Rappa Tools 3.4 is out

Rappa Tools 2015-03-25 09:55 article > Software

New version of plugin for 3ds Max that speeds up workflow.

RappaTools3 is an advanced toolbox that comes with a great variety of tools for the artist working in 3ds Max. The main focus is to speed up the workflow and to reduce the amount of clicks. It offers a wide variety of tools, everything from selection tools to rendering tools. It comes with 3 user interfaces (2 of which are customizable), 3 customizable HotBox, a quad menu + a toolbar menu and 380+ macroscripts that can be assigned to a keyboard shortcut, custom toolbar, quad menu or used in your custom tool / interface. Plugin costs €31.99, All RappaTools3+ updates are free. Visit RappaTools3 page.

Version 3.4 changes:

Added support for Verts, Edges, Faces, Elements to RandomFly (each sub mode works in a different way).
Added Arc Tool to GeoOutline which is now a tool.
Added support for Splines to One Object, Explode Object, Detach Selection and Break Selection (also way faster than before).
Added extra functions to Move 2 Point such as planar rotate snap, move from point 2 point.
Added viewBlueprint so you can quickly add an image plane for the current view, they also move back so they don't intersect with each other.
Added support to CleanVerts and WeldVerts for subObjSelection.
Added support for EditPoly modifier to RandomSelect, RemveLoop, RemoveRing.
Added to WorkingPivot +shift to place the working pivot, when already active it keeps the direction.
Improved MakeMultiMaterial, collapse isn't required anymore, also from folder uses vray materials if it's assigned.
Improved Multi Hide, partial selection = hide, empty selection = unhide, all visible selected = invert.
GeoEdge is now a tool allowing to change the edge length on the fly.
Improved Create Polygon, also now it works with one edge selected (blender fill style) and inner verts are connected, inner edges are divided.
Improved Smart Toggles, and Sub Object Level toggles is more aware of the modifiers.
Improved CopyReplace, SetObjectHeight and VrayCameraFromView.
Improved Copy / Paste Material, it uses the scene material if the same.
RappaTools3 Quad Menu now can be assigned to either ctrl+shfit or ctrl+shift+alt.
Added Delete Empty Layers, toggles for display color, vertex color and shade vertex color.
Added RappaTools3 Menu and 2 extra HotBoxes.
Added Clean Arch Models to Unify Normals UI.
Various improvements and optimisations.

RappaTools 3.4 in use (no sound, video only):

Author: Rappa Tools

Tags: rappa

Chaos releases Corona 16 for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D with Gaussian Splat relighting and Parallax Interiors

Corona 16 adds GPU-accelerated Gaussian Splat relighting and a new Parallax Interiors system that renders furnished rooms behind windows using flat geometry, cutting memory overhead for multifamily and tower facades. New AI Assistant beta helps with mood matching and scattering.

Oruva brings 3ds Max scenes to Blender, Cinema 4D and others - with materials converted for each renderer

A new Windows tool reads native .max files and rebuilds V-Ray and Corona materials for target renderers, letting multi-software studios skip re-setup work.

Quixel Megascans is free again - and this time it's permanent

Epic Games has made the full 23,000-asset Megascans library free on Fab indefinitely as of November 5, 2026, with refunds for 2025 purchases and new AI training rights. The Fab Standard License covers any game engine or tool without renderer lock-in.

Claude Opus 5.5 cuts AI-assisted Blender workflows 40% cheaper and 30% faster

Claude Opus 5.5, released September 22, cuts API costs by 40% and speeds output by 30%, making AI-driven scene assembly in Blender more practical for solo artists. The model excels at staging, lighting and rig fixes but not production mesh generation.

V-Ray 7 Update 5 embeds AI guidance, asset generation, and MCP agents across the V-Ray Collection

Chaos shipped V-Ray 7 Update 5 on November 5-6 with 30+ features including an embedded AI Assistant, Cosmos AI asset generation, and MCP server connections to ChatGPT and Claude. 3ds Max users face delays while Rhino and SketchUp gain immediate native AI access.

Arnold 7.5.4: Render Pausing, Faster Viewport, and Shader Compositing

Arnold 7.5.4 adds true render pausing, expands viewport acceleration to 3ds Max and Cinema 4D, and introduces a Shader Imager for pixel-level compositing without full rerenders. GPU instance performance jumps 3x for large scene updates.

V-Ray 7, Update 5: AI Scene Building and AMD GPUs Meet Real-Time Ray Tracing

Chaos embeds AI assistants, MCP server integration with Claude and ChatGPT, 2D-to-3D asset generation, and AMD GPU support into V-Ray 7, Update 5. The update also bundles Vantage real-time ray tracing access for Collection license holders, targeting faster workflows without compromising offline render quality.