GLOSSARY

PRJ/3DS Files

PRJ is the 3D Studio Release 4 project-file format and 3DS is the 3DStudio Release 4 mesh-file format. You can import both these types of files into 3DS MAX (as well as DXF and SHP files). You can export 3DS files (and DXF files) from 3DS MAX.

When you import a 3DS file, you get the following:

• Backgrounds (solid, gradient, and bitmap).
• Fog, Layered Fog, and Distance Cue.
• Ambient light level.
• Subtractive transparency is converted to 3DS MAX "Filter" transparency and the filter color is set equal to the diffuse color.
• Transparency falloff settings.
• All map channels that are enabled. Map channels that are turned off in the .3ds file do not import into 3D Studio MAX.
• All map parameters, including UV transforms, Negative, Mirror, and Rotation. Some Map Parameters such as Blur, Luma, and RGB and Alpha work much differently in 3DS MAX. These values are converted to new values that produce a similar effect.
• Mask bitmaps are imported as a 3DS MAX mask texture.
• When materials with both Texture 1 and Texture 2 are imported, a composite texture is created and added to the Standard material’s Diffuse channel.
• Reflection maps, auto-cubics and mirrors.
• Automatic reflection map Nth frame and Map Size settings.
• SXP translation for Marble and Noise materials.
• 3DS/DOS IK joint parameters.
• 3DSurfer patch data.

The following information is not imported from a 3DS file:

• Morph keys
• Keyframer instances
• Map channels that are turned off
• Custom .CUB-format cubic maps
• Decal transparency using the RGB color of the upper-left pixel of the map

When you import a PRJ file, you get all of the above, plus the following:

• Shapes

The following rules determine what is exported from 3DS MAX to the 3DS format:

• Position, Rotation, and Scale animation. If the controller is a TCB controller, the TCB, Ease In, and Ease Out values are also saved. If the controller is any other type of key controller, the keys are saved but the tangent information is lost. If the controller is not a key controller, only the object's transformation at frame 0 is saved.
• Basic material color/parameters from the Standard material.
• Single maps with their amount, offsets, scales, etc.
• Composite and procedural maps don't export.
• Auto-cubics and Mirrors export.
• UV mapping coordinates don’t export.
• Grouped object transformations don’t export to the 3D Editor because there’s no concept of group hierarchy in the 3D Editor. Groups do export to the Keyframer because the Keyframer understands hierarchies.
• Target cameras, target spotlights and omni lights.
• Most "static" parameters for cameras and lights, and animation tracks for Roll, Falloff, Hotspot, and FOV are exported. Global shadow parameters are not exported.
• All non-mesh geometry, such as procedural primitives and patches, are collapsed to meshes before export.
• Objects are exported as they exist on the frame 3DS MAX displays at export time. If you want to output morph targets, go to each frame and export the target to a different filename.
• Meshes are saved with edge display information and smoothing groups.
• 3DS MAX instances are saved as Keyframer instances.

Modifier and morph animation is frozen at the current frame, collapsed, and exported as a simple mesh.