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kerosene
11-22-2002, 01:43 PM
Hello all.
We are using both 3ds and Maya for modeling etc. The problem is that we want to render all in MAX as Brazil and V-Ray offer good solutions to the rendering (and I am proficient in MAX not Maya 4.5)
Are you people aware of import export tools that can:

1) transport model with UVWs from Maya to max? all extra features would be nice but the actual model and UVWs are most important. .3ds format would already be great.

2) make even more sophisticated export with animation and other fancy features


all hints to plugins, scripts or relevant tools would be great

Heikki
beaker
11-22-2002, 03:13 PM
Check out Kaydara's FXB plugin:
http://www.kaydara.com/partners/sdk/fbx/index.php
JasonA
11-22-2002, 04:32 PM
You have a few options that you could probably use, although none are 100% reliable.

1. Export models from Maya 4.5 as an .OBJ (you have to enable the plugin from the plugin manager) and use the OBJ2MAX (http://www.habware.at/duck4.htm) plugin to import it into max. I think you get the geometry, shader type, and UVW coordinates but thats it.

2. Try using Right Hemisphere's Deep Exploration 2 (http://www.righthemisphere.com/products/dexp/downloads/deepexploration.exe) along with the Maya 4.5 updates (http://www.righthemisphere.com/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=625). This will only work for 30 days, then you have to buy the software (its about $250).. its not entirely consistent in performance, but usually brings over all the geometry, shaders & maps, and UVW's.

3. Apparently Okino's Polytrans (http://www.okino.com/conv/filefrmt.htm) is an awesome converter buts its definitely NOT free. The base proggie is like $400 and to get all of the capatibilty plugins, goes up to somewhere close to $750. They also have a demo, but it excludes every 5th polygon so you model won't be complete after the transfer. Still, lets you sample its capabilities, maybe your company will be willing to spend the money. I hear it converts heirachy, bones and animation data too, also supports many CAD system formats

4. Everyone speaks highly of Kaydara's FBX format (http://www.kaydara.com/partners/sdk/fbx/index.php?filename=compat) plugin as a conversion method (as Beaker mentioned above). Unfortunately tho, their plugin doesn't work in Maya 4.5, but they might update it. It operates on the same premise as polytrans from what I can tell, so it surprises me that they offer it for free...
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