DSQRD opened this issue on Jan 29, 2004 · 18 posts
DSQRD posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 9:36 AM
Does anyone know how to get a .max file converted to a .obj file, without owning max. Hopefully there is some cheap (free) file conversion program out there.
Phantast posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 9:59 AM
This has been asked before and it seems (unfortunately) that the answer is that it can't be done; or can't be done cheaply.
Nance posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 10:14 AM
(CAUTION: Don't own Max so not sure if this is accurate info) My understanding is that a .max scene file is to a .3ds mesh file as a Poser .pz3 scene file is to a .pp2 prop file. Some mesh conversion apps (such as 3D Exploration or whatever it's called now) can extract some of the meshes from a .max scene file, but not always completely or successfully.
xantor posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 11:17 AM
Some max objects are made in a strange way and can`t be converted by any program. Deep exploration is the newer version of 3d exploration and it is very good.
xantor posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 11:26 AM
I tried going to righthemisphere.com the home of deep exploration and the site doesn`t seem to be there anymore.
Gromit posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 11:38 AM
Maybe you misspelled the URL, I just downloaded demos of Deep Paint and several other programs from there a few days ago.
xantor posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 12:09 PM
Maybe it is just a temporary glitch, or ( yet another ) internet explorer problem.
_Audrey posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 1:34 PM
From Dodger: No, a Max scene file is not to a 3ds file as a PZ3 is to a PP2, at all. A 3ds file is only a mesh, and by default an editable mesh. A Max scene can contain NURBS, Patch models, Polymeshes, dynamics objects, particle systems, space warps, forces, and so on, and in their true form. A 3ds file is converted to an editable mesh on export. I think Little-Dragon mentioned something that could convert Max to OBJ outside of Max and without Max. Might have been Milkview or something. Ask him.
xantor posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 3:32 PM
I think little dragon is female :)
Little_Dragon posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 3:39 PM
Sorry, but MilkShape doesn't support the .max format. It would be nice, but Discreet would likely squash Mete like an ant if he (or someone else) released a plugin.
You might be recalling the conversion trick I mentioned for gmax, Discreet's free game-content modeler. gmax can export to Quake 3 format, which MilkShape can read and convert to other formats.
markdc posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 3:41 PM
Attached Link: http://www.discreet.com
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-Mark
Little_Dragon posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 3:41 PM
I think little dragon is female Think again. :)
nightfir posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 6:08 PM
Try polytrans it works great. I have it along with a plug in called max2obj. I have it somewhere on my computer. It's a freebie. Do a search in yahoo or google. Brad.
smallspace posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 10:30 PM
Here's a quote from Okino software. (maker of Polytrans): "Please note that it is not possible to import or export .max files directly from inside the NuGraf or PolyTrans stand-alone software itself...The .max file format is not a pure 3D file format (as is the .3ds file format) but rather it contains a "state snapshot" of how the various plug-in modules with 3DS MAX interact with each other to produce the final displayed mesh model...In order to read/write .max files we must run PolyTrans directly inside 3DS MAX itself. This is because we need to have 3DS MAX evaluate its "stack" of plug-in modules that operate on the base mesh. The evaluated output mesh is then sent to PolyTrans." I think this is as good as any explaination of why a MAX file can't be converted without actually having a copy of 3D Studio MAX. -SMT
I'd rather stay in my lane than lay in my stain!
DCArt posted Thu, 29 January 2004 at 11:13 PM
I think the same is also true of Deep Exploration ... it will not translate Max files unless Max is on the system.
Maz posted Fri, 30 January 2004 at 5:48 PM
Try asking somebody here to convert it for you. I'm sure you'll find a willing volunteer.
xantor posted Fri, 30 January 2004 at 9:47 PM
I think that is the second time I thought little dragon was female when he isn`t :/
Little_Dragon posted Sat, 31 January 2004 at 11:29 PM
The anonymity of the 'Net can be both a blessing and a curse, xantor. Don't worry about it. The only folk who truly need to know my gender anyway are lady dragons.