RailClone 6 iToo

How does it work?

What’s new

The latest version of RailClone Pro, iToo’s parametric modelling and layout tool for 3ds Max, makes it easier than ever to create complex parametric models for architecture, VFX, and games, and it’s packed with new features and improvements to enhance the user experience when creating new styles.

Overhauled asset library Over 160 new parametric assets in five collections including masonry walls, park benches, bins, bike racks, pergolas, roads, streetlights, traffic lights, parking canopies bollards, traffic barriers, and more.	Completely rewritten library browser RailClone objects can be added to a library directly from the scene, including options to automatically build material libraries, collect assets, and generate thumbnails.	Always-on-top Style Editor The Style Editor now has an always-on-top option that allows you to keep it open even when you deselect the RailClone object. This feature makes it easier to simultaneously edit styles and related scene objects.
New nodes: Link and Reroute Make graphs much easier to read using Link nodes that allow you to redirect and create branches in the wires. You can choose from several different node and wire styles or even hide the connection between two Link nodes to declutter your graphs.	Macros Improvements Create macros easily by simply copying and pasting an entire graph into a macro tab. All the base objects are automatically converted to inputs, and numeric nodes to parameters. A new combo selector UI element is also now available, and you can now organize parameters by grouping them into categories.	Introducing RailClone Slice Use the RailClone Slice modifier to prepare existing assets for use with RailClone. This new plugin allows you to manipulate multiple slice planes from a single interface to split a mesh into all the pieces needed to create styles with linear and array generators.
Password protect graphs Share styles with confidence using the new password protection feature. To add a password, in any style go to the Style dropdown and select Protect by Password. The next time someone selects the RailClone object and tries to open the style editor, they’ll be prompted for the password to continue.	Countless Style editor improvements Speed up object creation with several often-requested improvements to the Style editor.	Capping Improvements You can now set the Material ID for capped faces, allowing for different materials to be assigned to sliced faces compared to the rest of the model. In addition, capped faces generated from Clipping areas can be automatically box mapped using the parameters defined in the Segment node.
Improved deformation RailClone’s advanced deformation modes, such as Flat and Vertical Top and Bottom, have been improved: you can now use these features whether a segment is above the spline, below the spline, or spanning both.	Groups Compose your groups however you like safe in the knowledge that they’ll remain in place when added to RailClone, even when items are rotated or scaled.	Improved Corona support RailClone Colour is now natively supported in Corona Renderer v9 or above. This means Corona users can now benefit from RailClone colour’s powerful randomisation features including the ability to randomise bitmaps, randomly tint maps based on a gradient or pixels sampled from a texture, and even the ability to colourise objects based on a texture mapped to a surface.

Features

Repeat and instance objects

• Geometry – Meshes, which we call Segments, are the building blocks of a RailClone object. Modular, repeatable pieces of geometry are combined and instanced along splines. Because RailClone starts with existing meshes, it’s far easier to use and understand than other parametric modellers.
• Rules – Create nearly limitless types of object using easy-to-understand rule-based arrays. Unlike other procedural tools, there’s no need to understand programming principles and because RailClone starts with existing meshes, it’s far easier to use than other parametric modellers.
• Distribute along splines – Distribute geometry along 1D arrays that deform to follow splines, or set the size using a simple length parameter. 1D arrays are highly versatile with the ability to target the start, end, corners, default, markers and evenly spaced intervals with different geometry.
• Lights, VDBs and other non-geometric objects – Distribute non-geometric objects including lights and VDB volumes. Combine them with geometry for hybrid styles and even use RailClone Colour to randomise light tint and add variations.
• Create 2D arrays – Create deformable 2D arrays and define the axes with any combination of spline or length measurements. RailClone’s 2D arrays have 13 targetable parts, including the corners, sides, top, bottom, markers, and evenly spaced intervals on the X and Y axis. This array type lends itself to horizontal and vertical styles such as facades, roofs, ceilings, cladding systems and much more.
• Nested Arrays – In RailClone you can nest one array inside another making it possible to have procedural sub-arrays inside a style. Not only does this make it possible to create even more sophisticated layouts, it does this by dramatically simplifying the graph.
• Spline Modifier – Precisely place geometry on paths by adding markers with the RC Spline Modifier. Each marker can contain rich information that can be used to control nearly any parameters of a graph.

Use Your Own Geometry

• Any Mesh – Create seamless models by repeating any mesh objects. Get the most from your existing modelling skills to generate detailed parametric objects. Any asset that can be converted to a mesh can be used with RailClone, and geometry can be instanced for huge poly counts.
• Proxies – Use proxy objects or let RailClone automatically convert geometry to native renderer instances on the fly. RailClone’s smart instancing technology converts any object that has been deformed to static geometry, while converting objects that have only been translated, rotated or scaled to instances. It intelligently manages memory, render times and enables you to create scenes with enormous polygon counts.

Advanced Deformation

• Banking – Control the banking angle of geometry at any point along a spline by adding easy-to-manipulate gizmos via the RC Spline modifier. By simply rotating a marker, the geometry twists, turns, and smoothly deforms to match.
• Bend – Use advanced algorithms to ben geometry to follow paths. Choose from two deform models, or if you prefer not to bend object, disable these features and they will simply rotate to follow the path.
• Adaptive – Deform objects to follow splines on all axis using adaptive mode. On the Z axis, verticals remain perpendicular to the path curves.
• Vertical – Use Railclone’s sophisticated vertical deform mode to solve complex situations like railings and banisters where you need the geometry to deform along the path on the X and Y axes but remain vertical on the Z axis.
• Stepped – Create stepped objects that deform along the path of the X and Y axes, but remain undistorted on the Z axis. Stepped deformation mode is perfect for newels, posts, fence panels and much more.
• Mix and match – Deform settings are configured per-object, meaning that a single Railclone object can use any combination of bend, straight, adaptive, vertical and stepped modes to give you maximum control over how geometry follows a path.

Tiling Modes

• Tile – Use RailClone to repeat objects along paths using one of four tiling modes. In the default mode, geometry is repeated until it overlaps the end of path where it is sliced to ensure a perfect fit with the underlying path.
• Scale – Stretch geometry between the start and end of a spline or between evenly spaced items using scale mode. This algorithm is perfect for those situations where the object has a consistent cross section.
• Adaptative – Ensure only whole objects are used with Adaptive mode. This algorithm intelligently adds additional objects and scales them all equally to fill the available space. No geometry is sliced for optimal instancing and you’ll never see half an object or encounter an unwanted open edge.
• Count – Take control and specify the exact number of objects to be cloned along a path section using Count mode and they’ll be accurately scaled to fill the available space.

Render Without Limits

• Proxy Cache – Optimise scenes that contain complex RailClone styles using the Proxy Cache system. Bake any RailClone object without destroying instancing or losing access to advanced features. Caches can be stored in the scene or exported to a separate file to prevent file bloat and make them easy to reuse.
• Billions of Polygons – Create scenes with virtually unlimited geometry! Objects with billions of polygons are now possible thanks to RailClone’s intelligent instancing and advanced geometry shaders, compatible with most popular render engines.
• Points-Cloud Display – Preview huge polygon counts while maintaining viewport responsiveness and avoid wasting valuable time rendering previews.
• Convert to Instances – Convert RailClone objects to Max instances with the click of a button! Ideal for sharing with users or computers without the plugin, exporting to real-time engines and using renderers that aren’t already natively supported.
• Viewport Instancing – RailClone already has unparalleled instancing power at render time, but it’s now possible to enable viewport instancing to preview hundreds of millions of polygons directly in the 3ds Max viewport.

Easy-To-Use Interface

• Modify Panel – If you’re a regular 3ds Max user, the interface is immediately familiar. RailClone’s settings are accessed through the Modify panel where you can load presets, apply them to splines, add surfaces and adjust parameters. If you plan to use the included library styles or work with those made by colleagues then everything is accessible from this interface. If you want to build your own styles, you can click a button to launch the Style Editor with it’s simple node-based workflow.
• Style Editor – Create parametric models in record time with the visual style editor. The intuitive interface is easy-to-learn and fast-to-use and once a style is created you can make parameters available in the modify panel so that others can use your assets without having to open the editor or unpick how your style works.

Combine, Select, and Sequence Geometry

• Compose Operator – Combine multiple objects and save modelling time by assembling new parts from existing components. Easily reverse the order and mirror the geometry of composed objects to reuse them on both sides of symmetrical styles and save time.
• Sequence Operator – Create sequences of objects and use simple parameters to control the number of times they are repeated. Sequences can be incremented on the X or Y axis and multiple sequence operators can be connected together to create almost any pattern.
• Selector Operator – Manually pick from a list of objects using the Selector operator or export the the index value and choose geometry dynamically using expressions.
• Randomize Operator – Add naturalistic variation in your styles by randomising objects.. Use probability values to control the likelihood of an object being selected to give you complete control over the final effect.

Manipulate Geometry

• Move, Rotate and Scale – Adapt, edit and re-use objects by moving, rotating, scaling and mirroring them directly inside RailClone. Save time, as you often only need to create models for half a design.
• Randomize Transforms – Create variety by randomising the position, rotation and scale of objects. Randomised objects have the option of using the modified size and rotation to affect the placement of their neighbours or simply retain their original position in the array.
• Padding – Create overlaps using padding values to adjust the position of adjacent geometry. Use this feature to create complex patterns like parquet floors or create styles with interlocking objects to disguise repetition.

Materials and UVs

• Use Object Materials – Use materials applied directly from the source geometry. No more manually creating complex multi-sub object materials, great when using RailClone as a layout tool or using it with stock models.
• Randomise Materials – Add variety by randomising Material IDs or create striking patterns by applying them in a sequence.
• Automatic Box Mapping – Automatically UV map geometry along straight or curved splines to create the appearance of a single seamless object. Choose your UV channel, use real world sizes and rotate mapping, all without leaving RailClone.
• Edit and Randomise UV Mapping – No need to edit the source geometry; adjust the tiling, rotation and offset of existing UVW channels directly from RailClone. With the ability to randomise UV offset, rotation, tiling, plus material IDs, you’ll never spot texture repetition again.

Conform to Surfaces

• Conform Arrays to a Surface – No need to use other tools to conform splines to terrain, let RailClone do it for you! Splines are updated automatically and in real time so you can see the results of design changes instantly.
• Follow Surface Normals – Use the surface’s normals to deform geometry or ignore them and use RailClone’s three standard deformation modes, it’s up to you!

Wire Parameters

• Export Parameters – Choose to access any parameter from the modify panel to make styles easier to use, adapt and share with other users.
• Arithmetic Operator – You don’t have to be Turing to make mathematical relationships between parameters in RailClone. Create constants, editable variables or export size attributes from objects and use the arithmetic nodes to wire together equations.
• Expressions – Write custom expressions to control the behavior of one or multiple values at the same time. Create sophisticated interdependencies using RailClone’s built-in variables and functions to create impressive parametric structures.

Clipping

• Spline Clipping – Slice and include or exclude geometry using closed splines. RailClone’s boolean tools are far more efficient than Max’s, only the objects that are clipped are calculated, other objects remain instanced to minimise build-time and improve memory management.
• Automatically extract sizes – Use RailClone as a powerful floor, roof or ceiling generator that can fill an area from single closed spline. Rotate RailClone and use it to create cladding, siding, shingle and many other vertical styles.
• Automatic Capping – Automatically cap clipped objects to make it easier than ever to create a seamless object. Capped faces are UVed using real world mapping coordinates so you can easily apply materials to the new geometry.

Conditional Relationships

• Conditional Rules – Create styles that can adapt to different circumstances automatically with powerful conditional rules based on spline length, vertex type, spline type, vertex angle, object count and current position in the array.
• Limit by Materials ID – Use material IDs applied to spline objects to limit the placement of RailClone objects. Use multiple generators and different material IDs to drive many different styles using a single spline.
• Generator Padding – Combine and overlay multiple generators on the same spline section with the option to add an offset to the top, bottom, left and right of the array.

Library and Presets

• Library Browser – Add a new RailClone object to your scene in an instant using the built-in Library Browser.
• Built-in Presets – The RailClone library contains many predefined styles, ready to use. RailClone Pro includes over 350 styles in 28 categories, with materials for V-Ray, Mental Ray, Scanline, Corona and Thea Render. Click here to see what’s included.
• Create and Share – Create your own libraries and easily share them with colleagues or other users. The RailClone Library is fully customisable with advanced features including the ability to automatically load materials to match the current renderer and run custom Maxscripts on load or import.

Industries & Key Benefits

ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION RailClone allows anyone to create smart architectural components that are easy to set-up and edit. It’s not just a modelling tool either, its instancing power means you can easily create scenes with huge poly counts.	VISUAL EFFECTS RailClone is an exceptional scene assembly tool. It’s rule-based approach to modelling makes parametric layout accessible to VFX artists. From the most intricate detailing to planet-scale designs, RailClone has got you covered.	AEC RailClone fits perfectly into design processes that require rapid and regular updates. Models are fully editable at any time and making changes is fast and easy – which means less time spent updating scenes, and more time spent designing.

• Versatile – With RailClone there are no limits on your creativity. Unlike other scripts and plugins that are designed for a single type of model, in RailClone you can create almost any parametric object.
• Easy to Use – RailClone uses an easy-to-understand graphical Style Editor to create sophisticated structures. Unlike other procedural tools, absolutely no programming knowledge is necessary.
• Fast – RailClone is fully multi-threaded and highly optimized for speed. This, coupled with the Points-cloud display mode, and native geometry shaders means that you can create and render huge parametric objects, made from thousands of highly detailed parts.
• Adaptative – RailClone transforms, slices and deforms geometry to create a seamless object. Just set the construction rules, and all the necessary deformations are applied automatically, even on curved paths.
• Smart – Let RailClone do the thinking for you with advanced algorithms to deform geometry to follow sloping paths and surfaces. Inclined and uneven walls, stairs, handrails and balustrades and stepped fences are no longer a chore to create in 3ds Max.
• Ready to go – RailClone comes with over 350 predefined styles, including Fences, Railings, Barriers, Traffic, Walls, and much more. The library browser is fully customizable, allowing you to add new categories and models with a single click and share them with your colleagues.

Specs

Installation Requirements

     3ds Max

 
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