IMPORT multiple MAT FILES

[ivelinaobretenova]

Hi guys.

 

I'm new to 3ds max and I've got a few questions for you.

 

Can you help me pls with ideas how to orzanize my folders. I've got maybe 1TB info with with max library,mats,hdri,ies... all the info is in a million folders and I don't know where to start from. Can I import all the mat files in only one folder ? All HDRI in another one? ...? How you organize your files? Thanks!

 

2nd question - Can I import .mat files that I've got as a one click?

 

(I've got many .mat files that I want to import to max)

 

Can I create folders like textures, mats, HDRI, IES, scripts.... and put all the files there and just to link the path to the folders? Thanks a lot!

[Francisco Penaloza]

The main answer to your questions is yes to all of them, LOL

But I have a question for you, how is that you got so many files and assets and they are not organized already??

 

 

Everyone has it own way to organize files and folders, there is not wrong way, unless it is a total chaos of course, all files in to a single folder.

My personal preference is to organize everything in folder by Category, then each one of those folder may have sub folders to sub divide that category for example.

I have a main folder for Textures, inside that I have sub folders for each category, such, Wood, Rocks, Concrete, Fabrics and so on, and inside those I may have other sub folders to get more specific.

 

 

Similar approach for 3D Geometry such, chairs, Tables, Houses trees and so on. Some people place the texture related to those 3D objects in the same folder than the 3D asset, other people save the textures relatedit in the general Texture folder under the corresponding category.

 

 

To Manage all those assets I use Adobe Bridge, in there I can 'easily' surf and search for what I need. I have created some keyword in most of the asset so that helps me if I am looking for a 'Gray new concrete' or a 'Little john bush'.

Other people uses different software or simply Windows explorer.

It may be a tedious at the beginning but if this is your profession it will totally speed up your workflow later on.

 

 

The same thing for 3D Max material libraries, I would not recommend to make as default 3D Max to load all your material libraries,this will slow down considerably your software, maybe just load a set of always used basics, for me that is asphalt, some concretes, mulch, grass and so on.

 

 

Hope this help you to get started.

BTW these same question its been asked before in this forum, you could do a search and find many other ideas.

Best luck.

[ivelinaobretenova]

Hello Francisco.

 

Many thanks for your comprehensive reply.

 

Some of them are organized but it's still confusing with that much information.

I'm using Project manager but when I open a folder "Sofas" I've got 10 000 sofas let's say...

 

I'm just gonna choose the best and most popular and organize them only.

I understand. It's a long process and it's taking time.

 

Thank you soo much!

All the best!