zDepth and camera target

[themaxxer]

I don't know if this was requested before, because I don't find anything about it.

Is it possible to get an option in the zDepth render element to get the distance from the cam target?
I now have to animate the depth by hand for every key...

best regards
themaxxer

[vlado]

There is a note to get the min/max values from the camera clipping planes (even if camera clipping is disabled) or environment ranges - is this what you need?

Best regards,
Vlado

[themaxxer]

thanks, I think this what I need but how to setup? where's this note?
I need an automatic search for the depth ranges. the depth in my animation is changing the distance to target in a very dramatic way, and I would like to get a perfect depth map for every frame.

thanks.
themaxxer

[jordanw]

You can use an expose transform, choose the cam target as the expose node, uncheck parent and select the cam as local reference node. You can now wire the 'Distance to Reference to the max value of the zdepth in the render element.

[dlparisi]

You can use an expose transform, choose the cam target as the expose node, uncheck parent and select the cam as local reference node. You can now wire the 'Distance to Reference to the max value of the zdepth in the render element.

Very smart. Excellent way to do it.

[themaxxer]

that's great! it works like a charm.

I have to use the wire parameter more often, but I am not the coder... does anybody has some tips to start with maxscripts? any tuts or books?

best regards
themaxxer