I'm looking for a freeware program / application to convert .3ds files to .obj files to texture them in UV Mapper.

LithUnwrap can convert .3ds files to .obj and other formats. It's also a mapping application similar to UVMapper. I actually use both utilities, depending upon what I need to accomplish.

Assuming that you have Poser, because you posted in the Poser forum, you already have one 8-) Create a new Poser document and delete everything in the scene. Import the 3DS file into Poser, and then export it as an OBJ file. That should do it!

Attached Link: http://home.europa.com/~keithr/Crossroads/index.html

Anim8or is also free and you can convert between 3ds and obj, but will not UVmap.

I have anim8tor-it's an excellent prog but I never knew that it could do file conversions like that...Thanks to everyone who responded to this posting-I think I have what I needed now-thank you so much for your kindness....Mugs-

Actually Deecey's solution is the best and easiest :o) Poser vcan do that easily. AND it won't mess up the scale :o)

Yeah, Poser is the thing in this instance. Anim8or doesn't handle materials or groups in its OBJ i/o. It's good for other things, though. :)

Provided it is Not a single mesh, then in Anim8or I would give the diffent groups their own names, then Export as obj and use UVMapper to assign materials. If however it is a single mesh then all Anim8or is good for is exporting it out as obj. For this sinario Poser would probably be better Provided the 3ds has materials assigned to begin with.