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pX SpritesRender: Renders Sprite Sheet from Animated 3D models in 3Ds Max

This will help you to render sprites of animated 3D models from multiple view angles. Create a Sprite Sheet and separate images to use them in your 2D Games.

Installation

Install the script copy the file pxSpritesRender.ms in your 3Ds Max Startup Scripts folder and restart max. If you want to try the script just once without installing it, open the file using MAXScript -> Run Script… (this way the script will be available during the current session only).

 

Using utility:

To access pX SpritesRender, open the utilities panel, click the MAXScript button and select it from the Utilities drop-down list.

 

Pick Root Object button: First, select the root object of your animated model. The script uses this object to rotate your model creating the different views. (Note: Selecting Biped COM directly as root object may cause a crash. Select a parent helper or shape object instead.)
Pick Camera button: Select a camera from where you want to create the renders.
Angular Views: Set the number of views the model will be rotated. The default value is 8, which means your model animations will be rendered each by 360 / 8 = 45 degrees.
Render button: 

Before clicking the Render button, be sure your render settings are set up correctly. The script uses the current settings you have already configured with the standard 3ds Max Render Setup dialog (F10). Set your desired image dimension, rendered plugin, file name, file format, along with everything else. Set the start and end of your current animation Active Segment to the corresponding animation you want to render.

NOTE: Close the Render Setup dialog before clicking the Render button. MAXScript can’t access the updated values if the dialog is still opened.  

Now click the Render button and the script will render the current animation as many times as Angular Views, by rotating your model, rendering only the Active Segment.
Example of Saved files names: MyCharcterWalk_0003_0023.png, where the first number corresponds to the angle view and the second is the animation frame.

Render Elements: 
The script supports “Render Element” settings, so it will render and save images of defined channels like opacity, diffuse, etc.

Example 3d character used:
– Cartoon Kid Isabella

 

Updates:

-2017-09-09: Fixed compatibility with new camera types (Physical camera).
-2017-02-24: Added functionality to join the images as Sprite Sheet. Learn more.