Hi there, I've got several props in .3ds file format and when I import those to Poser (5), they apear with all is components splited all over the place. I'm trying to convert some car models for example and I end up with the wheels and tyres at 45 degrees, the seats and lights at 90 degrees...and so one. I'm an absolute beginer at 3D Studio Max but I've tryed to make some save and export experiences with those models but with no luck. What's wrong? Can anybody help me? Thank's

pete,repete..repeat..there ok huh,wha? oh

Have you tried asking in the 3DS MAx forum?

Attached Link: http://www.habware.at/duck4.htm

You need the free Habware plugin and export in OBJ format. Solves all your problems.

another option, though using obj formay as PhilC says is usually the easiest. I'm using max 3.1 description, but 4 or 5 is the same. Be sure to explode ang Groups in max first. In Max, select all objects and from Command Panel, use Hierachy, Affect Pivot Only, Center to Object. With all objects still selected, go to Utilities on command panel and ResetXForm, Reset Setselected Now Export as a 3ds file and the Explosion problem should be defused.

Thank's everyone. I'll try both tips. Hey PhilC: can I keep the texture links using .obj format? Thank's

Yes, select the "Create Material Library" box. You may need to store the textures in the same folder as the OBJ.

BIG thank's for the tip PhilC. :) I'll try it as soon as I get to my computer. jaime

Hi Foxhollow, I've tryed your tip: "In Max, select all objects and from Command Panel, use Hierachy, Affect Pivot Only, Center to Object. With all objects still selected, go to Utilities on command panel and ResetXForm, Reset Setselected Now Export as a 3ds file and the Explosion problem should be defused." But when I do the Reset Set Selected the doors and wheels of the car disapear. I'm still doing something wrong...

Hi PhilC, I've also tryed the Max2Obj plugin. Nice plugin Phil. I select the "Create Material Library" and "Texture Cordinates" boxes. Then a second menu pop up: I select "Material library" and "Export maps" boxes, but then Studio Max crashes and doesn't save the file. Without put the texture options it exports the file and I can open it in Poser, with just a flat color, of course. Just one more question: And wow about the transparency parts? (eg: the windows). Can I keep transparency parts from Max to Poser with this plugin? I'm using 3D Max 5.1 and Poser 5 if that mathers. Thank's Jaime

I've seen that happen before with some objects disappearing. The could be scaled or have some other transform on them. I know I've solved this problem before, but I'm at a loss right now. It was probably some workaround liek saving to obj format firat and then importing back into max and exporting as 3ds again. Kind of a run-a-round, I know, and only makes sense if you absolutly NEED 3ds format. I usually use obj format when going to Poser anyway as it's native to Poser and usually translates the best. It looks like the Despona 2cvb you're translating, so I loaded the max version I have and exported to 3ds. It went fine without the "explosion" problem.

There is a verified bug in the Habaware Max 3 Max2Obj plugin, and I think it is also in the Version 4 plugin too that causes random relocations if scaling is used. It mostly happens if there is more than one group, or with "complicated" mesh. I suggest scaling 1:1 and using Objaction Scaler, that is what I do. Scaling on inporting (OBJtoMax) is O.K., though.

I'm going NUTS!!! I found that Max crashes only when I (using the Max2Obj plugin) choose "Create Material Library" option. I think I realy nneed to export .3ds files, because I want to keep transparency parts (like glasses) as well as the texture coordinates. This is what I'm geeting. I never tought it would be so dificult to export Max models to Poser.

O.K., that isn't the displacement bug I was talking about, that is something else. When I export stuff I just give all the parts materials as required, one for each color or whatever. The UV mapping (if present) gets exported if the "Texture Co-ords" button is checked. I've never exported with Material Library on, I have no doubt that there could be a bug in the plug-in there.

I could be totally wrong but I don't think Poser uses the mtl files anyway. If you have the materials set as Jim says above then you can set the transparency in the Poser materials dialog. I'm thinking that transparency isn't going to be something that transfers.

ok... let me find one of the Despona meshes I've converted where the "explosion" problem wasn't solved just by reseting the XForm. I'm pretty sure it was a "referenced scaling", but how I did it escapes me. My version of the 2cvb converted to 3ds with no problems. Seems like it was a Hierachy linking causing the problems. The key to all this is removing all the "Max" only features used in creating the mesh that have no counterpart in a 3ds file.

I'm trying to convert this 2cv for more than a week... I've tryed also with Max 4. I've tryed to export as .3ds them import it again and re-export, but it crashes Max. Also using Max2Obj with "Material Library" selected crashes Max. I've also dig in to the Max area on this Forum, and it seams that I'm not alone in this cruzade of converting files from Max. But none of the tips solved the problem. Plus, my skills in Max are not very good. I'm geting real NUTS!!! I'm gonna burn my computer. Thank you all anyway.

OK..think I have it. I loaded the 2cv off the Despona disks and did a straight export to 3ds. It looks ok when importing back to Max, which usually signifies it's ok. When I imported the 3ds into Poser, I get your results. The mesh is using Skin Poses in max to transform some objects.. the ones you see turned in Poser. This seems to cause the objects to revert to their original state when you reset the Xforms with all objects selected. Use the "Reset pivot to center, reset Xform" method I described in my original post but do it on only one object at a time. If you set a Viewport to Smooth & Highlight display mode and select all objects, you will see the disoriented bounding boxes... they will all align after you reset the xform for each individually. This takes a bit longer, but works. I haven't found a way to do this all in one operation, unfortunatly Good luck.. )

Hi Foxhollow, Sorry for the trouble. I'm gonna try it right now. I've loaded other car models from the same De Espona CD, and they converted OK (only have to link the maps and set transparency for the glasses). This 2CV model its the only that are give me trouble... Big thank's, Jaime

OK, I did what you describe (one at a time), but when I choose the "carroceria" part (after center the Pivot) and make a "Reset XForm" to it look what I got...

had posted this yesterday, but never made it.... I finally got the method for this file.. here's how: open original despona file delete all lights and cameras Select the main group and Explode it Select all objects and click UnLink Selection button. This is on main toolbar 4th from left if you haven't customized it. I usually delete the Dummy object as it's useless in Poser Select all objects and goto Hieracy panel. use Affect Pivot Only and click Alighn to World and Center to Object. Go to Utilities and reset Transform / Reset Selected. hehe.. that's it! Key is to Unlink all the objects. When resetting the transforms before, the objects didn't disappear.. they rescaled to about 100 times smaller. You might want to reassign materials, or, at least rename them so they are understandable in Poser... unless you speak Spanish! Hope this does it for you. Foxhollow

Thank you, Thank you! Foxhollow, you're my guru :) It really worked out. Finaly after more than a week. As for the materials; I don't speak spanish very well, but I do understand spanish. Thank's for your interest and patience. Now, I think I'm gonna keap my computer intact. Jaime

hehheh.. and I wrote it down this time.. ;-) glad we got it!