8
Importing 3DS Files 531
linked geometr y, the modifier is applied to all
instances of that object.
Linked Geometry objects are assigned a special
LinkTM controller. If a the object is converted
to an Editable Mesh, Poly, NURBS or Editable
Spline, the LinkTM controller is replaced with a
PRS controller.
Substituted Objects
There is no substitution modifier in 3ds Max.
However, if you open a DRF file with substituted
objects, 3ds Max will recognize the substitutions
and will add the substituted objects into the scene.
User I nterf ace Changes
Some of the user interface elements in 3ds Max
are not where you would expect them if you
are coming from VIZ Render. For example,
the
viewport cont rols (page 3–778)
are in the
bottom-right corner, instead of the top-left.
For more information on the user interface, see
User Interface (page 3–717)
.
R ender Preset s
The Render Presets in 3ds Max are very different
from the presets in VIZ Render. For more
informationonusingthem,see
Preset Rendering
Options (page 3–23)
.
3D S tudio M esh (3 DS, P RJ)
Files
Impor ting 3DS Files
File menu > Import > Select File To Import dialog > Files
Of Type > 3D Studio (*.3DS)
3DS is the 3D Studio® (D OS) mesh-file format.
You can import 3DS files into 3ds Max.
When you import a 3DS file, you can merge the
imported objects with the current scene or replace
thecurrentscenecompletely. Ifyouchooseto
merge the objects with the c urrent scene, you
are asked whether you want to reset the length
of the animation in the scene to the length of
the imported file (if the imported file contains
animation).
When you import a 3DS file, the following
information is imported:
• Backgrounds (solid, g radient, and bitmap).
• Fog, Layered Fog, and D istance Cue.
•Ambientlightlevel.
• Subtractive transparency is converted to
3ds Max "Filter" t r ansparency and the filter
color is set equal to the diffuse color.
• Transparency fal loff settings.
• All map channels that are enabled. Map
channels that are turned off in the 3DS file do
not import into 3ds Max.
• All map parameters, including UV transforms,
Negative, Mirror, and Rotation. Some Map
parameters such as Blur, Luma, RGB, and
Alpha work much differently in 3ds Max. These
values are converted to new values that produce
asimilaraffect.