I’m trying to convert *.max files to *.3ds files so that I can import them into ArcGIS. I’m not a 3ds Max regular user. I have been able to load the *.max files and export them to *.3ds using the export command, but lose all the materials/textures of the buildings. Is there a way to export/convert without losing all the assigned materials/textures? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

what file formats can ArcGis import?

ArcGIS imports *.3ds files. We have successfully loaded a *.3ds files with all the materials. It’s just that the majority of buildings on campus are in the *.max format.

theres probably a import setting in ArcGis for .3ds files
i don’t know ArcGis so its just a guess

*.3ds is one of the standard imports for ArcGIS. The problem is that when I export the *.max to *.3ds in 3ds max I lose all the materials (stone, brick, etc) even if I open it in 3ds max. So before I even get it to ArcGIS I lose the materials. Is there a way to export to *.3ds and retain the materials?

The issue w/ .3ds is it’s age: about 20 yrs old. This means any “newer” material features (Gradient Ramp, Noise, Checker, Composite, Mask… just about anything really) is not recognized by the .3ds format and will be ignored. To use a Noise map, for instance, you must use the Render Map option to create a bitmap of the noise and then reapply that bitmap to the object before exporting to .3ds.

Interesting thing tho… say I have 5 objects w/ 5 different materials. If I Attach all 5 objects into 1 object, then export to .3ds, when I import that .3ds file back into Max, the object has a MultiSub material applied to it which has all 5 materials.... point being the MultiSub material is much younger than the .3ds format. Go figure.

If you’re following all this in your workflow and still not getting materials when you import, I suspect your ArcGIS importer is not reading the material in the .3ds format.

wade s

Max 8 (no mo) & 9 (solo) SP2
Win XP SP2, 3.7 Ghz, 3Gig Ram
Quadro FX 3400