I am new to 3Ds Max.  I have a model of a building that I imported from Autocad. I have set up the exterior lighting with a sun which looks acceptable.  I am trying to render a view which is located inside the building. The scene/view shows the interior with a large floor to ceiling window on one side.  And I have added some recessed down lights. What is the best way (not too complicated)to be able to see the outside through the window and still see the interior with the lighting.  I tried a few option with render set up.  Either the inside too dark or ouside looks like night. Please advise.
Thanks.

Are you using the Mental Ray renderer?  Exposure control?  Are you using Mental Ray Sun and Mental Ray Sky?  Are you using Global Illumination?

You can use the Mental Ray Sky Portal to increase the amount of light that comes into your building through the window.

Here is a tutorial:
http://docs.autodesk.com/MAXDES/....htm,topicNumber=d0e16410

3ds Max 2013, Maya 2013
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
Core i7, 12GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro FX 3700 (Driver 267.17)

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I imported my model from Autocad.  Is this suppose to work with elements/model made in Autocad?
Thanks.

Yeah, it should work fine with properly imported AutoCAD geometry.

3ds Max 2013, Maya 2013
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
Core i7, 12GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro FX 3700 (Driver 267.17)

It looks like that the windows should be rectangular and perpendicular to the XY axis.  Is there a way for slanted and none rectangular windows?  Please see attached.
Thanks.

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Sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re asking.  Can you rephrase the question?  Are you trying to create new windows, or is there regarding the already-existing windows? Is there a problem in the image you posted?  Is your AutoCAD model not importing properly?

3ds Max 2013, Maya 2013
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
Core i7, 12GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro FX 3700 (Driver 267.17)

Thank you for the help.  I followed the directions on the link that you supplied. I am not sure why it did not work. Seems to me the windows should be parallel with XYZ axis.  I might be wrong.  I am not sure.  As you see in the image, my windows are are not parallel with XYZ axis.  The other issue I have is that I can’t select only one window at a time.  When I click on one, all of them get high lighted since they are on the same layer that I imported from Autocad. Is it possible to apply that mr sky portal to a layer?  The following image all of the windows.
Thanks again.

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It looks like the windows were designed to be that way.  Were they not?  There doesn’t appear to be anything “wrong” with them as they are.  They just look like they’re supposed to be slanted.  Is this not how they appear in AutoCAD?

Regarding your selection issue - it shouldn’t have anything to do with them being on the same layer.  You can have many separate objects all in one layer.  Perhaps they are grouped together.  Select your windows, then choose the “Group” pull-down menu and see if “Ungroup” is able to be used (not grayed out).  If it is, then you can ungroup them and this will let you now select the individual windows.  Otherwise, then may be a single mesh object.  If that is the case, then apply an “Edit Poly” modifier and use the “Element” or “Polygon” level to select parts that should be separate and use the “Detach” command within “Edit Poly” to separate them into their own object.  See the picture…

3ds Max 2013, Maya 2013
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
Core i7, 12GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro FX 3700 (Driver 267.17)

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Thank you Valen. It worked.  I have another question if you don’t mind.  What should I do so I can see through the glass and see outside?
Thanks again.

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All you have to do is give your glass a transparent material.  There are many ways to do that.  I’d recommend an Arch & Design material with a “Glass (Thin Geometry)” template.  Your glass model appears to be flat (not double sided) so you should use the “Thin” template instead of the “Solid Geometry” or “Physical”.  You’ll see all these in the Templates drop-down list within the Arch & Design material.

There are also “Pro Materials” that you can use, but they give you less control but may be easier to use.  ...lots of options ahead of you.

3ds Max 2013, Maya 2013
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
Core i7, 12GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro FX 3700 (Driver 267.17)

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Thank you. I got it to work.