I've noticed that I can import some 3DS models into Vue and others won't work at all. Can anyone explain the difference to me?

C - who's hunting new models today

Could you give some examples?

I've seen notes about this from modellers as well....that this and that 3DS is or
is not compatible with Vue. I don't know if it has anything to do with the software
that is used to actually make the model or if it depends on how it's saved.

Lately I've bought a lot of Chikako's models here at Rosity and it says that his models
have "3ds geometry that will work with Vue".
Since I've had errors importing other 3DS models, I thought there was a difference
between 3ds and 3ds.

C - who might be wrong

Well, there are always - sort of non-standard - variations of formats. Sometimes the creators only want to be sure that nobody comes back saying "but it is not working as expected". I am used to this a lot, i am on Mac and a lot of items aresaying they are PC only - because they are not tested on Mac. I never had a problem really in Vue.

BUT, i think the only way to find out is trying it out - which can be annoying. If something costs money and can't be used.

If you have a free model that is not working in Vue i would be curious to see it and try it out.

Okiday and thanks. I'll let you know the next time it happens and save the file.

If I buy a model I always ask what apps I can use it. As you said, it can be frustrating
to find out that you bought something you cannot use.
And as for the free models, well...since you don't pay for them you'll have to accept
them the way they are :) But yes, trying them all out first can be annoying.

C - who have a bunch to try out a bit laters today

yeah get that too , usually very old models.

lot so of different programs export to 3ds, so, more chance for error, this problem seems common to specific work by specific artists, not her eon Renderosity I mean, but out on thew Web and with models form magazines. Repeatedly get import problems with specific authors so I guess at that time, the program they had was buggy, short cuts were made or such.

:)

Sometimes there are badly formed meshes or bad UV maps, which will not cause problems in some programs but will in others. Then there are the differences in what are supossed to be standards. Then there is the 'evolution' of standards. Lots of chances for problems.

If there is a mesh problem or UV map problem, you could take the model into a 3D modeler or UV mapper and try to fix it, but that's little help to those who buy 3D content because they don't themselves do 3D modeling.

You could also try the .obj format. Then there is using a 3D converter to inspect the mesh and try to convert it to a different format, in case that works. I like '3D Object Converter":
http://web.axelero.hu/karpo/

if you want to convert objects from 3ds or lwo  use BLENDER its free and i can load and export tons of type's

I used it to import LWO even the Lwo7 versions and exported to OBJ for poser...

Work oke sometimes maps go walking around on the object.. but hey its free..

Ohyeah its a modeler too!

Chris