Importing AutoCAD Drawings in 3ds max
August 18, 2003 3ds max is capable of importing AutoCAD
drawings. The AutoCAD 3D models are imported as Editable Meshes.
You usually need to make some modifications to the model.
1. Download
3d_house.dwg.
The file consists of 4 solid models that are located on
different layers [Figure 1].
Figure 1 - Click
on image to enlarge
2. Start 3ds max.
3. From File menu
select Import. The Select File to Import dialog box
appears [Figure 2].
Figure 2 - Click
on image to enlarge
4. From Files of
type list select AutoCAD (*.DWG).
5. Locate and open
3d_house.dwg. The DWG Import dialog box appears [Figure
3].
Figure 3
6. Here you may
select any of the options as the scene is empty. Click OK. The
Import AutoCAD DWG File dialog box appears [Figure 4].
Figure 4
7. Make sure that
Layer is selected in Derive Objects By section [Figure
4]. Click OK. The model appears in viewports [Figure 5].
Figure 5 - Click
on image to enlarge
8. Press Ctrl+W to
expand the Perspective view (In max 4 press w only).
9. Press H. The
Select Objects dialog box appears [Figure 6].
Figure 6 - Click
on image to enlarge
10. Select floor.01
and then click Select.
11. On command
panel click the Modify tab [Figure 7].
Figure 7
12. As you can see
the model is an Editable mesh. In Selection rollout click the
Polygon subobject [Figure 7].
13. Press Ctrl+A to
select all polygons.
14. On command
panel scroll down to view the Surface Properties rollout [Figure
8].
Figure 8
15. Click Unify.
All the Normals will be unified.
16. Click Editable
Mesh in Modifiers stack to deselect the Polygon subobject.
17. Repeat steps 9
through 16 for the rest of objects. The surface of objects are
now clearer [Figure 9].
Figure 9 - Click
on image to enlarge
18. Select
floor.01.
19. Select
Modifiers > UV Coordinates > UVW Map menu option [Figure 10].
The UVW Mapping modifier will be assigned to floor.01. The
modifier builds the proper mapping coordinates on the object.
Now you can apply materials that contain maps to the object.
Figure 10
20. In Parameters
rollout select box option [Figure 11].
Figure 11
21. Repeat steps 19
and 20 for the rest of objects.
22. Press M. The
Material Editor dialog box appears [Figure 12].
Figure 12
23. Click Get
Material icon [Figure 12]. The Material Map Browser
dialog box appears [Figure 13].
Figure 13
24. Select Mtl
Library [Figure 13]. Make sure 3dsmax.mat is open; otherwise
open this file with the help of Open button.
25. On the list to
the right, double click Concrete_Stucco (Standard). The material
will be added to the first material slot [Figure 14].
Figure 14
26. Drag and drop
the material to floor.01. The material will be assigned to this
object.
27. Select other
slots subsequently and select proper materials from Material/Map
Browser. Then apply the materials to the rest of objects. You
may use the following materials:
|
Material Name |
Object
Name |
|
Concrete_Asphalt |
roof.01 |
|
Bricks_Bricks_1 |
walls.01 |
|
Concrete_Brown_Stucco |
stairs.01 |
|
Concrete_Stucco |
floor.01 |
28. Close Material
Editor and Material Browser dialog boxes.
29. Select
Rendering > Environment menu option. The Environment
dialog box appears [Figure 15].
Figure 15
30. Click the Color
swatch [Figure 15]. The Color Selector dialog box appears
[Figure 16].
Figure 16
31. Select a light
blue color and then close both dialog boxes.
32. Press F9 to
quick render the scene. The Render window appears [Figure 17].
Figure 17 - Click
on image to enlarge
33. Close the
Render window.
34. Save the file.
Alireza Parsai is the founder of cadpanel.com. He is a
mechanical engineer with more than 12 years experience with
AutoCAD. Alireza is an Autodesk Authorized Author, the AutoCAD
consultant for Al Khawarizmi Institute, a contributing editor
for Augiworld magazine, a writer for CAD Digest, an instructor
for AUGI Training Program, and an elected speaker for Autodesk
University 2002. He has written 7 books in Farsi, 3 booklets in
English, and more than 100 articles for different magazines and
newsletters. You can reach him at
alireza.parsai@cadpanel.com or visit his website
www.cadpanel.com.
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