8
Exporting to 3DS 533
When importing PRJ files, the software converts
polygons to shape objects. You choose an option
in the Shape Import dialog to set how the shape
objects are created:
Import Shapes—Turn on this option if you don’t
want to import shapes from a
.prj
file.
Single Object—All polygons in the
.prj
file are
convertedtoBeziersplinesandplacedinsidea
single composite shape object.
Multiple Objects—Each polygon in the
.prj
file is
convertedtoaBeziersplineandplacedinsidean
independent shape object.
Exporting to 3DS
File menu > Export > Se lect File To Export dialog > Save
As Type > 3D Stud io (*.3DS)
3DS is the 3D Studio (D OS) mesh file format. You
can export 3ds Max files to this format.
When you export a 3DS file, the following
information is exported:
• Position, Rotation and Scale animation. If the
controller is a TCB controller, the TCB, Ease
In, and Ease Out values are also saved. If the
controller is any other type of key controller, the
keys are saved but the tangent information is
lost. If the controller is not a key controller, only
the object’s transformation at frame 0 is saved.
• Basic material color/parameters from the
Standard material.
• Single maps with their amount, offsets, scales,
etc.
•Auto-cubicsandMirrors.
• Target cameras, target spotlights and omni
lights.
• Most "static" parameters for cameras and lig hts,
and animation tracks for Roll, Falloff, Hotspot,
and FOV.
When you export a 3DS file, the following
information is
not
exported:
•Compositeandproceduralmaps.
• Grouped object transformations. There ’s no
concept of group hierarchy in the 3D Editor.
Groups export to the Keyframer because the
Keyframer understands hierarch ies.
• Global shadow p arameters.
When you export a 3DS file, the following occur:
•Allnon-meshgeometry,suchasprocedural
primitives and patches, is collapsed to meshes
before export.
• Objects are expor ted as they exist on the f rame
3ds Max displays at export t ime.
If you want to output morph targets, go to each
frameandexportthetargettoadifferentfile
name.
• Meshes are saved with edge display information
and smoothing g roups.
• 3ds Max instances are saved as Keyf rame
instances.
• Modifier and morph animation is frozen at the
cur rent fram e, collapsed, and exported as a
simple mesh.