel allows you to control the Soft Line Endings (faded beginnings and endings of lines), on an object-by-object basis. Although the default values (shown in the picture below) give good results for most scenes, it is still very useful to specify the Soft Line settings on an object-by-object basis. text/html 2021-05-02T19:36:24+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:questions_and_answers&rev=1619984184&do=diff Questions and answers How can I improve the rendering speed? * Avoid using 2-sided materials since they cause more complex hidden-line calculations. * In the Line Types dialog, don't select Surface Intersections with other objects and Surface Intersections within the same object text/html 2021-05-02T21:12:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:renderer&rev=1619989939&do=diff Renderer Step 1: Selecting the renderer When you start 3ds Max, the initial screen looks something like this: Let's create a simple cube and then render it to laser using Lasershow Converter MAX. * Select the Box button on the Standard Primitives text/html 2021-05-02T20:06:05+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:rendering_overview&rev=1619985965&do=diff Renderer: Overview You will find several control groups on the main Lasershow Converter MAX rendering screen. These control groupings are: * Line Types: Allows you to control how the objects are interpreted and output as laser lines. * Line Color: Allows you to control how the color of the objects are used to control the color of the laser lines. text/html 2023-08-07T15:17:40+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:start&rev=1691421460&do=diff LC Max Getting started Lasershow Converter MAX works with modern versions of Autodesk's 3ds Max computer graphics program. It lets you turn 3D computer graphics into laser graphics, quickly and easily. * Introduction * Installing Lasershow Converter MAX * What's new The Lasershow Converter MAX system consists of three plug-ins for 3ds Max: a rendering plug-in, a utility plug-in and a modifier plug-in. text/html 2021-05-02T21:37:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_beam_path_optimization&rev=1619991466&do=diff Tips: Beam path optimization The “beam path” is how the laser travels in drawing out all the lines in an image. There are two factors that control the beam path: * The order in which objects are drawn in 3ds Max. Lasershow Converter MAX always processes objects in this order. text/html 2021-05-02T21:41:38+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_color_and_path_consistency&rev=1619991698&do=diff Tips: Color and path consistency As was discussed in the Object Point Spacing topic, it is highly desirable for the beam path to stay consistent from one frame to the next. Lasershow Converter MAX ensures that this beam path consistency is maintained by using several techniques. text/html 2021-05-03T11:32:38+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_dust_and_particle_animations&rev=1620041558&do=diff Tips: Creating dust-like animations using particle systems Lasershow Converter MAX can be used to create stunning particle displays, such as floating dust and similar animations. Successfully rendering dust-like particles with Lasershow Converter MAX can involve a lot of trial-and-error. However, it can be accomplished by roughly following these steps: text/html 2021-05-02T19:41:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_fixing_mysterious_flickering_lines&rev=1619984468&do=diff Tips: Fixing mysterious flickering lines From time to time, Lasershow Converter MAX users have reported “mysterious flickering lines” -- that is, mysterious lines that appear in some frames and not in others. When investigating the source of these flickering lines, the cause has always been making things fit or overlap text/html 2021-05-03T10:08:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_importing_artwork&rev=1620036480&do=diff Tips: Importing artwork Using 3ds Max's import feature, Lasershow Converter MAX can convert several different kinds of files directly to laser frames. These file types include Adobe Illustrator AI and AutoCAD DXF and DWG file types. Before you start text/html 2021-05-03T09:18:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_point_spacing_for_lines&rev=1620033535&do=diff Tips: Point spacing for lines Variable vs. constant point density The default settings for AutoSpace Distance (shown below) place a higher point density in areas of the image that have curved lines, and a lower point density in areas of an image that have straight lines. This provides the best utilization of the scanner’s bandwidth. It also results in laser frames with the least number of points. text/html 2021-05-03T10:18:51+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_point_spacing_for_objects&rev=1620037131&do=diff Tips: Point spacing for objects Although Lasershow Converter MAX's default settings give good results for most scenes, it is still handy to assign point placement settings on an object-by-object basis. Below you will find some suggested settings for various scenes. text/html 2021-05-02T21:59:31+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_scan_speeds_and_lc_max&rev=1619992771&do=diff Tips: Scan speeds and LC MAX Lasershow Converter MAX's default settings assume that: * your scanners are tuned to the ILDA 30K standard, and * you are scanning at an output rate of 30,000 pts/sec If you are using differently-tuned scanners, or a different scan rate, then you need to make some adjustments. But first, some background. text/html 2021-05-03T09:53:01+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_using_max-defined&rev=1620035581&do=diff Tips: Using MAX-defined The MAX-defined line type will display any edge that 3ds Max defines as being a “Visible” edge. In general, this means the edges that you usually see an object showing when a 3ds Max viewport is set to “wireframe” mode. text/html 2021-05-02T19:55:58+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_using_mesh_selection&rev=1619985358&do=diff Tips: Using the Mesh Selection and the Modifier Plug-in With the Lasershow Converter MAX plug-ins it is possible to apply laser specific settings in three different ways: * The render settings are common settings and valid for all objects in the entire scene. text/html 2021-05-03T10:27:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tips_using_renderable_splines&rev=1620037648&do=diff Tips: Using renderable splines One of the object types that Lasershow Converter MAX can render is a spline. This is a “shape object” in 3ds Max that you can use to draw freeform objects or lines anywhere -- even over other objects. You can also control the thickness of these splines. text/html 2021-05-03T10:30:24+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tutorial_1&rev=1620037824&do=diff Tutorial 1/5: Installation and configuration ---------- Go Back text/html 2021-05-03T10:31:04+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tutorial_2&rev=1620037864&do=diff Tutorial 2/5: Overview ---------- Go Back text/html 2021-05-03T10:31:47+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tutorial_3&rev=1620037907&do=diff Tutorial 3/5: Modifiers ---------- Go Back text/html 2021-05-03T10:32:37+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tutorial_4&rev=1620037957&do=diff Tutorial 4/5: Render settings ---------- Go Back text/html 2021-05-03T10:33:23+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:tutorial_5&rev=1620038003&do=diff Tutorial 5/5: Animation ---------- Go Back text/html 2021-05-02T20:38:22+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:ultra-smooth_refresh-based_rendering&rev=1619987902&do=diff Renderer: Ultra-smooth refresh-based rendering 3ds Max was designed to produce “time based” animations. That is, it produces animations based on a fixed number of frames per second. While this works wonderfully for film or video, this is less than perfect for laser display. For this reason, Lasershow Converter MAX includes a special rendering method called Ultra-smooth refresh-based rendering. text/html 2021-05-02T21:50:39+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:utility_overview&rev=1619992239&do=diff Utility: Overview Although the default options on the main rendering screen of Lasershow Converter MAX will create good results for most scenes, occasionally you may want greater control over the rendering process. Advanced features are accessed using the Lasershow Converter MAX utility plug-in. text/html 2021-05-03T11:43:49+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://wiki.pangolin.com/doku.php?id=tools:lcmax:whats_new&rev=1620042229&do=diff What's new Version 6.00 * Added support for 3ds Max versions 2018 through 2022. * Made improvements throughout the plugin to improve the user experience. Almost everything has been improved in at least a small way. The overall workflow has been improved and has generally been made more fun.