3DS Converter
3ds Converter provides cross-compatibility between 3D Studio MAX's 3D Studio Release4 mesh file formats (referred to as 3ds files below) and Shade3D object files. 3ds Converter makes it possible to exchange object data directly between 3D Studio Max and Shade3D without worrying about other file formats.
3ds Exporter Settings Dialog
Select File > Export > 3D Studio to open the 3ds Exporter Settings dialog box.
Specify settings for export in the 3D Studio Export Settings group.
- Material Checkbox
- When selected, the material information is exported as the image file format specified in the Image Type pop-up menu.
- Image Type Pop-up Menu
- Specifies the image file format for the exported material. Select either BMP or PCT.
Enabled when the Material checkbox is selected. - Camera Checkbox
- When selected, camera information is exported.
- Light Checkbox
- When selected, lights information is exported.
- Show Message Checkbox
- When selected, information on the export process is displayed in Shade3D's Message Window after export.
- Group Name Pop-up Menu
- Specifies the method for naming groups in the exported 3ds file. Select Object Name, Material Name, or Index.
Selecting Object Name will use the object's name as-is.
Selecting Material Name will look above the object in the hierarchy and use the name of the first part in which the material is saved.
Selecting Index will use a prefix and index number for the name. The prefix is specified in the File Name text box. The index is determined by the order of exported objects. - Index Prefix Text Box
- Specifies the index prefix when Index is selected in the Group Name pop-up menu.
Available when Index is selected in the Group Name pop-up menu.
3ds Import Settings Dialog
| Import |
|
This dialog box is displayed by selecting File > Import > 3D Studio...
Specify settings for export in the 3DS Import Settings group.
- UV Value Checkbox
- When selected, UV value information is imported.
- Material Checkbox
- When selected, material information is imported.
- Camera Checkbox
- When selected, camera information is imported.
- Light Checkbox
- When selected, lights information is imported.
- Use Group Name Checkbox
- When selected, group names are used for the imported file.
3ds Converter Message Window Display
When importing or exporting with the 3ds Converter, information on the import or export process is displayed in Shade3D's Message Window. The import/export process is complete when "Finish" is displayed.
When exporting, these messages will not be displayed if the Show Message checkbox is unselected.
| Messages |
|
(The Message Window during 3ds import/export)
About Data Conversion during 3ds Import/Export
When Exporting Objects
All exported objects are exported as a single mesh.
| Shade3D Object | 3d Studio MAX | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Closed line object | All exported objects are exported as a single mesh | If the closed line object does not lie on a plane in Shade3D it is subdivided into triangles. The Object Info Hole checkbox is not supported |
| Open line object | ||
| Revolved line object | The Closed checkbox and the Revolve Begin/End parameters in the Object Info window are supported for revolved line objects in Shade3D. | |
| Extruded line object | ||
| Disk | ||
| Revolved disk | The Closed checkbox and the Revolve Begin/End parameters in the Object Info window are supported for revolved disks in Shade3D. | |
| Extruded disk | ||
| Sphere | ||
| Curved surface | ||
| Polygon mesh | Round Edge is supported for polygon meshes. | |
| Meta-mesh | ||
| Boolean Modeling | ||
| Link object | ||
| Point light | ||
| Spot light | ||
| camera |
When Importing Objects
All objects are recognized as triangle meshes. Point lights and spot lights are imported, and the target camera can be imported.
When importing 3ds files, the coordinates of individual objects may not all coincide.
Surface Attributes Support
| Surface Attributes in Shade3D | Materials in 3d Studio MAX |
|---|---|
| Diffuse color | Diffuse reflection |
| Specular 1 size | |
| Transparency | Opacity |
| Roughness | |
| Mapping | Image mapping only |
| Channel | Diffuse reflection, Specular 1, Specular 2, Reflection, Transparency |
| Layer | Single layer only |
| Projection | Wrap only |
Caution Surface attributes not listed above are not supported.
Surface Attribute Handling during Export
When exporting a Shade3D scene as a 3ds file, Shade3D objects (curved surfaces, closed line objects, revolved solids, extruded solids, spheres, disks, etc.) are converted to polygons and then material settings are applied to each individual polygon.
At that point, a material is created for each object in Shade3D. In 3D Studio MAX each of those materials is given a number, such as "Material[0]," "Material[1]," "Material[2]." Names of parts and objects with surface attributes applied in Shade3D are ignored.
Shade3D master surface settings are applied as materials to each individual polygon.
Exporting Joints
Supported Shade3D Joints
| Supported Shade3D Joints |
|---|
| rotator joint |
| slider joint |
| scale joint |
| uniscale joint |
| ball joint |
Caution Joints not listed above are not converted.
All joints are treated as parts, and surface attributes applied to joints are converted, but animation settings will not.
Skin settings are supported, so objects posed by changing joint values in Shade3D can be exported in that pose.
Notes & Precautions for Export
Due to a limitation of the 3ds format, objects with more than 65536 vertices or faces cannot be exported. If Very Fine or Fine is selected from the Subdivision Surface pop-up menu in the export dialog box objects may sometimes exceed this limit and not export. In that case, reduce the level of surface subdivision.
Notes & Precautions for Import
When a 3ds file is imported into Shade3D, the file name and materials names applied to each object are displayed in the Browser.
Supported surface attributes, listed in the table above, are loaded for each object.
Mapping textures use UV Mapping, channels use Diffuse Reflection Only, and layers use Single Layer Only