What’s changed with Maxwell 4 licensing?
We’ve “unzipped” the old, generic Maxwell Suite package from V3, and Maxwell 4 license seats are now based on the 3D platform that you use. This means that you only pay for the tool you need, and we can focus more on each 3D integration individually, and bring you improved usability.
You can choose from a total of 11 plugin integrations, and our standalone editor Maxwell Studio will now be sold separately:
- Maxwell |3ds Max
- Maxwell | Cinema 4D
- Maxwell | Revit
- Maxwell |ArchiCAD
- Maxwell |Rhino Windows
- Maxwell |Rhino Mac
- Maxwell | MODO
- Maxwell | Solidworks
- Maxwell | Maya
- Maxwell | SketchUp
- Maxwell |FormZ
- Maxwell |Studio
NOTE: A few of the plugins previously available in V3 such as Softimage and Lightwave have been discontinued due to low demand or discontinued support from the developer.
What’s included with the new plugin integrations?
Each plugin integration is now packaged together with the full Maxwell toolkit which includes:
- Maxwell Production Engine
- Multilight™
- FIRE (interactive preview engine)
- Materials Editor
- Real camera model
- Network tools
So you have everything you need all together in the same install.
How does this new licensing model work when upgrading from V3?
When you upgrade to Maxwell 4 from a previous version, you select the integration for the 3D platform that you use (or you can select Studio if you don’t use the plugin workflows). For multiple seats you can choose a different integration for each seat that you upgrade.
Can I still use Maxwell Studio?
Maxwell Studio is now sold separately, so if you use the Studio workflow then you just need to buy Maxwell | Studio. It comes with the complete Maxwell toolkit (as listed above), plugins are not included.
Do I need floating or node-locked licenses?
With Maxwell 4 you can choose node-locked or floating license types. BOTH license types support rendernodes and network rendering.
Node-locked licenses are locked to the computer where the license is installed and cannot be shared on different machines. Maxwell 4 node-locked licenses allow you to install on your work PC and also another copy on your laptop/home computer.
- Pros: Node-locked licenses are very simple and easy to install and require no further management.
- Cons: Node-locked licenses need to be installed manually on each machine and cannot be shared across a network.
Floating licenses can be shared across a local network which means that they can be called up and used on any machine where Maxwell is installed (via a license server application).
- Pros: floating licenses offer maximum flexibility and control to manage licenses across local networks with multiple users and/or render farms.
- Cons: An RLM license server application is required (free to install) to manage your floating licenses. Potentially more complex to install and manage (depending on your network set-up).
As a rule of thumb, if you have a small studio with only a handful of computers, node-locked licenses are simpler to set-up and use. If you have many machines, where installing individual licenses becomes impractical or you have different users at different times, then a floating license set-up is advantageous.
Why is there a price difference between floating and node-locked?
Floating licenses occasionally require more technical support from us to help you set-up or manage, and the system also requires more work from our development team. This is reflected in the price. If you only need node-locked licensing then you pay less.
What about the post production plugins?
The post production plugins (Photoshop, Nuke, After Effects) continue to be offered as free plugins, available for download at any time from the customer portal.
We hope this helps explain the changes with Maxwell 4. Our aim is to provide simplicity, so that you can focus on artistic side of your work.
Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome 🙂
What about the new pricing?
New licenses
- In Maxwell 4, you get your license seat the same as before, with a package that includes the Maxwell Engine, Multilight™, Materials Editor, Network tools, etc. PLUS your chosen 3D plugin. The difference is that now you have to choose the 3D plugin and you don’t download it separately. So effectively, each license seat is tied to a specific 3D platform. Then for example you get the main Maxwell package + plugin for 3ds Max.
- When you purchase, you have to choose between a nodelocked and a floating version, the nodelocked one being cheaper and easier to install. See above for more details.
- Rendernodes are sold separately and the packs are much cheaper. They work with nodelocked and floating license seats.
Example: If we take the Maxwell | 3ds Max example, a new nodelocked license costs 695€/$795 and a floating one – 895€/$995. Prices vary depending on the 3D platform of your choice and the nodelocked or floating version.
Upgrades
- You can upgrade to V4 directly from any older version (V1, V2, V3). One license seat equals one upgrade.
- You get 2 licenses per upgrade: one license + another one for FREE. You upgrade one old license seat and thus you get 2 x V4 licenses. You can choose between 2 plugin integrations or one plugin and Maxwell | Studio.
- You can choose between nodelocked or floating licenses, the latter being a more expensive upgrade.
- In case you already had rendernodes with older Maxwell versions, you can also upgrade these.
Example: If you are a 3ds Max user and you also use Cinema 4D (or you would like to use Studio in addition to Maxwell | 3ds Max), then a nodelocked upgrade would cost you 495€/$595 and a floating one – 595€/$695. You would get V4 Maxwell | 3ds Max + Maxwell | Cinema 4D (or Maxwell | Studio). If you had let’s say 8 rendernodes from a previous version, you can upgrade 10 x V4 rendernodes.
PROMO UPGRADES: Please note that if you purchased V3 with our latest Promo (30% off V3 + Free V4 upgrade), you must have a Free upgrade option in your Customer Portal. This upgrade just like all others will consist of the same products listed above (2 plugin integrations of your choice, or one plugin integration + Maxwell | Studio).
UPGRADE ISSUES: If you are experiencing any issues with your upgrade, Free or paid, we apologize for this inconvenience and we kindly ask you to get in touch with our Sales Support Team that will assist you as soon as possible. You can write them and open a case here or directly from your Customer Portal. We have recently renewed the Customer Portal and webshop, which combined with the high number of requests with the release, may be causing some issues. Please bear with us, as we are answering many of you and might not be able to respond as quickly as we would like. Thank you!
If I upgrade to V4 can I still use my V3 license?
- If you have a V3 license and you upgrade it to V4, you get the latest version of that same license so you will have V4 and no V3 anymore.
- If you upgrade one V3 license to V4 but you have another V3 license left, you will have both V3 and V4.
- If you have a V3 license and you buy a new V4 one, you you will have both V3 and V4.
NOTE: You should be able to have both V3 and V4 on the same machine (both licenses and demo versions). Maxwell and Maxwell | Studio will work fine but there might be issues with the plugins, so you will have to use one or the other (switch between plugin versions). Any issues, please contact the Support team via your Customer Portal or our web here.