Add Object Variation in 3ds Max with Soulburn Scripts

Introduction

Repeated objects can quickly make an archviz scene look artificial.

If every plant has the same rotation, scale, and model, the pattern becomes obvious. A small amount of variation is often enough to make the scene feel more natural.

In this tutorial, you will combine several Soulburn Scripts in 3ds Max to:

• Place objects correctly on the ground.
• Randomize rotation and scale.
• Select only a percentage of objects.
• Replace some objects with a different model.

This workflow is especially useful for vegetation, but the same idea works for many repeated objects in architectural visualization.

Scripts Used in This Workflow

This workflow uses a few Soulburn Scripts together:

• Pivot Placer
• Object Dropper
• Selection Randomizer
• Transform Randomizer
• Object Replacer

Each script does a small job.

The real power comes from combining them into one practical workflow.

Tip: This is not only for plants. You can use the same technique for stones, books, cushions, decorative objects, and other repeated assets.

Prepare the Objects

Start by selecting all the plants you want to adjust.

Then add them to a Selection Set.

This makes it easy to reselect the same group later, even after you select other objects or use a random selection.

Why Use a Selection Set?

A selection set keeps the workflow clean.

You will need to select all plants again later when replacing only some of them. Without a selection set, you may waste time manually selecting everything again.

Use Each Object’s Own Pivot

Before changing pivots or dropping objects, set 3ds Max to use each object’s own pivot.

In the transform center options, choose:

• Use Pivot Point Center

This is important because each object should be transformed from its own pivot, not from one shared center point.

If you use a common center, rotation and scaling can behave in a strange way when multiple objects are selected.

Important: For random variation, each object should rotate and scale around its own pivot.

Move the Pivot to the Bottom

Open the Pivot Placer script.

Set the pivot to the bottom of the object.

This helps the objects sit correctly on the ground when you drop them.

Why the Bottom Pivot Matters

For plants and props, the pivot should usually be at the contact point.

If the pivot is in the center, the object may sink into the ground or float above it when placed. A bottom pivot gives you a much more predictable result.

Drop the Objects to the Ground

Open the Object Dropper script.

Use it to place the selected plants onto the ground surface.

Settings

1. Select the ground object.
2. Set the direction to -Z Down.
3. Click Apply.

The plants should now move into the correct position on the ground.

At this stage, the placement is correct, but the objects still look too similar.

Add Random Rotation and Scale

Now open:

• Selection Randomizer
• Transform Randomizer

These two scripts work well together.

The Selection Randomizer chooses only part of the objects. The Transform Randomizer then applies random transformations to that selection.

This gives you control, because you do not have to randomize every object at the same time.

Set Up Random Rotation

For plants, rotation around the vertical axis is usually the first thing to randomize.

In the Transform Randomizer, set the rotation range:

Then set the random rotation to affect only the Z axis.

This rotates the plants around their vertical axis without tipping them sideways.

Tip: For ground plants, avoid randomizing X or Y rotation unless you specifically want tilted objects.

Set Up Random Scale

Next, set up the scale variation.

Use these values:

Then use the option that scales all axes together.

This keeps the scale uniform, so the plants become larger or smaller without being stretched.

Why Use Uniform Scale?

Uniform scale keeps the model’s proportions intact.

If you scale X, Y, and Z separately, plants can become unnaturally wide, thin, tall, or flat. For most archviz assets, uniform scale is safer.

Randomize Only Part of the Selection

In the Selection Randomizer, set the selection amount to:

• 60%

This selects only 60% of the plants.

Then use the Transform Randomizer to apply:

• Random Z rotation.
• Random uniform scale.

Because only part of the objects are selected, the result feels less mechanical.

You can repeat the process until the variation looks good.

Good to know: If you do not like the result, press Ctrl + Z and randomize again.

Check the Result

After randomizing, look at the scene from a few angles.

Check for:

• Plants that look too large.
• Plants that overlap badly.
• Repeated shapes that are still too obvious.
• Objects that rotated in an unwanted direction.

The goal is not to make every object completely different.

The goal is to break the repetition enough that the viewer does not notice a pattern.

Replace Some Objects with a Different Plant

Rotation and scale variation help, but the same plant model can still look repetitive.

To add more variation, replace some of the plants with a different plant model.

For this step, use the Object Replacer script.

Pick the Replacement Object

In Object Replacer, use Pick Object to Replace and select the new plant.

Make sure the replacement plant has a correct pivot position.

The pivot matters because the replacement object will use it for placement and alignment.

If the Plant Is a Group

If the replacement plant is a group:

1. Open the group.
2. Select the group helper.
3. Use that as the replacement object.

Do not select the individual objects inside the group unless that is what you want to replace with.

Important: A bad pivot on the replacement object can create bad placement after the replacement.

Select the Original Plants Again

Use the Selection Set you created at the start to select all the plants again.

This is why the selection set is useful.

You can return to the full plant selection instantly, even after picking the replacement object.

Randomly Select Plants to Replace

Now use Selection Randomizer again.

Set the selection amount to:

• 30%

This selects only a smaller part of the plants.

If you do not like which objects were selected, press Ctrl + Z and run the random selection again.

Because the selection is random, you can quickly try different combinations until the distribution looks natural.

Apply the Object Replacement

In Object Replacer, keep the settings at their default values.

Then click Apply.

The selected plants are replaced with the new plant model.

If the Selection Set Attribute option is enabled, the new replacement plants are also added to the same selection set.

This is useful because you can continue working with the full group of plants after replacement.

Practical Workflow Summary

Here is the complete process in order:

1. Select all plants.
2. Add them to a Selection Set.
3. Set 3ds Max to Use Pivot Point Center.
4. Use Pivot Placer to move pivots to the bottom.
5. Use Object Dropper to drop the plants onto the ground with -Z Down.
6. Use Selection Randomizer to select 60% of the plants.
7. Use Transform Randomizer to randomize Z rotation.
8. Use Transform Randomizer to randomize uniform scale.
9. Repeat until the result feels natural.
10. Pick a new plant in Object Replacer.
11. Select the full plant set again.
12. Use Selection Randomizer to select 30%.
13. Apply Object Replacer.

When to Use This Technique

This workflow is useful when you need manual control over repeated objects.

Use it for:

• Garden plants
• Grass clumps
• Small stones
• Books
• Table decorations
• Cushions
• Accessories
• Any repeated prop

It is especially helpful when you do not have a scattering plugin available, or when you want to manually place objects but still add variation quickly.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Randomizing Around the Wrong Pivot

If the pivot is not placed correctly, objects may rotate or scale in a strange way.

Fix the pivot before randomizing.

Scaling Each Axis Separately

For plants, separate axis scaling can look unnatural.

Use uniform scale unless you have a specific reason not to.

Replacing Too Many Objects

If you replace too many objects with the same new model, you may create a new visible pattern.

Start with a smaller percentage, like 30%, and adjust from there.

Forgetting the Selection Set

Without a selection set, it becomes harder to return to the original group of objects.

Create the selection set at the beginning.

Conclusion

Soulburn Scripts can make simple object variation much faster in 3ds Max.

By combining pivot placement, object dropping, random selection, transform randomization, and object replacement, you can turn repeated objects into a more natural-looking set with only a few steps.

The workflow is simple, but very useful for archviz scenes where many objects need small differences. Use it whenever repeated assets start to look too perfect or too obviously copied.