3Ds Max & Revit

[Bannon]

Hello,

 

I´m new to cga but love it so far.

 

I have what may be a beginners problem, but still it´s a problem for me.

 

When I link my Revit structure model via FBX to 3Ds max the model opens up all black in 3Ds, why and what can I do to avoid it?

 

Thanks.

[Cyberstyle]

Welcome Henry,

 

Did you get the Sun/Sky - Daylight system that was exported from Revit? If so delete it.

 

My normal workflow is to sever all ties with Revit and create a fresh new Max scene file.

I 'Import' the FBX, delete what I don't want, 'Select All', 'Save Selected' and make a temp max file.

Then I open a new scene and 'merge' my temp file in. It only takes an extra 2 minutes to do.

 

That way I get a clean Max file with full control over all the data without any problematic Revit export features.

If the Revit/FBX file is changed, I'm skilled enough to grab only what I need using the same process so it's never an issue.

 

Hope that helps.

[Bannon]

Thanks for the tip, but I don´t get it to work.

I deleted the sun, selected the building and 'save selected' and then merged it in to a new max-file, but it is still all black.

Any ideas?

If there is any way to do it with the link intact it would be good.

 

Thanks again.

[Dave Buchhofer]

I believe they default to a black object color, and if there isn't a material applied then it will just render with the (black) object color

 

I tend to run this little script just to randomly colorize everything to make it easier to view in the viewport

 

for n = 1 to selection.count do ( selection[n].wirecolor = random white black )

[Bannon]

Thanks, I will try it.

But I still would like to know why the assigned revit materials doesn´t show in max.

I will be very greatfull to enyone who can solve this problem for me.

 

Thanks.

[Bannon]

I tried the random collor script but the results are onky visible in the viewports with wireframe views, in the smooth+highlights it is still all black.

[MD]

Be sure to delete any RCP trees, people, etc from revit before exporting the fbx.

[RevitGary]

I do this all the time with no problems. What versions are you using? Are you rendering with mental ray or scanline? Are you using the import and export presets?

[Bannon]

I use 2011, yes I use the presets and mental ray.

[RevitGary]

Is the render engine in max set to mental ray?

 

Thats the only thing I can think of.

[Bannon]

yes it is, I´ve set it as default.

[RevitGary]

Do you have the current service packs installed?

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Maybe you have your shaded set to object instead of material?

 

Display Tab (Command Panel) > Display Color > Shaded > Material Color.

[RevitGary]

On that thought. Open your file. Save it under a different name. Set your renderer to scanline. Close it, open it. Set your renderer to mental ray. See if that works. If it doesnt at least you have a back up to go back to. Im thinking this might restore some default settings.

[kris McIsaac]

should there be several Revit materials assigned or just one for everything? Have you used the eye dropper in the material editor to select the material and see what it is? Make sure you set a render material in revit not just the display properties. Which FBX import preset did you use? Have you tried a DWG from Revit also?

[MD]

Can you post a screen-shot of what you see?

[danb4026]

Is it possible that the faces are just flipped?

[greatcurve]

My normal workflow is as follows:

 

Create Revit Model and hide unwanted elements by selecting them and pressing "HH". Click on the sunglass icon at the bottom of the screen and select "Apply Hide/Isolate to View". Export as FBX. You can just undo twice to get back to your normal model.

 

Open 3ds Max and select File > References > File Link Manager. Browse for your FBX file and open it. For the preset use "Do Not Combine Entities". Before attaching the file go to the Presets tab at the top of the file link manager. Select "Autodesk Revit FBX - Do Not Combine Entities" and select "Modify" and make sure all boxes are cleared. Go back to the Attached tab and select "Attach this File"

 

Your elements come in as meshes. I prefer to use collapse objects in the utilities panel instead of a mesh select modifier, this way you have an already collapsed stack and you can delete individual parts. I usually don't worry about the Revit materials since it's easier to apply and map in Max.

[amadoR]

My recent project I had to Materialise and Render from a Revit2012 model.

 

I used DXF, and exported models as Polymesh. And removed Cameras, People, Trees etc.

 

Another good trick I've learned was to make Revit sort the model into the Materials(if you have put materials on in Revit) or "Modeltype".

 

Then you can get a overview of all the different elements in the Layers menu in 3DS Max.