FBX and Materials/Textures

Spudnik

Hey everybody,
Let me preface this by saying that I don't know all that much about 3Ds MAX.

That said, I'm trying to export models from 3Ds Max to Maya including Bones, Textures, Materials and Animation (though I wouldn't mind losing that). The problem right now is that while the geometry and UVs export correctly, the shaders that I end up with in maya are 1) all phong and 2) have lost their texture links so I have to go in and manually relink them.

I have about 50 models with about 1000 maps in between them that I have to do this for so my question now is: Is there a way to get a model from Max to Maya with the texture links and materials intact as well as the bones and bone weights? Basically I'm looking to get to the point where there's no difference between the object in Max and the same object in Maya. Like I said, I wouldn't mind having to give up the animation that already exists on them.

Hopefully the hive mind can come to my rescue

Spudnik

I hate to be bumping this thread, but I really need some help with this :S

Kawe

I can't really help you but I imagine it'd be helpful if you could provide version number on maya, 3ds as well as fbx.

Ben Apuna

If FBX isn't working you could try Collada.

Spudnik

Maya 2012 - FBX version 2012.1
3Ds Max 2012 - FBX version 2012.1

What is Collada? The website doesn't really go into details about the capabilities or limitations of the format...

So does the FBX format just simply not support material and texture export/import? If it doesn't, what format does? Maybe I can do something where I export the model, bones etc via one format and the materials and textures via another format and then recombine them in maya?

Ace-Angel

Why not use the Bridge function in Maya and Max? The new feature that allows you to send stuff between them seamlessly, doesn't it work?

Spudnik

If you're referring to the "Send to" tab, it only shows Softimage, Mudbox and Motion Builder for me in Max, no Maya :S

EDIT: Found this http://area.autodesk.com/forum/autodesk-3ds-max/autodesk-3ds-max--3ds-max-design-2012/send-to-maya/
Apparently, "Send to" is just a one click FBX ex- and then import as well.

haiddasalami

So did you get this working? Will try and look at it over the weekend and probably get me to figure out maxscript haha.

Spudnik

No, the original problem of getting the materials and textures over from Max to Maya still exists.

Ben Apuna

Collada is a similar to FBX. It's open source and should be able to transfer basic materials and texture assignments and possibly bones with weighting and animation data.

Spudnik

I tired installing Collada but for some reason it's not detecting my maya installation and won't let me install it. I think it's because I'm running 2012.

Ben Apuna

Sorry, yeah it looks like it only supports Maya 2011 and lower for now.

Spudnik

Is there any other file formats that just transfer materials and texture assignments? If FBX can not do it all in one fell swoop, maybe I can import my model in two separate steps.