[3ds max] [maxscript] script to export/import explicit normals

Tosyk · Sep 2020

hello!

I need a script to save and then load explicit normals for selected objects. so the process is like this:

select object
press button to export normals into a file. normals saved along with object name
deselect/object again
press a button to read saved file. script sees the name in the file and if this name equal to selected object's name then it creates Normals_Edit modifier and loads explicit normals into it

p.s.: in 3ds max (2009 precisely) skin modifier recalculates the normals.

PolyHertz · Sep 2020

Are smoothing groups lost as well when using the skin modifier? The Edit Normals modifier can be used to unify or split normals per-vertex, but smoothing groups split them per-face, so to keep all potential normals I think to you'd need to use both a Smooth modifier and Edit Normals modifier together.

Tosyk · Sep 2020

PolyHertz said:

Are smoothing groups lost as well when using the skin modifier? The Edit Normals modifier can be used to unify or split normals per-vertex, but smoothing groups split them per-face, so to keep all potential normals I think to you'd need to use both a Smooth modifier and Edit Normals modifier together.

well. I need to save my own edited normals. smoothing groups are fine tho

Eric Chadwick · Sep 2020

I would suggest one of the many vertex normal projection scripts. I'm not sure which works in 2009 though, that's a really ancient version.
http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/VertexNormal#3ds_Max_Tools

[3ds max] [maxscript] script to export/import explicit normals

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