What are the options for exporting files in 3DS Max 2009. Specifically the Student Perpetual Version. Will I have the option to export DWG, or IGS files for use in CAD programs such as Solid Works, Solid Edge? I would like to be able to export my 3D designs made in 3DS Max for use in a CAM environment such as Mastercam. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

File - Export… -Save as type. The list is there.
There are plugins that extend the export options.

I do not own this program just yet. So I cannot File - Export - Save as.... I want to make sure there’s some exporting of the above mentioned files IGS, DWG at the least. Autodesk.com list a bunch of files that can be imported, but does not mention exactly what files can be exported. And realistically I don’t want to pay for a plug-in if I don’t have to.

Yes, those formats are there.
You can download a 30 day trial here to test it:-
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/mform?siteID=123112&id=10083915

Thanks for you quick responses samab.

There is no difference between the trial, the student version and the full commercial version of Max. Same product, different License.
Here are the supported import/export filetypes. Maya is different, the trial is a cut-down version and all renders are watermarked, but it’s an open-ended trial - Max is for 30 days only.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

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Steve Curley 12 January 2009 02:57 PM

There is no difference between the trial, the student version and the full commercial version of Max. Same product, different License.

Hello Steve.  I am having a lot of difficulty understanding the difference between Educational and Commercial versions of Max 2009.  I spoke with Sales Support folks at three online Educational Software vendors regarding the alleged “watermarking” that will appear in the renders and printouts from the Educational version.  Nobody could give me any specifics other than a “glow” or “watermark” will appear in my renders identifying the output as created using an Educational-version.

Your comment is confusing things further for me as I’m trying to decide whether to buy a 13-month or perpetual license.  I don’t want to spend more money than I have to right now for my tools.  I need to create images and animations for my student portfolio and I want them to look professional without any distractions.  (I hope that makes sense!)

Can you provide a link from Autodesk that will confirm your comment please??

Student (Educational) License is for learning purposes only. You can use it for your portfolio as far as I know, but you cannot use it commercially. i.e. you can’t do paid for work with it, for that you need the commercial license.

The “watermark” is for the Maya PLE (personal learning edition) not for Max. Whichever version of Max you get, full commercial, educational or even the download trial are all the full, complete and unrestricted product - except in the sense that the license restricts how you can use it.

For licensing questions I would avoid “online vendors” - go to an authorised Autodesk Reseller - they should be able to help.

Sorry, I don’t have a link, but I’ll try and find one for you.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

As it has been stated, 3ds Max is different than Maya, and other Autodesk products, in terms of licensing.

Commercial License: may be used for commercial purposes, i.e. monetary gain. (This is what I have at home.)
Educational Institution: may not be used for commercial purposes. Only available to educational institutions. (This is what we have in the student lab.)
Student/Faculty license: may be perpetual or limited (usually 13 months). This type may not be used for commercial purposes. (This is what my students buy for use on their computers.)
30-day trial: may only be used for evaluation and demonstration. May not be used for commercial purposes.

-Journeyed.com and Studica.com have had the best deals on Student/Faculty licenses in the past.

For a complete explanation of the difference in licenses, download the 30-day trial, exact the files and read the End User License Agreement. There are more in the “Commercial” category such as Stand-Alone and Network.

Now, for the differences in the functionality between all the different licenses: ABSOLUTELY NONE, except the “nag” splash screen which pops up on the Educational and Student/Faculty licenses each time you launch Max reminding the user that using the software for commercial purposes is a violation of the license agreement.

3ds Max DOES NOT watermark the rendered image to make it unusable for portfolio presentations. (I do believe the PLE of Maya does watermark the renderings.)

There is no way for a viewer to tell if you used a commercial license or a student license or the 30-day trial. Besides the nag-screen, the software is identical. The files are completely interchangable between license types. I take max files from home to school and back all the time. No difference whatsoever.

Now, all this applies to pre-2010 versions going back to version 5. Before 5, there were differences in functionality such as Reactor and Character Studio only available with the commercial license. But there are no differences now.

Here is something I’ve done in the past which proves they are all one and the same, except as noted above.
While waiting for the shipment of the product, I wanted the students to have a preview of the next release. I would download the 30-day trial and install it on the “faculty” system. When I received the serial numbers, I would register and authorize the installation. While on the 30-day trial mode, upon launch, the Days Left reminder would appear. Once the product was authorized with the Educational serial numbers, it instantly became an Educational license and the nag-screen then appeared upon launch.

Recommendations:
If you only need 3ds Max for 1 year, get the limited term license.
If you are going to be in school for 3 years, get the limited term each year with each new release which come out every year.
If you are going to be in school 4+ years, then you need to decide if you want to “upgrade” each year by buying a new term license, or go with the prepetual non-upgradable license.

And remember, you never buy the software; only a license to use the software.

(I’ve been using 3ds Max for teaching classes at the University of Dayton starting with version 1.4.)

Tim Wilbers [FA]

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Visual Arts
University of Dayton
http://www.udayton.edu/
3ds Max: 7.5, 8, 9, 2008, 2009, 2010

Thank you Tim for your detailed explanation.  I really appreciate your effort to explain all of this to me.  One of the reasons I have been looking for more clarification is that JourneyEd and Studica both told me over the phone that Max 2009 will have a watermark in the images.  Studica’s site even has this text under the product description:

“For student versions of this software, a watermark will appear while rendering through the program.”
http://www.studica.com/products/product_detail.cfm?productid=56026

My students are rendering right now. No watermark.

This came up earlier from a student, and it was in fact an error on the reseller’s part. I think they are confusing Max with other Autodesk products, which do put a watermark on output.

I know of one student for sure that has been using a “student” license this semester. If there was a watermark, she would have said something, and I would have seen it in class.

Now, having said all that. Is there the possibility that Autodesk watermarks the rendered image in a similar manner that the US government watermarks its currency so that if you scan a $20 into Photoshop you are linked to the US Treasury Department. Yes, I guess that is possible, but its not visible.

Tim Wilbers [FA]

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Visual Arts
University of Dayton
http://www.udayton.edu/
3ds Max: 7.5, 8, 9, 2008, 2009, 2010