Updated 12.05.

2010

Lets Talk
w w w. g e t m e t h o d . c o m FROM
3ds Max 3ds Max

The le format cheat sheet for designers who need all of the 3d tools in their toolbox to talk to each other.

TO
SketchUp Bonzai3d

FILE FORMAT
3DS , DWG 3DS , DWG

NOTES
No materials if DWG is used. No materials if DWG is used. Organize your model by materials or colors. Every polygon with the same color/material will be grouped together. v2007 format v2010 format Arcs, circles & splines retain parametric controls. v2010 format v2007 DWG does not keep materials. Option 1: Organize your model by materials or colors. Every polygon with the same color/ material will be grouped together. Export "By Material".

3ds Max AutoCAD AutoCAD AutoCAD AutoCAD Bonzai3d

Artlantis SketchUp Bonzai3d Revit Cinema4d SketchUp

3DS , DWG DWG DWG DWG DWG DAE, DWG

Bonzai3d

Artlantis

ATL, DWG

Option 2: Organize your model by layer. Each layer will be grouped together as a material group. Export "By Layer". The Artlantis3 le exporter is the best option if you have ATL3. If you have ATL2, use DWG. Export "By Layer" and all objects will be given the same name as the host layer from Bonzai. Put Phong tags on all smooth or curved objects in Cinema4d. If using 3DS, export "By Material". 3DS has better material handling than DWG. Use default settings Triangulation edges may need to be hidden once in SketchUp. 3DS is triangles only, OBJ is n-gons. Organize your model by materials or colors. Every polygon with the same color/material will be grouped together. Export from 3d window, hide anything you don't want to export in the model. Click DWG Properties tab, and choose "Export as ACIS Solids" upon export for Revit objects to become SketchUp groups automatically. v2007 works, v2010 is unreliable. Export from 3d window, hide anything you don't want to export in the model. Click DWG Properties tab, and choose "Export as ACIS Solids" upon export for Revit objects to become Bonzai objects automatically. v2010 DWG or SAT work very similarly, but DWG imports Revit materials. Export from 3d window, hide anything you don't want to export in the model. Do not use DWFx format. Export from 3d window, hide anything you don't want to export in the model. Click DWG Properties tab, and choose "Export as ACIS Solids" upon export. v2010 DWG * Don't use the "Default Material" in Revit. Apply a unique material to each object in a material group for proper handling in Artlantis. Export from 3d window, hide anything you don't want to export in the model. Click DWG Properties tab, and choose "Export as Polymesh" upon export for Revit objects to become Cinema4d objects automatically. v2007 Export from 3d window, hide anything you don't want to export in the model. Click DWG Properties tab, and choose "Export as ACIS Solids" upon export.

Bonzai3d

Cinema4d

LWO

Bonzai3d Bonzai3d Cinema4d Cinema4d

3ds Max Revit SketchUp Bonzai3d

3DS , DWG DWG DAE OBJ, DAE, 3DS

Cinema4d

Artlantis

3DS

Revit

SketchUp

DWG

Revit

Bonzai3d

DWG, ACIS SAT

Revit

Artlantis

DWF, DWG

Revit

Cinema4d

DWG

Revit

3ds Max

DWG, FBX

If using 2011, use FBX to keep the architectural materials library. In Revit, do not use the paint-by-face method to apply materials. Setup all materials through object Type Properties.

SketchUp

Bonzai3d

SKP

v7 Organize your model by materials or colors. Every polygon with the same color/material will be grouped together. Download the ATL Plugin for ATL export.

SketchUp

Artlantis

SKP, ATL

SketchUp

Revit

SKP

v7 SKP le retains instancing. Double sided materials are supported (i.e. front & back face separate materials). Layers are also supported.

SketchUp

3ds Max

SKP, 3DS, DWG

If using 3DS, export "By Material". 3DS has better material handling than DWG. DWG will retain object instancing.

SketchUp

Cinema4d

DAE

Materials are automatically transferred.

Note: If more than one le format is listed, they are in order of recommendation.
2010 Method. All Rights reserved. Do not reproduce without express written consent of the author. Just ask. Itll probably be just ne. [email protected]