3ds max importing 2012 into 2010

Lazerus Reborn

Currently I'm working between 3ds max 2012 and 2012 versions at home and uni. The uni has 2010 installed so i find myself having to export 2012 files to .fbx's for backwards compatibility. This of course screws all my lighting, rigging and modifer stacks in the process.

Does anyone know of a workaround that allows me to keep everything intact while moving between the two versions? 2010 .max files are compatible with 2012 but 2012 aren't with 2010 so is there a 'golden' format i can use between the two?

Thanks for any help on this.

Eric Chadwick

I heard Autodesk added a backwards-compatible save function. I haven't looked into it yet though.

Eric Chadwick

Ah, here you go... http://download.autodesk.com/us/3dsmax/2012help/index.html?url=files/GUID-7D42A8A7-6E39-4C94-87A5-5B32F665C6C-2524.htm,topicNumber=d28e490512

jeremiah_bigley

File > Save As... > And in the drop down where you would normally choose your file type choose 3ds max 2010, 2011, ect.

Hope that helps

Note: There are bugs with the way materials are displayed in the viewport when you bring a 2012 file over to 2010. Nothing too major though. Should render fine.

jeremiah_bigley

Lol...

Lazerus Reborn

Thanks people, I just realised ive have posted this in the wrong tab :S Was meant to be in technical ;') Thanks for the help!

e-freak

What jeremiah said. Keep in mind that some of the 2010 Plugins are not available in 2012 anymore and vice versa (Reactor/MassFX being an obvious example). In the long run it might be better to unify to one version. (If you can avoid it).

Lazerus Reborn

It should be fine for now then, i wont be using reactor or some of the fancier plugins till later on in the project. Thanks again guys!