When I bring my AutoCAD model into Max, I can only attach one material for all objects that are on the same layer. How can I attach different materials to separate objects that are on the same layer?
Thanks,
-Jim

The easiest will be to go into sub-object mode(modify panle) and select the parts you want to detach. Scroll down on the Modify panel until you find the detach option. This will turn into into a unique object.

Thanks for the response. I have found that when linking the AutoCAD/ACA file, I can set a preset to derive AutoCAD primatives by “Entity, Blocks as Nodes by Heirarchy”. Then it seems to work. Is this this an inefficient solution as far as rendering time, or it doesn’t matter?
-Jim

As far as I know it doesn’t matter - rendering time and ram usage is influenced by the amount of poly’s in the scene - not how they are grouped. I have noticed that when you attach objects to each other there is a slight increase in ram usage (I use Freeram XP Pro Freeram website to monitor my system resources ) but nothing noteworthy ito rendering times. This is esp true if you use backburner for rendering and close the main app while rendering.

Thanks. I’m on the right track then.

Similar problem.  No matter which option I select under “Derive AutoCAD Primitives by...” everything on the layer of the object selected is ALSO selected.  This true even when the option “entity” is selected.  In this instance everything on a given layer is not made of the same material.  Any help?

Gibby
3ds max Design
linked model constructed in ADT 07

We commonly import CAD files into Max and use the “Entity” setting. Would you be willing to post your CAD file and let me have a try?

Dean

Max Design 2012 SP2 / Win 7 Pro
NVidia Quadro FX 4800 x 2 (non sli)
HP Z800 - 2 Xeon X5680 @ 3.33 GHz; 36 GB ram

Dean,

Thanks for taking an interest in my dilemma.  Attached is the file.  A quick example are the three magenta, angled rectangles.  They are on the same layer and to the best of my abilities each cannot be selected individually.  The Detach solution on the sub-modifier stack worked and if I must that’s what I will do, But as you’ll see all of the objects on each of the layers do the same thing.  Look forward to hearing from you.

My attempt to upload a .dwg was rejected.  Received the following Error Message:  If any of the “allowed” filetypes will work for you I’ll be more than pleased to send it to you. 

Error Message:  The filetype you are attempting to upload is not allowed
Allowed Filetypes: psd, pdf, swf, sit, tar, tgz, zip, gzip, bmp, gif, jpeg, jpg, jpe, png, txt, html, doc, xl, xls, mov, qt, mpg, mpeg, mp3, aiff, aif, aac,

Gibby
3ds max Design 2009
ADT 07

Zip the file before uploading it.

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

JimMcF3000 09 August 2008 02:32 PM

When I bring my AutoCAD model into Max, I can only attach one material for all objects that are on the same layer. How can I attach different materials to separate objects that are on the same layer?
Thanks,
-Jim

It sounds like you have ‘propogate materials to instances’ turned on in your material editor. All you should need to do is go into your material editor and under the ‘options’ tab click off the ‘propogate materials to instances’. You should now be able to assign different materials to different objects on the same layer.

Hope this helps

Cheers

db

Dell Precision T550, Dual Intel Xeon X5675 @3.46 GHz (24 core) , 2Gb high speed AMD FirePro V5900 (FireGL V) GDDR5, 72Gb DDR3 RAM, Win 7 Professional 64bit

"Propogate materials to instances” was indeed checked.  Thanks, db.  Unfortunately unchecking it did not eliminate the problem.  As suggested I am attaching a zipped file.  Hope it uploads.

Gibby

	Attachment
14113_6EwXrpkqGDdTY4n2qCYo.zip