How to export into *.3ds and keep a bitmap image attached to the model?

[VR22]

How to export into *.3ds and keep a bitmap image attached to the model?

[Alfred.DeFlaminis · Accepted solution]

Hello @VR22 and welcome to the community,

The 3ds format is pretty old and has some quirks.  The first of which is a limited 8 character file name which these days is pretty restrictive.  When you export a .3ds object, you'll get a message that Max is trying to export a texture as well.  As far as I can tell, it no longer does export the texture but it does create a material on the object which looks for that particular texture name.  (The one displayed on export.)  So if you copy the texture to the same folder you exported the .3ds to and rename the texture to match the name shown on export then it'll work out when you bring it into other applications.  Once you export the .3ds file, you can open a blank Max scene and import the .3ds.  If you pick the material off the object, you'll see it's looking for the texture name, but with no path.  (so, same folder ideally.)  If you save that Max scene and reopen it, the texture should show.  So the key is to manually copy the texture to the location of the exported 3ds and then rename it to match the window.  

That being said, the .3ds format is largely defunct and has been replaced with FBX.  It's still in Max for legacy file support, but there are numerous reasons not to use it.  Poly limit is one of them.  OBJ's or FBX's are likely to be superior formats.  Is there a reason you need .3ds specifically?  If so, this post should help with getting that working properly.  Can you please try this for me?

Best Regards,

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @VR22,

I just wanted to follow up here, any thoughts on my previous post? Thanks for the update!

Best Regards,

[VR22]

Hello @Alfred.DeFlaminis

Thank you much for your reply.

I was importing max models into a VR program. I managed to use .fbx in the VR program instead .3ds.

Of course, the fbx extension is slower in the VR program.

Regards.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Thanks for the update @VR22.  Which program was it?  Maybe I can find a solution with .3ds with it if they have a demo.  Happy to try...

Best Regards,