The Industry Standard Pro CAD+DCC 3D Translation System for 3ds Max

PolyTrans-for-3dsMax is one of the most universally owned and used core technologies deeply integrated into 3ds Max, which allows it to natively convert between all major 3D CAD/MCAD, DCC/Animation, Skinning/Skeleton/Bones & VisSim file formats or 3D programs with full professional fidelity (some conversion pipelines are import or export only). It has been in constant daily use for well over 15 years by tens of thousands of the world's best known companies, from ILM to Disney to Boeing to BMW and almost every top named company as broken out here. Hence, this is extremely stable and well refined conversion software. A license to PolyTrans-for-3dsMax comes with each base-level version of PolyTrans and NuGraf.

PolyTrans-for-3dsMax is the mirror twin to the industry staple "PolyTrans-for-Maya" native plug-in system. These two Okino products have also provided and formed the absolute defacto, tightest, and only dedicated, bi-directional conversion system pipeline between Maya and 3ds Max since 1995 (in addition to strong bi-directional and native support for most other 3D file formats and programs).

Please refer to "PolyTrans-for-Maya" for all overview and technical information which relate as well to PolyTrans-for-3dsMax, including the bidirectional skeleton skinning conversion (with support for Character Studio and Skin modifier), and conversion of all geometry/material/animation/texture information.

The PolyTrans-for-3dsMax help documentation can be read online by clicking here (.chm format) or clicking here (the older .hlp format).

Click here to read the 8 page whitepaper about PolyTrans-for-3dsMax and PolyTrans-for-Maya.

The Industry Standard Pipeline for Bidirectional 3ds Max <--> Maya Conversions

A pivotal aspect of the Okino software for many of our users are the PolyTrans-for-3dsMax and PolyTrans-for-Maya native plug-in systems. These modules allow 3ds Max and Maya to directly import/export all of the Okino supported file formats from within their respective user interfaces. Other common uses of the plug-in systems is for bidirectional 3ds-Max/Maya conversions (via the Okino .bdf file format), import & optimization of large CAD datasets from all major 3D CAD packages & file formats, import/export to all 3D gaming file formats (including skinned mesh and skeleton conversions), OpenFlight VisSim conversions, and of course bidirectional conversions to most other 3D file formats and software packages (from Lightwave, to Softimage (XSI), COLLADA, VRML2/X3D, DirectX, SketchUp and dozens more).

Click image to view larger 800x950 pixel version

Bidirectional Skeleton & Skinning Conversions Between 3ds Max, Maya, XSI, Lightwave, DirectX, Collada, U3D & FBX

For over the last decade Okino has pursued active R&D in the area of skeleton and skinning conversion between the most popular 3D character animation software packages or destination file formats, those being Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Softimage (XSI), Lightwave, DirectX, Collada, U3D and FBX. This WEB page provides a good overview of the concepts behind skeletons and skinning, and why in general conversion of skinning data between these aforementioned software packages is ripe with potential problems.

FBX 'Samurai' model (courtesy of Autodesk)

3ds Max is a registered trademark of Autodesk Inc. This import/export converter plug-in system has been developed independently by Okino Computer Graphics. Autodesk Inc. does not have any affiliations with Okino Computer Graphics nor with the development or marketing of this 3ds Max plug-in software. Okino is a registered and long standing Autodesk ADN developer.