Ornatrix V2 review
4/5 Star Rating: 
By: Joe Gunn
Pros:
Modifier stack flexibility
MassFX dynamics
Cloth strip dynamics possible
Multiple rendering options including Vray
Hair curling, Easy Clustering, Seeds values, Surface comb Sinks
Cons:
Demo installer had multiple errors upon install
MassFX dynamics limited by Autodesk’s integration
Documentation doesn’t install local with installation
Tutorials are needed in many areas of the product
Modifier workflow needs improvement, presets.
Ornatrix
Website: https://www.ephere.com
- Increased speed due to multi-threading of many core algorithms
- Full VRay support
- Full MassFX dynamics integration in 3ds Max 2013+
- Many options added to allow a more flexible hair pipeline
- User interface enhancement and simplification
- Many bug fixes and stability improvements
A detailed list of changes can be found HERE
1 or more licenses: – USD$499.00 per license
5 or more licenses: – USD$470.00 per license
Site/Unlimited Licenses
(10 or more, best deal) – USD$4500 total
Overview:
Ornatrix is not a new hair plugin but V2.0 is a major release for this product which is why we are doing this review. Ornatrix has a long history as a great hair plugin for 3ds Max and in December of 2012 Ephere, the makers of Ornatrix, released the long awaited V2.0. At certain points in this review I will be comparing the default 3ds Max hair system against Ornatrix in order to illustrate features or concepts. Also note that in this review I will be using a character head instead of using a default sphere’s or other primitive. 3ds Max already ships with a solid hair system built in and there are a number of 3rd party hair plugins available, so why would one look elsewhere? Hopefully after this review you may have a better understanding of Ornatrix and the features & benefits it can provide.
What’s New:
Ornatrix v2.0 has a lot of new features & capabilities. Let’s start out by mentioning it’s great integration with Vray. Vray has taken the industry by storm and Ornatrix works really well with this render engine. Included in Ornatrix is the “VRayOrnatrixMod” modifier which allows you to render using features from the Vray toolset like GI, Vray hair shaders, Vray Motion blur & more. This makes your render element workflow a breeze since you treat it as any other object you would render. No hassle with switches, buttons, or multiple light setups. This version has “Multi-Threading” all over the place now. Modifiers like Hair Curling are now multi-threaded. Anyone that has taken the plunge and is using 3ds Max 2013 can take advantage of MassFX dynamics with Ornatrix. This is a great feature as it allows you the ability to use 3ds Max’s native dynamics engine with Ornatrix hair. Ornatrix v2.0 adds directional gravity with the “Ox Dynamics” modifier (X/Y/Z) which is another great control when using hair for VFX. Please see the product info a full list of new features.
Good review!! If you get the opportunity, would be cool to do a review comparing Ornatrix 2.0 to HairFarm 2 now that VRay supports both in VRay 2.4
Thanks for the hair strip image, was trying to figure that out.
[…] off, I would like to mention and thank this great Ornatrix 2 Review by Joe Gun. It inspired me to write down this post. It is not meant to be a concise review, but rather, more […]