Overrides the F3 hotkey so that whenever a custom property is present under the currently selected object that has »F3« in its name, that property is inspected instead of displaying the transient explorer.

See the download page for more information. This addon is from 2003 but still works with current versions of Softimage.

local backup: F3_Override.v1.0.xsiaddon

Some tasks which involve numerous similar objects can quickly become a real nightmare, if done by hand. Here we want to place and animate numerous dominos - 1000, 10000 even more - along a path, without dealing with each domino individually.

With the help of scripting, this can be done easily, giving us the ability to interact with the spacing and the timing of each instance. We can even choose an existing curve along which the dominos will be placed.

See the download page for a detailed walkthrough. This script is from 2001 but should still work with current versions of Softimage.

local backup: Dominos.v0.1.zip

When you want to animate many lights in a coherent way, this can quickly becomes a tedious work.

With the help of scripting, this could be a lot easier. Here we want to create a ring of lights, then animate the intensity of each light in circular patterns, and be able to play with some other parameters like the 'hardness' of the intensity transition during rotation. This script has two sides, one for creating such setup, the other will help us to animate it with the help of customs parameters created specifically for this kind of animation.

See the download page for a detailed walkthrough. This script is from 2001 but should still work with current versions of Softimage.

local backup: LightsRing.zip

One of the strongness of virtual lighting is to be able to avoid real world constraints from a set. Here, we want to place precisely a 'specular highlight' on a surface.

Thanks to the power of the Softimage XSI constraints, I've created this little script which will help us to place this specular highlight precisely with the help of a null constrained on the surface of an object. It's possible to use this technic even with polygonal objects by 'ShrinkWrapping' a nurbs surface around it.

See the download page for a detailed walkthrough. This script is from 2001 but should still work with current versions of Softimage.

local backup: Highlight.v0.2.zip

Here's simple interactive depth of field controller for Softimage. Instruction: 1. Download Plug-in from here (archive) 2. Copy it to your Softimage user plugins folder 3. With camera selected Get>Primitive>Camera>Camera Dof Ctrl 4. Enjoy!

See the download page for a usage video. Vahan's 2013 demo reel (archive)

local backup: SOS_Camera%20DoF%20CtrlPlugin.zip

Scales an object to fit a specified length. This length can be taken from another object, points or specified manually. Translate an object by their bounding box centers, regardless of their center position.

Introduction video available on vimeo.

local backup: mScale2Fit.js (run in script editor or toolbar button)

Version 3.1. This is a popular toolset for batch rendering from both the Softimage Command Prompt and from the GUI. The download page contains detailed usage instructions.

Note: Similar to Martin Yara's (Japanese/Google translation here) and ringpull's (Japanese (archive)/Google translation here) blogs, have a look at Junki's blog for hundreds of entries with ICE workflow tricks and plugins. (Japanese/Google translation here)!

local backup: jhBatchie31.xsiaddon

Formerly known as jhInstancia. Replaces instances of a Model with copies/clones of the original model. Installs itself as a submenu under Get->Model. Commands included are: Instance to Duplicate, Instance to Clone, Select Master from Instances, Select Instances from Master, Select Instances from Instances, additional Options.

This tool has been updated since then. Substituting instance master is a new feature. Documentation (Japanese (archive)/Google translation here) Uninstall the previous version before installing the new one. You also need to manually delete the jhInstancia.Preset file from your user directory when you uninstall the previous one. e.g. C:users<your username>Softimage<XSI version>DataPreferences.

Note: The menu commands from the updated version »jhInSama« are in Japanese. They correspond to the same commands as listed above (Instance to Duplicate, Instance to Clone, ...)

local backup: InSama25.xsiaddon

(Updated Mar 2012) Mia_Material_Advanced is a shader phenomena which should solve most of your issues with the standard Softimage implementation of the Architectural Material, facilitate working with channels, plus add few additional nice features. Since I've spend quite some time investigating the whole topic, I thought it might be a good idea to describe the whole process on why I ended up writing my own spdl for the shader. [..]

Follow the download link to continue reading. Video (archive). Testimonials from the si-community thread:
Wow, thanks! This is great. I use it a lot and this looks like a great improvement. Thanks for sharing! —ActionART
Thanks alot. This solves some major headaches I had with mia in the past. Especially the highlight problem. —elhemp

local backup: Mia_Material_Advanced.xsiaddon

Installing this addon makes the Transformation parameter of the factory environment shader texturable, for example for ICE workflows such as the one shown here on Stephen's eX-SI support blog.

This addon also demonstrates how to use the siOnCreateShaderDef callback to modify shader definitions where in older versions this could only be done by modifying SPDL files - explained in detail here.

local backup: EnvironmentShader_SPDL_fixup.xsiaddon

A growing collection of tools thematically centered around the animation pipeline. For updates and an educative writeup on the development of each of these tools, visit the author's blog linked below.

So far included in the collection are: Keep Ref Keys (keeps only the keys on the target object for frames matching the source object's keyed frames) FCurve Interpolation (switches the interpolation of the selected object's transformation FCurves) Match All Transforms (Select the objects that you want to move — Run the script — When prompted, pick the target object that you want to match) Tracker Script/ICE Compound (ICE tracker that influences Nulls created and »glued« at selected points) Copy Animation (simplifies the process of copy/pasting animation from one object to another) Offset Keys (quickly move the keys in one direction or another using the current frame as a starting point)

local backup: animation_tools_031812.zip

V1.5 update It's a very simple plugin but I find it very useful, so I decided to share it here. I called it mAligner. It basically aligns points, edges and objects. Aligns to global or local axis with the minimum selected value, maximum value, average value and specified value Aligns equidistant distance (local or global axis) Aligns to Reference Plane from polygon or edge Mirror position and rotation from the first selected object to the second one.

I also included ringpull's Align Equidistant Clusters (archive) in the xsiaddon and a button linking to this script in the PPG.

Update to V1.5 includes: Support for aligning curve knots Align Object Centers. Instructions available on the download page (scroll down there for English instructions).

local backup: mAligner.xsiaddon

On his website, CJ shares two cartoon rigs, Mark and Bob, ready to animate using a common synoptic view with facial controls. The two download pages linked below include video demos of the rigs.

Some new rigs (Jenny & Gene) appear to be in the works. All of CJ's rigs are shared under the creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.

local backup: rigs.zip

My colleague Manu Linares asks to create a gradient background. Here it is [..] Installation: Install addon. Restart softimage Activate and configure at File/Preferences/Custom Preferences/agGradientBackground

Related plugins: XSIGradient

local backup: agGradientBackground1.0.xsiaddon

This scene file / script / video tutorial from 2009 demonstrates how to set up tank treads in XSI v5.11

local backup: TU_TreadsGenerator1.1.zip

With that you can simply get a fast precomped preview of the Ambient Occlusion in your scene through a lens shader (and with one click only). You can turn it on and off. it doesn't need any additional performance when turned off, which is quite nice. [..] To use the script you need place the compound in the RTCompounds location and you also need to add (set WG_Path=\yourpathSI_WORKGROUP) to the softimage setenv.bat OR simply change the path in the embedded toolbar script on Line 5.

local backup: LensAOpreview.zip

Some alternatives to the classic thickness plugins that work for special cases like irregular polygons. For usage details and downloads, see the si-community thread linked below.

local backup: shellscripts.zip

SI has a pivot transformations that can be keyed without using a Center operator. The awkward thing for me is that this is done by changing the parameters values from the ppg window and translation of the pivot happens relatively to local transformation matrix of the object. So I wrote this handy little script that allow you to just pick a position in space that would be a new pivot center of the current frame.

For usage details and downloads, see the si-community thread linked below.

local backup: keyPivotTool.zip

I took a stab at using the new schematic object model additions for the schematic view. Two new menu items in the Schematics View menu »Expand Positions« and »Collapse Positions«. Also a custom command that you can use as well. Arguments that the command takes is a scalar value for the percentage to move the nodes from their average position and a boolean whether to move the child nodes or not.

This plugin is part of Eric's ET_Tools collection which he released here on github under an open source license. For a screenshot, see here on creativecrash.

local backup: ET_SchematicTools_1.15.xsiaddon

Updated October 2012 with a fix for pose saving. I just posted my latest version of ET_AnimStore. Version two was totally reworked and now supports storing animation and more: Database driven for stability Password protected to ensure no accidental deletions Now able to store animation New pose / animation organization (Projects, Model Group, Sets) Poses aren't locked to 1 character Clean util to remove defunct poses Deletion hierarchy; delete a project, and model group and sets delete with it.

Info from the first version: This plug-in allows you to store poses for a character and use them at a later time. Please watch the video below and download the plug-in as well. Please give me your feedback as I'm still trying to develop this to be as universal as possible.

Videos available: Intro, Create DB, Store & Apply Pose, Store & Apply Anim

This plugin is part of Eric's ET_Tools collection which he released here on github under an open source license.

local backup: ET_AnimStore_2.22.xsiaddon

This script was posted in this thread on the mailing list, following a request by Paul Griswold:

Here's a link to the script I have tooled around with: (dropbox link) (archive). It started off as Helge's script and I added some user functionality in. The zip file includes a sample scene. It's not polished and has RAM issues as Christian said. I keep meaning to re-write the XML component. I think it tries to load everything into RAM before writing any keyframes in AE and gets really bogged down. I have found that you can export stuff in smaller chunks or one element at a time and it still lines up in AE. I've done the Maya to AE(from Maya) before and it's nice that you can do it natively. Although, I think you would still want a script to setup the scene for you. By default it comes into AE as 1 unit = 1 pixel which is painful to work with. Several of the XSI->AE changes I made were in that area: Making what you are importing friendly to a normal AE comp.

local backup: XSI-AE_Test_Script.zip

DirectX viewport shader for game content development. From the XSIBase thread:

This shader is intended for game developers in the first place - where the 'coolness effect' is always more important than physical correctness. That's why I've placed it in this section. In this release, it represents a 'single layer material' type. A material that combines a single set of textures (layer) diffuse/spec/normal etc and are usually applied to most of static assets in games. My guess is, that it covers about 90% of needs. It's an equivalent of this material I use in Unreal engine 3.

[..] At the present state shader code provides the following features: Lambert/Half-labert shading Diffuse map/color Fresnel color Ambient color: blended with diffuse or blended with shading Specular reflections - added or multiplied with diffuse and 'ambient' specular Ambient occlusion map Emissive/constant - masked or unmasked Bump map Normal and detail normal Parallax offset Environment reflections- masked or unmasked Transparency - masked or unmasked Lightmap

local backup: gdtrt_shaders_and_demo_project.zip