8

Material Translation and Linked R e vit Objects 459
program. 3ds Max comes into play when you’re
ready to produce some higher end renderings and
perhaps add some fina l details.
Following is a basic description of the expected
workflow between Revit and 3ds Max:
1. You’ve completed most of the design work in
Revit and you ’re ready to add finishing touches
and c reate some presentation renderings.
2. From Revit, export a DWG file.
ExportingtoaDWGfileisnecessarybecause
the File Link Manager cannot accept the
“native” Rev it project (RVT) files.
3. Start 3ds Max and use the File Link Manager
to link the DW G file.
Link the drawi ng using presets that include
the linking settings you want as described in
the
Suggested Settings for Revit Projects (page
3–457)
section.
4. Adjust materials or make final modifications in
3ds Max in preparation for rendering.
Dependingontheresultsatthisstage,youmay
find that the Revit project needs to b e changed
and updated.
5. In Rev it, makes changes to the project like
moving w alls, adding new doors and windows
or adding/removing objects.
For structural changes like adjusting walls,
doors, windows, etc., it’s best to make these
changes in Revit b ecause those changes need to
be included in the orig inating project. File Link
isaonewaylinksoanychangesyoucanmake
in Revit, should be made in Revit. Otherwise,
you ’d have to remember to make the same
changes in both 3ds Max and Revit.
6. When the changes are completed, export
another DWG file with the same n ame as the
original DWG file y ou exported in step 2.
IfyougiveanewnametotheexportedDWG,
the File Link Manager wil l not show that the
currently linked file has been updated.
7. In 3ds Max, open the File Link Manager and
review the Files p anel. Select the updated file
link and click the Reload button — Turn on
Show Reload Options if you want to change
link settings.
The changed model reloads to 3ds Max and
changes made to the model in 3ds Max prior to
the reload are retained.
The
symbol means the DWG file has b e en
updated.
Materials and Linked
Revit Objects
Material Translationand Link ed
Revit Objects
When you export a D WG or DXF from Revit
projects, materials are translated into a format that
3ds Max can understand. Revit creates materials
inthesameformatasusedbyArchitectural
Desktop, VIZ Render and 3ds Max. There are
two kinds of materials ass ociated with the Revit
project; AccuRender materials and Revit materials.
When a Revit material references an AccuRender
material, the AccuRender material’s parameters
areused;otherwise,theRevitmaterialparameters
are used.
There is an important caveat to this. AccuRender
materials that reference a bitmap file are
translated in 3ds Max without any problems,
while AccuRender materials that are considered
“procedural” are only translated at the most basic
level.