Exporting camera view as dwg from 3dsmax to autocad

[yotyot666]

Hello

Im new to 3dsmax since I changed from rhino recently. In rhino, I used a lot the command make2d to turn my view to cad lines and than export it to autocad so I can have the outlines of my model to edit in autocad and than export to photoshop since a lot of the visualizations in my work are sketchi style and not photorealistic.

Is there an option to do it also? to set a view with a camera and than export the whole model with this view to autocad to I can than use some elements that I render with 3dsmax and some with photoshop keeping the outlines.

Hope its clear what im trying to achieve.

Thanks.

[Francisco Penaloza]

For the first question, the answer is no.  3D Max doesn't have any CAD feature that you see in other CAD software, 3D Max is a modeler animation mostly software, the main output is meant to be images.

Having said that you could setup some cameras and output images with object only shading volume lines that you could use as reference, but if that is your objective, I would recommend to stay in Rhino.

Exporting from AutoCAD to 3D Max is very limited. I don't remember if you can export camera in to 3D Max, but I am almost sure you can't export cameras from 3D Max in to AutoCAD.

The way Autodesk designed is to work from CAD (REVIT) in to 3D Max not the other way around.

If you final result is an image I would export your base model from AutoCAD in to 3D Max and take if from there. In there you can setup cameras some light, and render an image and then use that as a base for Photoshop.

Having said all that, I also most often than not, I have to do Sketchy images or water color style, in that case I get my reference model from Sketchup or Rhino, not from 3D Max.  Sketchup or Rhino are more flexible in that area and you can output images will lines and basic colors to later paint in Photoshop.

 

 

[yotyot666]

Hey.

Thanks for the detailed answer!

Can I ask something else? - do you have expirience with working flow between rhino and 3dsmax? Is there a convinient way to export and import camers or view ports between rhino and 3dsmax? In that way, I can use both tools for cad lines in perspective from rhino, and also render some elements from 3dsmax and vray, in which is much easier to do than in rhino.

 

Thanks!

[Francisco Penaloza]

Well in my experience, the exchange between Rhino and 3D Max is very clumsy, the only way I can get clean geometry into 3D Max from Rhino is exporting from Rhino as Sketch-up file.  Sadly this method won't export views or cameras.

To exchange cameras you'll have to export from Rhino as FBX, but as always in an Autodesk fashion the files do not come right, all cameras import rotated on the Y,Z axis.

And this is not fixed with the FBX importer Flip Rhino Z for 3D Max Y. My work around is setting the view port in 3D Max with the View (Camera) from Rhino then using the roll camera option, rotate the camera -90 Degrees.  One important thing is you need to setup the same output size proportion inside Rhino and 3 D Max so the Aspect ratio or zoom lens from Rhino matches the one in 3D Max.

With all that, why you setup the cameras inside Rhino when in reality you will do final render in 3D Max?

Also you can use V-Ray inside Rhino, it is very powerful unless you need to scatter many objects such forest and landscaping in that case 3D Max is better.

Also if you have V-Ray subscription you could use V-Ray inside Rhino and then export the whole scene as VRay scene into 3D Max that will include all materials and cameras without much work around.

I Would recommend to push you skill inside Rhino first to maybe avoid using other software to do something that maybe it can be done inside Rhino and no need of using 3D Max, just because it can do the one thing. it seem like over complicating things.

In my company (Architectural company) They use REVIT, Rhino, Sketchup, and I use 3D Max, Lumion, Unreal and most of the time I have to flex my workflow to fit the company needs, such rendering in Enscape inside Rhino, REVIT and then Photoshop or put together some views to later do Sketch stye images or export parts to Unreal to animate in there. 

I know there is the saying to use each tool for what it is good for, but sometimes the time spend doing workarounds and patches is not worth compared to just stay on a single application.

Best luck.

 

[yotyot666]

Hey, thanks for the answer and sorry for the late respond.

So the answer is inside your question - Im a landscape architect and i need to modell landscapes and forests very often. In rhino, I couldnt find good models as much as for 3dsmax for natural elements. Also, I found vray for 3dsmax much more comfortable to use than for rhino.

I think slowly I understand how my work flow should go, I have one last questions - do you have any recommandations how to get models exported  from rhino into 3dsmax?

That might be also helpful in my process.

Thank you!