I’ve taken some time to do a small update to my 3D Studio Max SMD export plug-in and have nailed (I think) one bug and added a couple of user-requested features.
To start off the additions include support for exporting HL1 format unweighted SMD files. I underestimated how many people out there were using Max 9 and still modelling for Goldsrc games so per request I added the option to export files in the old format.
The second addition is a crude but useable “batch mode” which lets you configure and call the plug-in from Maxscript. One user had all their animations in one continuous sequence and was looking for a way to batch export them by specifying specific ranges. It’s fairly simple to use and I’ve included a basic example Maxscript in the ZIP file.
As for the bug, you may recall in previous blog posts that I was having considerable problems with Export Selected. After a lot of debugging and tracing I *think* I’ve nailed the problem. Certainly under the tests I’ve done you can now select part of a chain of bones and it will export and not lose position or destroy the animation. As always these things have a habit of blowing up in my face so I’ve retained the link to the old version of the exporter just in case people need to roll-back.
I’ve also marked this version as for 3D Studio Max 2008 too as users reported that it worked fine in both Max 9 and 2008 without problems.
I’m still getting e-mail/MSNs regarding problems with old Max 8 rigs that don’t work quite right with this exporter. In 99% of all cases it’s been simply been down to shoddy rig construction. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, when you mirror part of your rig, reset the transforms before you use it! It really messes up the 3D transformation matrices and while the code tries to fix it, it’s not that clever. Oh and please, stop trying to use splines as bone nodes…
- 3D Studo Max 9/2008 32/64-bit SMD Export plug-in version 1.1
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Responses to “3DS Max 9/2008 SMD Export plug-in update”
What do you mean my 08/09? This plugin works with Max 9 and Max 2008. If you want an exporter for Max 5,6,7 or 8 your best best is to tryCanonfodder’s plug-ins.
No, you misunderstood. I was asking for an IMPORTER 😛 For 2008 and 9 🙂
Great work on the exporter though, I could imagine that an importer would be much more work
Ugh. Sorry was late when I read your post and missed the key “importer” word.
Yes, I’m working on one on-and-off. Its really down to when I have freetime and I don’t have a lot and ask you say, it’s a lot harder. The basic problem is taking a file format which splits a model into idividiual triangles and then having to join them all together again into a smooth mesh – and do it quickly.
Not to put any pressure or anything, but I second the SMD Importer request.
It’s really anoying for us, 9/08 users, not to be able to import proper smd’s.
If you can pull that off, you are oficially MY GOD.
But anyway, this is very usefull. Great job.
Hi, just wanted to THANKS a lot for this! It’s really what I need! 🙂 I love all of your work and it’s all very professional. Keep up the GREAT work 😀
Though I have 1 request, if possible: An SMD importer for Max 08/09? 🙂 It’s really annoying that there’s none around.
Posted by Penguin
Sat, January 5th, 2008 @ 19:11