3D Studio (.3ds) import/export

Import and export to the .3ds format, one of the file formats used by the Autodesk 3ds Max 3-D modeling, animation and rendering software.

Rhino does not support files with the extension .max.

The specification of the .max format is not public. Since the content of the file is heavily dependent on the plug-in data used to build the scene, parsing the file outside of 3ds Max makes little sense.

See CG Society 3ds Max File Formats.

Import

To open, import, insert, and attach a file as a worksession

  1. From the File menu, click Open, Insert, Import, or Worksession > Attach.

  2. In the dialog box, select a supported file type.
  3. Click Open and configure the settings.
    When you open a non-3dm file and save the model, its filename will be the default 3dm filename.

3DS Import Options

Unweld ___ degrees

The minimum angle between mesh polygon normals where unwelding of points should occur.

Open/Import meshes as SubD surfaces

Converts meshes into SubD objects.

Limitation:

Creased edges in Maya 3DS files will import as smooth edges.

Rhino may become unresponsive or unstable if the import creates more than 1000 SubD faces.

Import lights

 Imports lights in the file into Rhino.

Import cameras

Imports cameras in the file into Rhino as named views.

Prompt to scale on import

Prompts to scale the imported model if its unit system is different from the current Rhino model.

  • 3DS and FBX imports share some of the settings.
Always use these settings. Do not show this dialog again.

Saves the current settings and turns off the dialog display.

To turn the message back on

See also: ResetMessageBoxes command.

Import notes

  • 3DS files contain polygon mesh objects. Polygon mesh objects import into Rhino as polygon mesh objects. They do not convert to NURBS.
  • Rhino can read texture mapping coordinates from 3DS files.

Export

To save as or export a Rhino model

  1. On the File menu, click Export Selected or Save As.
  2. In the dialog box, the Files of type list displays the currently supported file types for export.
  3. In the Files of type box, select the supported file type.
  4. In the File name box, select or type a file name.
  5. Specify what is to be saved.
    6. Options

    Save small

    Though clearing the render meshes makes the file smaller, it will shade and render more slowly the next time you open the file.

    Save geometry only

    Saves geometry objects only. No layers, materials, properties, notes, or units settings are saved. This is similar to exporting the objects. A new file is made, but it does not become your active Rhino model.

    Save textures

    Embeds external textures used by materials, environments and decals into the model.
    Save plugin data Saves data attached to objects or the document by plug-in applications.
  6. If the export can be configured, click the Options button to specify export settings.
  7. If the file type creates only mesh objects, in the Polygon Mesh Objects dialog box, specify the mesh settings.

3DS Export Options

Export lights
Export views

Export notes

  • 3DStudio export uses exact object names whenever possible.
  • If the object name in Rhino is: RhinoObjectName, 3DS export uses the first ten characters of the name, because MAX and 3DS only support object names up to ten characters. The result of this example is: RhinoObjec
  • Rhino then checks whether or not the object name has already been used. If so, the object name is truncated to six characters and a three-digit index is added, like this: RhinoO_010 The index is the last three digits from the mesh counter used in the exporter.
  • If no object name is defined, Rhino uses a generic name: Obj_000010. In this case, the index is the last six digits from the mesh counter.

See also

Wikipedia: .3DS