Can Exisiting 3DS Max Meshs (3DS files) Be Imported Into SL

I've been scouring the net for days now trying to look for an outright answer to this question, and I've found some leads and some dead ends.

From what I know SL does not support true meshs, only sculpties/sculptie maps. Therefore I know shapes can be made witht the prim composer, and that more organic shapes can be made with sculpties. However, is it possible to somehow (through any number of tools) take a not so complex 3DS Max model, and convert it somehow into prims, or a scuplt map and import it into SL?

I've read a stupid number of entries on JIRA about 3DS imports, OBJ (which is apparently can be achieved through the use of a script, although it didn't look like it was going to be supported anytime soon) tutorials that use the projection modifier to create a scupltie map, all sorts of hacks really, but no-one seems to have a clear cut answer as to whether existing 3DS Max models can be converted (either by converting them into prims or maps) or imported into SL via any other method!

If anyone has any information on this it would be most appreciated. Also if different methods are know, how effective are they? With regards to there quality and the ease of the method from A (3DS Max) to B (Second Life).


Thanks in advance, Alex

look on http://www.xstreetsl.com/index.php

there are tonnes of tools for 3rd party client there, as to their performance, not a clue

The answer to your question largely depends on what the model you are trying to translate looks like. As you have not shared that information with us you are not going to get a clear cut answer from me. Sorry.

So here's my general spiel: Since you appear to be a 3ds Max user you should go get Prim Composer http://liferain.com/downloads/primcomposer/ Use sculpties for organic flowing shapes and prims for straight edged machine like objects.

With the SculptGenMax tool that comes with Prim Composer you can have vertex level control over the mesh. Pretty good for a user made hack considering the "official" version only allows you surface approximation due to the Linden Labs apparent philosophy on how sculpties should be used.

The projection method is good for models that have surfaces that don't overlap when you trace rays from the center and consistent medium to low details. It is a surface approximation method, so you will generally get sort of a averaged out looking mesh topology. Yes, it is sort of a hack. But unless you are using the MEL script provided by Qarl, methods for creating sculpties are hacks in one way or another.