Max Differentiation

Techniques

Overview

The following topics are covered in this document:

– Max Earth differentiation
– Custom icons and color tables
– HD materials
– Event Engine
– Data Driven Properties
– Max Interactivity
– 3D Extrusions and Precipitation Particles

Resources available for Earth differentiation can be found here:

– Max Differentiation webinar
– Earth Environment
– View scenes available

Max Earth differentiation

Users can manually color political boundaries, giving users virtually endless options. Political boundaries in this instance refer to "borders"—the same borders your users are likely utilizing on map scenes. These layers can be set to various options: countries, states and provinces, or counties. We also offer many similar scenes that are ready for users to download.

The Earth Environment layer in Max houses four features you can blend to create a more realistic graphic. Atmospheric haze, enhanced water, moon phases and nighttime lights can set your presentation apart from the competition.

Resources for customizing icons and color tables:

Webinars
– Editing icons already in Max
– Customizing color tables

Custom icons and color tables

If you have an in-house graphic artist, you can import your own icon sets into Max. Although weather icons are market exclusive, the same few icon sets are the only choices for all markets across the country. If you really want to stand out, custom icons are an option.

Max Import

By using the Max Import and Data Display Configuration tools, users can switch default icons to custom icons.

The Data Display Configuration tool also allows the user to edit and create new color tables. Contours, radar, satellite, and so on, are all attached to specific color tables. There are a number of color tables that come standard on the Max system, but they are the same for every market. One way to stand out from the rest is to start with the standard color tables as a guide and then create your own.

Users can also create custom icons by editing and combining the existing Max icons. We provide a webinar that demonstrates how to do so, step by step.

Gloss Map

Use a black and white image to control glossiness.
Gloss Map Motion
Gloss Map Scale
Gloss Map Position and Rotation
An Environment adds realistic color and reflections to an object
Environment Map Motion
Environment Map Rotation

Resource for the HD materials:

HD materials

Max supports material options that previously required Max Reality (a premium feature) to make textures look more realistic. In the Material drop-down menu, users can choose HD Metal or HD Plastic. HD materials support gloss maps and environment maps. Gloss maps define how shiny a surface is using grayscale.

White in the gloss map provides a full gloss. The gloss is lessened with a gradation toward darker colors. Black gives a full matte look.

Environment maps define the image that the texture will reflect to create unique looks. They can be applied to an individual object in a scene or globally in the light layer, such that all objects in the scene with the new HD materials will have the same reflection.

The lighting layer has an option to enable "Ambient Occlusion," which renders the shadows of objects in a more realistic fashion.

Resource for the Event Engine:

Event Engine

Starting in Max 6.9 SP1 and higher, Max users have access to the Event Engine. Building out events in the Event Engine allows users to have Max observe the weather for you. It can even deliver content to you based on the weather situation. Any time members of your weather team create a graphic, they should attach the graphic to a category or weather event.

When graphics are only used a few times a year, they tend to get "lost." Weather teams inevitably create the same graphics over and over again every season, when they could be spending time on other tasks or creating new content. The Event Engine helps with that too. It triggers the graphics and serves up situationally relevant content for all seasons and situations.

Resources for Data Driven Properties:

Data Driven Properties

Data Driven Properties (DDP) allow for unique, automated visuals over a multitude of weather parameters. These visuals can be displayed in differentiated styles from graphs to plots and all in between. Instead of showing the same temperature map that ticks through the next 24 hours, show a chart with peaks and valleys. Your viewers will really get a sense of planning their day by looking at weather parameters in a different way.

The possibilities with DDP are endless. The Weather Company provides resources and webinars for Max users. The webinars range from beginner to the most advanced of graphic creation. If your Max users aren’t sure where to start, we also provide downloadable scenes. Users can find a variety of these scenes to work with and edit to their station preferences.

Resources for Max Interactivity:

Max Interactivity

Max users can really "wow" their viewers by taking advantage of Max Interactivity. If you are a Max Studio station, interactivity is available. Interactivity helps focus on weather in a variety of ways that help to make complex information simple and visually stunning. Turn your average "tower cam graphic" into something more interesting by using interactivity. Users can switch between multiple tower cams or weather maps to further explain the situation at hand. On severe weather days, your Max users can stay front and center at the chromakey (instead of driving behind the computer) by using interactivity. They can create Interactive Buttons for a Hit Windshield that will allow them to work with the weather on the fly.

Documentation

3D Extrusions and Precipitation Particles

Bring weather to life before your very eyes using the 3D Extrusions and Precipitation Particles in Max.

3D Extrusions allow you to give model-based contours, satellite imagery, and all NOWRAD radar products an enhanced 3D look. These enhancements can be used on both earth scenes and cutouts, including when using Max Reality.

Once again, using the Data Display Configuration tool, or simply clicking the "edit pencil" on any contour will allow you to turn on 3D particles for precipitation. Viewers will get a real sense of just how heavy the rain will be, or where the rain/snow line begins/ends.