Tutorial: from Gmax to 3ds Max

[GlobexCo 33]

Problem:
you built many buildings in Gmax but you didn't finish them. Then you bought 3dsMax (any version) and abandoned Gmax. Now you want to finish that buildings in 3dsMax...

Solution:
You must have installed both 3dsMax and Gmax.
Go here and download the NWN2 Max Importer/Exporter 2.3 Installer (bottom of the page).
Install it, make sure that Gmax and 3dsMax are checked.

Open Gmax and the old model.
Export from Gmax in MDB.
Close Gmax and open 3dsMax.
Import the MDB file in 3dsMax.
Have fun.

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

This is a good way to get the geometry over, and ive tried it a couple of times, however i have never used it extensivley when i switched my models over becsue it doesnt preservere the modifiers. Also, it triagulates all my meshs, and it doesnt always prsevere mapping coordinates.

Aside from thoose three problems however, using this method gives you something thats farily relable to use in max if you are confortable using Edit Poly or Edit Mesh. The model is still useable, and all you have to do is reapply the UVW maps, then it will look just like it did in gmax. Same thing happens when you go Max>gmax.

[kellydale2003 2,275]

I never tried it this way - Does it preserve textures too?

[GlobexCo 33]

Originally posted by: kellydale2003

I never tried it this way - Does it preserve textures too?quote>

It doesn't export the material settings, so if you open the material editor, there's nothing in it.

However the mesh "knows" that there was a texture applied, so if you apply a new texture to the mesh, 3dsmax asks you if you want to replace the old material.

Between Gmax and 3dsMax materials there are big differences, in Max you've got lots of new settings, why you should use the same, ancient material settings?

[kellydale2003 2,275]

Meh - then I don't need it

Do you personally export models out of 3ds to sc4?

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

I had max 2009 so for a while i had no render capabilites in max, exporting 3ds to gmax works great, all the mateirals and uv mapping are presverd. Only thing is that it doesnt rembmer the file paths of your textures so you have to go relocate your texture maps in the material editor. Other than that everything stays the same.