Export Sketch Up to 3dsMax

[neil poppleton]

I have to export a sketchup building into max and render using vray. Whats the best workflow to enable me to select and amend all the materials easily and not have a million layers exported from sketch up. All comments much appreciated.

[Fernando Lino]

before exporting, make sure that your material names are 8 characters or less...the idea is keeping the same name between SU and MAX so when you have all your material set you save them as a library material.

 

Export as 3ds in options uncheck "Export Standalone edges"

 

When you import your model into MAX you will have several objects but thay are group them by material, apply your material in max using the same name that you have in SU. (in the future if you do need to import the building again only you have to do is "replace materials in scene with library".

 

-Remember check the normals of the faces in SU before exporting

-make sure that all the backfaces in SU have the same material of the front faces or default material.

-Units in both have to be same.

-try to mapping your materials in Su as much as possible.

-Don't use highres maps in SU ( i Usually have 2 versions of the same map, one for SU in low res and the high res for MAX)

 

Fernando

[neil poppleton]

Thanks very useful. I did'nt mention that its not my sketch up file. One being sent from a client.

[numerobis]

max can import skp files since v2010 (or 2011?)

You can simply open the skp file in max which imports all materials and the daylight settings.

groups are translated as object in max with multi materials if you have more than one material in a group.

If you plan to modify your geometry in max you may want to organize your groups according to the objects and convert the model/objects to editable poly since they come in as editable mesh.

[Fernando Lino]

importing SU directly is not very usefull to update the model. The model comes with a lot multi- subobject materials...everytime the ID mat changes... the otherway is much easier to update because brings single materials.

 

Fernando

[Greg Law]

I do this a lot. What I do is use the layer system in Sketchup. I create a layer for each material. Then use the layer switch on the import. This way you get a single material. I suppose it might not work for every situation, but it works for me.