are there any free plugins for 3dsmax or free modeling programs with decent cell shading

3ds max has a built in "Ink'n'Paint" material type that is a cel-shader.

3dsmax ink&paint looks terrible

Terrible as opposed to what?
Cel-shading, like any type of shading, requires a good model that is built for it to begin with. If Ink'n'Paint looks terrible, then either you have it on the wrong settings or whatever you are trying to shade is not suitable for it.

well iv ued it a bit but the main problems are, that old modleing artifacts keep showing up, also i cant manually define lines, and any time 2 objects join i get this fuzzy stuff

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Original post by Kaze well iv ued it a bit but the main problems are, that old modleing artifacts keep showing up, also i cant manually define lines, and any time 2 objects join i get this fuzzy stuff

Get a photobucket account and upload some problem renders. It will be easier to help you out.

Make sure the quality setting it set as high as it goes and you can define edges by telling it to outline by smoothing groups and/or material ID's.

the biggest problem is the artifacts, this is just a box that i used spherefy on, basicly the lines are more dependant on what it was than what it is, and the more i work a modle the more artifacts i get

Quote:

Original post by Kaze are there any free plugins for 3dsmax or free modeling programs with decent cell shading

Here's some links for Blender
Toon Effects
NPR Discussion 1
Toon Shading
An Introduction to Blender's Toon Materials