does this makes sense to anyone? and is it possible?

[Dave Buckley]

Just had a question that I think the guy has his wires crossed, below is what he wants to do.

 

I'm not sure he can do what he wants.

 

He is using ACAD architecture to model the scenes, then importing them into max, from what I understand he wants to be able to import the correctly layered/named acad file into max then apply a ready-made material to the imported geometry so that each layer gets the correct material. In one push of a button.

 

Anyway here is what he asked.

 

"One of the main reasons we chose to purchase Max was the rendering package supplied with Architecture 2010 did not have the ability to use what I term Multi sub objects from my viz days

We use Set Ranges of furniture in our displays Such as Bagots or Alexandra

These are sold in light wood, Medium wood or dark wood

The first time we render a Bagots light wood we would colour it by layers

We would save these settings into a multi sub object folder to be used on the next Bagots light wood

If the next render was for a Bagots dark wood we would pull in from the multi sub object the bagots light wood pallet and change the required elements to make it dark

Saving this to its own multi sub object called Bagots dark wood

Within a short time we should have our comprehensive library

Multi sub objects give us speed and consistency and are very important tool for us to have available

We also need to be able to attach all of a multi sub library to a drawing at the same time without the need to insert it layer by layer

Take it as a given that the layers are set up at conception in Architecture 2010 correctly

 

Our next unresolved problem

 

When we render Plan 1

Having set up all the lights materials, cameras

 

Plan 2

Is of the same room with slight changes to the furniture

It was possible in Viz to drop plan 2 into the setting created in plan 1

Saving hours of time"

 

 

Am I being unreasonable telling him he can use a ready made material library. Providing all wood is on one layer he can then 'select all in current layer' and apply the relevant material.

 

Apparently this is too lengthy a process.

 

I must also stress this is a support call from my previous job which I am no longer in. They just keep nagging me about it so I wanna shut them up.

[Jason Matthews]

It would take more time to get the objects into multi-sub object than just assigning material by name. If he already has the objects in multi-sub object materials then he may lose two minutes assigning materials by name.

 

On a side note, if they have each piece of furniture as seperate max file that already has materials assigned (ready for render) then he can just xref or merge the furniture into the scene. I think they are making more out of this than needs to be. And he isn't going to waste hours of time doing this.

[Dave Buckley]

exactly my point. thanks for confirming

[BrianKitts]

it's doable the way they mentioned.... all you have to do is import with the file link manager creating objects by layer. Then put a material ID modifier on each layer object so that you can apply MSO materials. then they can easily swap MSO mats to change their material options.

 

then it's just a matter of either swapping material applications for your different options, and you can swap the linked file for geomtery changes while maintaining the material assignments if you don't change your layer names.

 

sorry, but their way is actaully a fast efficient workflow, no xref or merge needed.

[Dave Buckley]

so it's simply a case of setting up the MSO and then assigning M-ID modifiers to each layer that match up.

 

then when I link in the new file I can simply select all and apply the MSO and each mat should go to it's respective layer, providing layer names are consistent

 

Perfect.

 

Cheers Brian.

[Jason Matthews]

No need to apologize Brian. That is what is so great about this forum. Thanks for the added info.