Need help with creating a custom bounding box

[osama3matarY396X]

Hi,

Just a quick question, how can I create custom a bounding box for an object in 3ds max like the one in the picture?

The bounding box must have no empty space and should have text (e.g. top, front), and each face should have a different color.

[10DSpace · Accepted solution]

@osama3matarY396X 

Technically, as far as I know you cannot create a custom bounding box in the Max definition of bounding box. (The Max bounding box just shows the min - max x,y&z dimensions of an object and exists only as an outline.) 

But you can create the box you show and describe in your post and then align it with any object in your scene that you want and then size your custom box to the exact size of the Max bounding box for the object    For all practical purposes, this is the same thing, since your custom box would match exactly the bounding box dimensions.     To do so:

1. Create your desired custom box with colors and text as you want (don't worry about it's initial size) and make sure that you center the pivot of your custom box via  Hierarchy Panel, select Affect Pivot Only and then Center To Object.

2. Select the object in the scene that you want this box to be aligned to and find it's dimensions.  You can use the Utility Panel>Measure function and this will give you the bounding box dimensions in scene units.   Also, center the pivot of this object via hierarchy panel.  

3. Using the dimensions you obtained in step 2 change the size of your custom box to match.  For the box, x should be width, y should be length and z for height.  Recenter the pivot of the custom box after you change it's dimensions.

4. Now select your custom box and align it with the align tool to the scene Object of interest with all axis checked for Align Position and Align Orientation.  Then click "Apply"

Your custom box should now be aligned with the object of interest in your scene. 

Some caveats:  Models created in other programs or that have been transformed (rotated different axis during modeling) can have some pretty wacky bounding boxes in Max. So you may not like the alignment you get in these special cases and you will need to correct the bounding box issue or align your custom box in these special cases.   But maybe all of your models are straightforward and this will work for you.  Hope it helps. 

[brand_maccus]

After using your procedure to Align the result, wouldn't you also be able to add Wire Parameters to make the Box function in the same manner as a Bounding Box?

[osama3matarY396X]

Man, I can't thank you enough. I was hesitating and thinking about modeling and aligning the bounding box in Blender but now I know what exactly I should do Of course, it helps. Thanks again.

[10DSpace]

@brand_maccus 

Interesting idea, but if the Object of interest is an editable poly/mesh I am not sure what parameters exposed via wire parameters dialogue would allow you to adjust the size of the custom box to match the new size?   But maybe I am missing your point and you mean something else?   Always interesting to hear other ideas.  Edit:  You must mean Bezier scale.  I will play around with that to see how it works.  Thanks for the idea.

[10DSpace]

@osama3matarY396X 

You are welcome.  I played around with the idea that @brand_maccus added above and you can use wire parameters to have the box move, rotate and scale with the object of interest once you have it set up per the steps above.   

Not sure if you need this behavior or not, but in case....