rendering materials in 3ds max from sketchup (textures not showing?)

[duncanbarron]

Hi, I'm relatively new to 3ds max, and for some reason when i import a house I modeled in Sketch Up (Version 8), and then apply materials in 3ds max, the bitmaps do not render.

 

Rather than rendering the actual bitmaps, the renders just come out in plain colours with no texture to them. I've tried everything to try figure this problem out, but I'm not having much luck. I have looked around on other threads, and one thing that was suggested on a slightly different topic was making sure in Sketch Up that the fronts of the planes are showing (the white side), and reversing any sides that have the back showing (the blueish side).

 

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[ludnid]

Yes, When you import 3ds files from sketchup into max you're bound to experience that problem. The way around it is simple and helps for better organization.

 

In the sketchup program under window-preferences then files. You can set a folder path for where you want to export your files to. I've set mine to the 3dsmax import folder located under your documents cause max imports from here. Now within the folder whenever i export files from sketchup to that directory each job has a unique folder name. This helps too avoid conflicts with texture names cause i assume you use some textures over and over esp the favorites.

 

In max though, after youve exported you have to go to customise, and configure user paths. then in external paths, add that specific folder where youve exported your sketchup now 3ds file into. Youre tellin max to read the textures from that folder. So in the event youve got another job, all you need do is change the file path of the one you've just added. You have to do this each time you have a new job.

 

NB: Avoid creating many paths cause you could have the same texture in different folders and prob might have changed the scale in some. Max would read the texture always from the first. Thats the reason i keep changing the singular path i've added.

 

Hope this helps. Cheers.

[duncanbarron]

Hi, I haven't been exporting my file in sketch up because in 3ds max design 2012, you can just import the sketch up file straight into it without having the need to export. should i try exporting it instead, or try exporting it as a .fbx?

[ludnid]

Ok. I quickly ran a test with that. I use 3dsmax design 2011 and only tried importing the sketchup file directly and havent tried it again for a while. Not till today at least but seems to work out pretty well from here.

 

I dont use layers in my models and orgainize them rather by material. Reason i prefer importing as 3ds and attatching all at one as some materials can be overwritten with another i want easily instead of having to select groups and components which i noticed the skp file came as. Has its advantages though .

 

Still i noticed importing the sketchup file brought a dialogue in max and the sceneasset folder is where your textures are exported too. I'll advice you create a specific folder from that dailogue and add that folder under your user paths in 3dsmax under customise more like i replied in the first message. This should fix your models rendering as plain objects. Be sure to also select your faces come in as double sided material. I tend to paint my materials over on the back face just incase i forget to flip em in the event not all your faces are on the right side which is the white side.

 

 

Theres a script on sketchucation forum though that enables you to flip your blue faces automatically to the white face. Let me know your progress. Cheers.

[ludnid]

I skipped a big detail for i replied you sorry. Whats your render engine? are you sure its been set properly so your lights and all render properly? Sketchup files come with a daylight system which is more suitable to mental ray so if you're using vray you probably wouldnt see anything either except overexposed faces which appear plain with no accurate shadows. i think this might actually be the problem in your scene.

[uditsingh]

hey hii,,,i was facing same problem,,,it has very simple solution..

every face in SU have two colors white and purple which are called normals..

3ds max only render those materials which are applied on white faces of sketchup..

therefore before applying materials in sketchup just check out that the face u r applying material on is white..othere wise right click on that face and click reverse faces..

after doing this export .3ds format and save as .skp(7version)..open 3ds max and instead of importing click open and open that .slp file u'll get all textures...

[stephenak]

Hi Duncan, First off, when you import your scene in, I think the best way to find out what is up with your normals is this... http://www.ronenbekerman.com/using-vraylightmtl-vraydirt-ambient-occlusion-render-checkup/

 

Another problem could be that your materials aren't loaded into the scene. If you open your material editor and use the syringe looking tool, click on a part of the geometry, it will bring up the material that is allocated to that part. It may even show up as having a map loaded into the diffuse but when you go in to check the diffuse map (click on the "M" beside where it says diffuse) you may find that it has it listed but when you click on "view image" there may be nothing there. You will have to point the material editor to where your texture is and then it should be there when rendering.

 

Then again, you could just have an override material allocated in the global switches.

[adamdabrowski]

Hey,

 

I'm experiencing the same problem. I made my model in sketchup 8 and simply imported it into 3DS Max 2013.

 

Now I'm applying materials in 3DS Max. I've applied diffuse, reflective and bump maps and the preview material ball shows the texture exactly how I want it. However in my viewport and when I render they come out as a solid colour.

 

This is really frustrating as it is for a uni assignment and I need to sort this out ASAP.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers

[stephenak]

Are you using v-ray or mental ray? If you send me the file I can have a look? stephen_inglis@hotmail.com