I rec'd a gmax TurboSquid Toy Box for Christmas, and was wondering, is there a way to convert the gmax into 3ds or obj, so I can use them in Bryce?

As far as I know, Gmax models can only be used in Gmax enabled games. Kind of like the Half-life/XSI Experience from Softimage.

Bummer, there are a few spaceships I'd like to use...=(

No you can convert themmm... Go to discreets website and download G-max with the Tempest GamePak...Follow the instructions and there you go...

Thought there might be a way. It's been a long time since I've played around with Gmax.

Me too,I havent played with G-max since I use Truespace6.6 and MayaPLE most of the times...

If you want g-max to box modeling, forget it and use wings3d.

The Tempest game pack will allow you to export the model in MD3 format and then use Deep exploration to convert that into 3ds, obj.

Attached Link: http://www4.discreet.com/gmax/

P.S. Gmax forum

Message edited on: 12/29/2004 00:36

Ok, all I wanted was to use some of the spaceships and buildings found in the TurboSquid Toy Box, in Bryce or Vue. That would mean opening the gmax format model in 'some' other app and then exporting as an obj or 3ds.....if the Tempest game pack will allow me to do that, great, if not, I have some really cool models I can't use....=(

You have to install the Game Pack into G-max...Follow the tutorials and get them from the Forums...I might be able to go back thru a few older archives in old harddrives and see if I can find the tut..

Thanks bunches....=)

Remember you might be able to use Milksahpe3D to convert from 3ds to object...?

Just need either 3ds's or obj's at the moment.... btw, I installed the 3ds max5 Demo, and have proceeded to export all the max models I collected to 3ds and obj, so I can use them in any app, got 30 days to DL and change max models to something useable......=)

Saaaaawwwweeeeeeeet.............

Just a word about converting 3ds files to obj files. There is nothing more annoying and frustrating than having spent a good deal of time converting models then, at a later date, when you go to use the converted model, the parts import scattered all over the place. This would be most disturbing after your trial period has expired when you become aware of it and can no longer reconvert. Before converting, click the utilities panel, the small tab with the hammer icon, and select the model and use the reset Xform. 3DStudio is a powerful, engineering grade precision CG package but does so in its own coordinate space environment. Many times while modeling we find it easier to mirror, clone, scale, move and do other transformations to symmetrical pieces but this action does not sit well with other programs using different space coordinate environments. Using the reset Xform (xform=transform) forces the model to behave in other programs.

So far so good, it asks if you want to keep the coordinate environment or not, but I'll check the models I did just in case....

This is just a word of caution to give warning. This doesnt happen all the time. 3DS always asks that standard question when saving models. It is perfectly happy in its own environment and the model will open there without problem. Nevertheless, it does not guarantee a flawless conversion. Imagine you are modeling a car for instance and you have come to modeling the tires. Knowing that you will require 4, you systematically clone and rotate to position them. But now youve decided that they seem a wee bit small for the chassis, so you scale them up a little. Youve just put those items through several transforms in their natural space and all seems well but sometimes, not always, after youve converted your model and bring it into a different program youll be perplexed to see 3 out of the 4 tires scattered to some ungodly place in your workspace. 3DS keeps a workflow history that it passes along in hierarchy schemes and sometimes that history isnt finalized. Thats what reset Xform is for. It sort of stamps the final coordinate system on the model part after all the pulling twisting, turning and manipulating. I make it a practice to reset Xform and collapse the stack (work flow history in the modify panel) when I finish a model. This is why you, on occasion, see posted here requests for help from people that have purchased some fine expensive 3DS model thats scattered its parts when imported into Bryce and in very complicated models, those parts may number in the hundreds. Happy converting! ;)

I've seen those posts and always thought, 'gawd what a mess to put THAT back together', LOL, yes I will definitely do what you suggest...=)