Max 8.3 Jitter Features

Hey everyone, now that the initial buzz around the 8.3 release has died down a bit, and you’ve had some time to explore the (20+ !) new objects I’d like to shed a little light on the new Jitter features we’ve snuck into this release. We will continue to highlight these features over the coming weeks so this post should be taken as an introduction.

GL3 features

• First up, our most significant new feature is an experimental implementation of physically based rendering (PBR) in the form of a new object called jit.gl.pbr. The object functions similarly to jit.gl.material in that it generates a shader for any attached 3d objects and will dynamically adapt to the context lighting state. There are also several inputs to provide image maps for the various properties of the shading model. The object supports image based lighting (IBL) reflection and irradiance maps via the environment texture input.
  
  Additional features include a sophisticated parallax heightmapping effect with self-shadowing and ambient occlusion, and new texture coordinate generation techniques (@tex_gen biplanar / triplanar). All features are demonstrated in the help patch.
  
  Please note that the experimental designation above indicates that both the implementation and interface is subject to change while we continue to refine this object.

• jit.gl.cubemap now directly supports loading equirectangular formatted panorama images, with optional gamma correction.

• jit.gl.light @type hemisphere for lighting scenes with default shading or with jit.gl.pbr materials. Hemisphere lighting (also known as sky and ground lighting) is similar to directional but the light is cast both from above (sky), and below (ground).

• jit.gl.pass @fxname gamma - A new gamma correction, tonemap and dithering pass effect. Search the file browser for gamma.correction.pass for a demonstration and explanation of the features.

• Texture to texture copying is improved and simplified e.g. when attempting to adapt dimensions but change the texture type or rectangle mode.

Jitter Tools

• jit.gradient.ui for generating and modifying gradient matrices

• jit.gl.meshwarp masking mode - Functionality detailed in the help patch "mask mode" tab

• jit.gl.meshwarp texture output functionality

UX improvements

• Drag and drop image file support added to jit.matrix, jit.gl.texture and jit.openexr

• Shader editing in jit.gl.shader and jit.gl.slab will now retain the current parameter state when live editing the shader

• attrui preset and pattr support (perhaps the single biggest UX improvement for Jitter users in some time!)

Image loading

• Images displayed by matrix and texture objects are now no longer affected by the display color profile. The loading process should also be slightly faster.