3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [52]
Exporting supported formats
In addition to importing, you'll sometimes want to export Max objects for use in other programs. You access the Export command by choosing Application Button⇒Export⇒Export. You also have the option to Export Selected (available only if an object is selected) and Export to DWF.
Max can export to several different formats, including the following:
• Autodesk (FBX)
• 3D Studio (3DS)
• Adobe Illustrator (AI)
• ASCII Scene Export (ASE)
• AutoCAD (DWG, DXF)
• Collada (DAE)
• Initial Graphics Exchange Standard (IGS)
• Flight Studio OpenFlight (FLT)
• JSR-184 (M3G)
• Lightscape Material, Blocks, Parameters, Layers, Preparations, and Views (ATR, BLK, DF, LAY, LP, VW)
• Motion Analysis (HTR)
• Publish to DWF (DWF)
• OBJ Material and Object (OBJ)
• ACIS SAT (SAT)
• StereoLithography (STL)
• VRML97 (WRL)
Moving files to Softimage, MotionBuilder, and Mudbox
3ds Max is available as a standalone product, but it also ships within a Creative Suite of applications offered by Autodesk. These suites can include Softimage, MotionBuilder, and Mudbox, and you can easily move the current Max scene file to one of these other applications using the Application Button⇒Send To menu. For each application, you can choose to send the scene as a New Scene, Update the Current Scene, Add to the Current Scene, or Select the Previously Sent Objects.
New Feature
The ability to move the current Max scene to Softimage, MotionBuilder, or Mudbox is new to 3ds Max 2012. •
Moving files to and from Maya
Maya is Autodesk's sister to Max, so you may find yourself having to move scene files between Max and Maya at some time. The best format to transport files between Max and Maya is the FBX format. Autodesk controls this format and has endowed it with the ability to seamlessly transport files among these packages.
Tip
The FBX format also is the format to choose when transferring files back and forth with Max files in older versions of 3ds Max. •
The FBX format includes support for all the scene constructs, including animation, bone systems, morph targets, and animation cache files. It has an option to embed textures with the export file or to convert them to the TIF format. Other import and export settings deal with the system units and world coordinate orientation. You also have the ability to filter specific objects. The FBX Export dialog box is shown in Figure 3.12.
FIGURE 3.12
The FBX Export dialog box provides the best way of transferring among Max, Maya, and MotionBuilder.
The FBX import and export dialog boxes include the ability to save and load configuration presets. This is helpful because once you figure out the correct settings to get models in and out of Max, you can save the preset and instantly select it the next time you need to move a file. The Web updates button lets you check for updates to the FBX format online.
Tip
When exporting a file for use in Maya, be sure to set the Up Axis to Y-up, or the models will show up rotated. •
When exporting the file to FBX format, you have a Type option that you can use to export the file as an ASCII text file or as a Binary file. Binary files are typically smaller, but ASCII files can be edited in a text editor.
The FBX format is being continually updated, but the FBX Export dialog box lets you select which FBX version to use. If you need to export a Max file for use on an older version of Max, be sure to select an older FBX version in the FBX Version drop-down list.
Using the OBJ format
The OBJ format is a text-based format that has been around since the early days of Wavefront, an early 3D package. It is a common format and used to exchange 3D data with a variety of programs, including Poser and ZBrush.
One aspect