I DL'd some .max files, thinking I could import them, or otherwise make them useful for Bryce 6.  That hasn't worked.  Is there some way to convert them or otherwise make them useable in Bryce?

 .max file are made for 3d studio max. if you have it, you could open them with 3dsmax and save them to .obj or something like that.

alternatively someone else here might know a tool able to convert .max to .obj.

As rayraz says - use 3DSMax or find someone who has 3DSMax - there are to my best knowledge no converters available for MAX files except 3DSMax itself 

I DL'd MAX, but I can't seem to 'save as' anything other than a .max file.  I'll keep studying the program.  Maybe I'm missing something.

Quote - I DL'd MAX, but I can't seem to 'save as' anything other than a .max file.  I'll keep studying the program.  Maybe I'm missing something.

As far as i remeber you must use "export" instead of "save as"

Max files are proprietary to Autodesk and cannot be converted except through proprietary software. As already has been stated you will need 3DSMax to convert your files to another format or perhaps someone here can do the conversions for you if you provide them with the “.max” files. Max file versions may be problematic.

 

 

Only 3d studio max can open max files. They are very zealous about protecting the file format from other programs. Someone with a copy can do a conversion to 3ds for you. Even then they need to reset xforms before they export, otherwise objects get shifted to other positions in the export. MAX is an extremely difficult format if you want to take it to another program.

Attached Link: http://kanaafutura3d.com

I do it all the time, I model in max and then I export it as 3ds. Then I import it into Bryce. There is some things to do in Max before exporting, like resetting all pivot points, otherwise parts of the model might come in other positions in Bryce. If you have just a couple models, I can try to convert them for you. Gabe