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Scriptspot.com has opened a new section "Meet the Gurus" which will feature interviews with script writers that have contributed free tools to the 3ds max community. The first interview is with Borislav Petrov, also known as Bobo.

Chaos Group have released an updated beta version of their upcoming fluid dynamics engine chaosAURA. This version fixes several bugs and adds a few new functions. The plugin is in public beta testing at the moment, and this version is time-limited.

SensAble Technologies, Inc. have announced a new plugin due out in March for 3ds max. The ClayTools system uses a virtual clay metaphor that removes the constraints of technical modeling, and offers a true 3D interface with force feedback. Read the whole press release here.

Juan Antonio Amblés, programmer of the very useful plugin Lightmesh, has joined forces with a few other people to start Toonmarket. Toonmarket offers 3D custom modelling, 2D graphic design, custom 3ds max plugin and Maxscript development and a 3D cartoon models shop. They have also posted a recompiled version of Lightmesh for 3ds max 6 and 7.

The hair plugin Ornatrix has been updated to version 1.2. Some of the significant changes include:
- Many improvements and bug fixes in area of strand and mesh generation
- New Ornatrix hair map, shader models, full vertex colors (and mapping) support, and enchanced tools for editing hair
- Improved rendering capabilities
- Many major and minor bug fixes
A 7 day trial version can be downloaded here.

CGunderground has posted an interesting interview with Steven Stahlberg.

Chaos Group have released an updated beta version of their upcoming fluid dynamics engine chaosAURA. This version fixes several bugs and adds a few new functions. The plugin is in public beta testing at the moment, and this version is time-limited.

Peter Watje has released 3 new freeware plugins for 3ds max 6 and 7:
- Blob Mesh adds 2 new options to the shipping version
- Conform Modifier is the same as the shipping compound object, but implemented as a modifier
- Selection Cache Modifier is like the Point Cache modifier but also records vertex selection data

Wavgen have posted some interesting Flash and AVI files showing how TerraShader works together with mental ray. Since version 3.3, mental ray can load 16bit DEM displacement files, and TerraShader, a wavelet shader, makes full use of this. Head over to Wavgen for more information.

Here is the latest roundup of what has been updated or released recently:

BusyRay is a new freeware renderer for 3ds max 5 and 6
nPower Software have released Power CatiaToMax for direct import of CATIA 4 files
Next Limit released an update for RealFlow
David Gohara updated his sciAnaComp plugin, making all Photoshop blending modes available in a max material
3D Aliens released another update for glu3D
Chaos Group unveiled a stand-alone version of their V-Ray renderer with support for max and Maya