Design SuiteImporting 3ds

Command

Path

Import 3DS (3D only)

File > Import

When importing a 3ds file from Autodesk 3ds Max software, version 3.0 and higher, specify how the drawing components will be represented in the Vectorworks file.

To import a 3ds file:

Select the command and then the file to import.

Alternatively, click the file to import and drag it into an open Vectorworks file.

The Import 3DS Options dialog box opens; the options available depend on the contents of the file being imported.

Specify the file import options.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Import materials

Select whether to assign fill colors from the imported objects according to the colors of the materials of objects when selected

Import transparency and image data as Renderworks textures

Imports texture and transparency materials as Renderworks texture resources

Create Renderworks textures for all materials

Creates Renderworks textures for all imported materials from the input file

Import mesh objects

Imports each mesh object defined in the 3ds file as either a group of mesh objects or 3D polygons

Import as Vectorworks mesh object

Imports all geometry as a group of mesh objects

The 3DS file format does not contain smoothing information. The 3DS import will set document smoothing to the created mesh objects.

Import as groups of 3D polygons

Represents all imported geometry as a group of 3D polygons

Preserve texture assignment and mapping

If Import materials is selected, and you are importing geometry as polygons, specify whether textures and texture mappings are applied to imported 3D polygons to preserve their overall appearance

Scale

Opens the Import 3DS Scale dialog box, for specifying a scale to apply to all imported objects; see Scaling 3ds objects for import

Import as symbol

Imports the file contents as a symbol definition in the Resource Manager; for more information, see Resource Manager and Concept: Vectorworks symbols

Import light objects

Imports light objects from the 3ds file

Import spot light

Select this option to import spot lights from the 3ds file as Vectorworks spot lights

Import omni light

Select this option to import omni lights from the 3ds file as Vectorworks point lights

Import camera objects

Imports camera objects from the 3ds file

Import active camera only

Imports only the active camera from the 3ds file, and sets the current view to the camera view

Create saved views for each camera

Imports all camera objects from the 3ds file, and creates a saved view in the Vectorworks file for each

Scaling 3ds objects for import

The scaling is applied to all imported objects.

To scale 3ds objects during import:

From the import dialog box, click Scale.

The Import 3DS Scale dialog box opens.

Choose whether to scale the object(s) by custom dimensions or by scale factor.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

3DS Model Width/Height/Depth

Displays the original dimensions of the object(s) selected for import or export; if there are multiple objects, the scaling center is the center of the selection bounding box

Custom

Allows entry of custom dimensions for imported or exported objects in the Desired Width, Desired Height, and Desired Depth fields. Select Maintain Proportions to automatically adjust the proportions when a custom width, height, or depth is entered.

Scale

Allows entry of a scaling factor to be applied to imported or exported objects. Either select a Scale from the list, or select Custom from the top of the list and enter a Custom Scale value. When the scale factor changes, the dimension values also change to show the exact size of the selection bounding box for the given scale.

Editing mesh objects

 

Was this page helpful?