This Plugin Gives Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya Optimization Superpowers for CAD & 3D
Learn how the newest version of RapidPipeline brings production‑grade 3D processing directly into Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya.
The newest version of RapidPipeline, as it was released in Vancouver during SIGGRAPH this year, brings production‑grade 3D processing directly into Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya. This new workflow enables artists to import CAD & 3D data, clean up geometry, remesh with various algorithms, remove invisible parts, generate UVs, bake materials, and more, without leaving their favorite DCC.
The data prep workflow enabled by RapidPipeline is especially useful for use cases where heavy or unoptimized data needs to be made ready for real-time 3D and XR. Everything runs 100% locally on your machine for speed, privacy, and unlimited processing.
"At Autodesk, keeping artists in their creative zone is critical. RapidPipeline helps 3ds Max and Maya users do just that by letting them standardize and optimize assets right where they’re working, while also extending what they can do," says Ben Fischler, Director of Product Management, Content Creation, Autodesk.
A major advantage of using RapidPipeline for optimizing assets inside 3ds Max and Maya is a much faster turnaround, unlocking quick iterations.
“We are able to save up to 80% time when using RapidPipeline compared to a manual workflow”,
says Christoph Diederichs, Head of Interactive Experience at Atelier Markgraph.
Christoph and his team have successfully used RapidPipeline in various projects, including stunning XR showcases that their company has created for top-tier automotive brands like Mercedes-Benz.
With all 3D processing working 100% locally on the user’s machine, the software is well-suited for projects dealing with confidential 3D data sets, as they are common in many industries. RapidPipeline reliably imports 60+ CAD and 3D formats with advanced import options like tessellation settings and automatic cleanup operations. Formats include, but are not limited to, files from Solidworks, CATIA, Creo, or Rhino, but also “common” 3D formats like FBX, USD, or glTF.
Users can then choose to apply different quick actions, like simplifying geometry through automated removal of invisible parts, or by applying one of two remeshing methods (shrink-wrap or voxelization-based). Additional geometry tools include small parts removal, decimation (with or without UV preservation), and creation of UVs. Finally, baking tools are available to create optimized texture atlases, reducing the amount of maps used for real-time rendering in downstream applications.
For users who need a higher throughput, recipes created through the DCC plugins can also be used with the automated RapidPipeline CLI batch processor – a powerful tool for 3D processing automation in the backend; this workflow is currently being leveraged by multiple large tech companies.
RapidPipeline for Autodesk Maya
Popular operations that RapidPipeline facilitates for Maya users include cleanup of CAD and 3D assets for further use in rendering, but also exchange of 3D data using popular formats like USD: Being able to both read and write USD files, the RapidPipeline integration for Maya can be used to standardize CAD files, optimize them for rendering inside Maya, and finally translate them properly to become part of a USD-based asset library.
RapidPipeline for Autodesk 3ds Max
The RapidPipeline 3ds Max integration is particularly popular for anyone preparing data for e-commerce, games, CGI, or real-time 3D applications, such as XR apps, VR showrooms, 3D in the browser, and more.
The optimization tools for real-time 3D use cases are really where the RapidPipeline integration for 3ds Max shines most: fast mesh culling, decimation, and retopology tools like shrink-wrap remeshing make it easy to quickly create the best possible real-time output for each use case. This includes sophisticated methods like “holes-to-alpha” baking, where RapidPipeline generates a UV atlas and then bakes an alpha texture for the remeshed model, capturing original geometric holes in a texture for use with the low-poly, simplified version. This can come in handy for assets with many little holes, like the shopping cart model shown in the following video:
In addition, users can leverage the RapidPipeline 3ds Max plugin, as well as the one for Maya, to import or export glTF files, including options for compression through Draco or KTX2 and more – extending 3ds Max and Maya’s capabilities.
In case you got curious about RapidPipeline for 3ds Max and Maya, we have good news for you: both are available as a free 14-day trial (no credit card needed). You can explore all the features, and even chat with the human RapidPipeline team of 3D tech artists, providing support and answering questions.
