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Bringing Animations from 3DS Max into Showcase
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  • KellyS
  • Posted: 04 August 2010 03:50 AM
  • Total Posts: 32
  • Joined: 04 August 2010 10:46 AM

Hi all!

Just found this forum, seems the perfect place to ask a few questions.  So, here’s my first - is there a simple tutorial showing how to bring 3DS Max keyframe animations into Showcase?

I know the information is out there, I’m currently working on the transition from 2010 to 2011 Showcase Pro but I didn’t master this subject in 2010 and am now confused.  I understand it uses FBX files, but I’m a bit blinded by science - is there a nice, simple introduction to this topic that isn’t so word-heavy anywhere?

Thanks!

Kelly



Replies: 1
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Hi Kelly,

Keyframe animations from 3ds Max must be imported separately from the associated objects to be animated.  So it is a two step process:
1. Import the model from Max as an FBX file
2. Import the associated animation as an FBX file:
• Export the selected object animations as FBX from 3ds Max with the following conditions:
- Export Animation Only
- Z-up World Coordinate Axis
- Bake Complex Animations (if not already baked)
• Import the FBX animation through the Behaviors overlay:
-Press B to show the Behaviors interface
-Click the arrow beside the Create button and select Import FBX Animation
-A file browser window opens. Browse to and select the FBX file to use for the animation data
• The animation is automatically applied to matching nodes and can be previewed using the animation controls in the Behavior Properties window

I hope this helps!  There is also a bit more information in Help which you might want to review after you’ve got the basics.

Author: hooper-ux

Replied: 04 August 2010 05:52 AM  
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  • KellyS
  • Posted: 02 September 2010 03:41 AM

Hi hooper-ux,

That’s worked brilliantly, thank you, it was just what I needed and I’ve now brought a whole heap of animations from Max into Showcase using the FBX export/import options.  I have been exporting the whole file, geometry and all, as an FBX file and then importing the geometry, and then the animation into the Showcase file.

Now I’m afraid I have another issue - the client added a part to the model, so I added it into the Max file and re-exported the file as FBX.  I updated the geometry part in Showcase which worked a treat, but there doesn’t appear to be any kind of “update” tool in the organiser to update the animation file (to include the new part).

I’m pretty happy with this so far though, so please do share those additional secrets, I’m curious now!

Thanks again for the help, it really did help me with my project.

Kelly



Replies: 0
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  • KellyS
  • Posted: 06 September 2010 12:11 AM

I’ve sorted this one out - Showcase doesn’t like it when an FBX file is over-written.

The way I’ve found that works is to create a new FBX with a different name, then re-import.

I’ve had to start the project pretty much from scratch, but now I understand the workflow better, so it’s not all bad.



Replies: 0




   
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