topic Re: Samples using 'Physical Material'? in 3ds Max Shading, Lighting and Rendering Forum

Samples using 'Physical Material'?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 16:17:36 GMT

Hello folks,

I'm the principal author of FBX2glTF, a conversion program from FBX to the modern runtime delivery format glTF. One of the challenges has been implementing support for PBR materials, since at the SDK level, FBX doesn't natively define anything more modern than Blinn/Phong. I've previously reverse-engineered the PBS Stingray material format, and now I am turning my eyes to 3ds Max's Physical Material. It's a more powerful material than what glTF can represent, but a partial implementation is still very useful.

What I could really use from the community are source FBX files that utilise Physical Material. I do have a trial copy of the program, so I am able to apply simple preset materials to a sphere and export those, but I'm no artist and anything more sophisticated than that is beyond me. It would be really useful if any of you have models you've made (or have legal rights to) and are willing to share. I won't reuse them, just making sure they run okay through my converter.

Please let me know either as replies here, or as email to par.winzell@alyx.com. Thank you!

Re: Samples using 'Physical Material'?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 16:49:17 GMT

FBX only supports standard material from I know. Perhaps accepts PBS Stingray (not sure) but it won't accept physical material (or Arnold, Vray etc)

Re: Samples using 'Physical Material'?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 18:21:15 GMT

No, that's not true. Both those material formats are correctly exported as part of the FBX.

Here's an example of what Physical Material looks like in an ASCII export.

Re: Samples using 'Physical Material'?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 19:26:22 GMT

You are right. I was mistaken because the error message that appears always that you export it.

But when you re import that object also import the original material.

Re: Samples using 'Physical Material'?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 14:06:05 GMT

Bump - anyone else? Any FBX made with 3ds Max using Physical Material?

Something you uploaded to Sketchfab or whatnot?

It'd be super helpful to me.

Re: Samples using 'Physical Material'?

hagen.deloss — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 14:56:59 GMT

Hello @Anonymous

Thanks for posting in the 3DS Max forums! Have you tried downloading any FBX or Max files from Turbosquid? There is a search filter you can run that filters for free options, here is a link to some free FBX files.

I would also suggest posting in the CGsociety forums and maybe the Polycount forums, as there a lot of creatives there 😄

This sounds like a really useful tool!!

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Samples using 'Physical Material'?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 15:32:24 GMT

Hello Hagen! I have in the past downloaded FBX files from several of these sites.

Unfortunately, it's impossible to filter for which ones were made using 3ds Max, and which specifically used this material type, and I think that's a fairly rare combination.

Posting on 3D art sharing forums is a good idea, though. I will give that a whirl. I'll leave this open though, I am still hoping someone will come along who modelled something nice & is happy to share it. 🙂