How to import/export usable formats with Gmax and 3D Exploration:
1) Get GMax and the Tempest pack from the
GMax download page.
2)Install Gmax and the Tempest pack
3) Get the .3DS importer and the .obj for Gmax
here and install them.
4)Copy md3exp.dle from gmax\gamepacks\tempest\plugins to gmax\plugins
5) When you start Gmax, you'll have to pick a software renderer; if you do not see a grid when you start Gmax, then click the Customize menu, choose Preferences, then click the Viewports tab, then click the "Choose Driver" button. Once you've changed this, click OK in preferences and restart Gmax. Repeat if the grid still doesn't display until you've exhausted all options.
NOTE:If you have a slow framerate, try another driver by using the above steps. This may or may not fix the problem.
---Importing---
1) Make sure you have a .3DS or .OBJ file available and start Gmax.
2) To the right, you'll see several tabs with pictures on them. Click the Hammer.
3)Click the MaxScript button, and in the "Utilities" dropdown box, choose either "3DS import" or "Wavefront OBJ Import"
4)Scroll down until you see the "Import 3DS..." button and click it
5)Choose the model. The model may be extremely large or small.
NOTE:FS ships do not seem to import correctly. Can anyone shed some light onto this?
---Exporting---
1)Open or create a model, then select it
I recommend saving now if you haven't.2)Click File|Export, make sure .MD3 is chosen, and save it somewhere. Use the following for the dialog box (Unless you know what you're doing...this seems to work for me)
The following Frames: 0
Skip down to Smart Paths, and uncheck it along with the Ignore objects box and click "Export Now"
4)Open the .md3 file up with 3D Exploration; this will probably have to be done by selecting "All files" rather than "Supported file types"
5)You should now see your model. Inspect it and make sure nothing odd happened; the colors may be gone, and, unfortunately, I don't know how to get around this. If you want, save your file now.
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Hope you like it
. There are three bugs I see:
1)Odd texture problems on FS Ships
2)Imported FS Ships do not seem to export correctly...probably related to the above.
3)Object colors do not export with the .MD3 format... have very little knowledge of texturing, but UV mapping
might help.
3DS Max users, any help?
[This message has been edited by WMCoolmon (edited 01-15-2002).]
