.3DS to .MAX Converters?... how to open files??

Hello, i need a .3DS to .MAX Converter, preferably free, anyone know of any?

 

What kind of...

Um.. I hate to break this to you, but 3D Studio MAX can read 3D Studio files... You already HAVE the "converter", in MAX. 3DS is one of MAX's native formats.

*bites tongue to avoid going on rampage*

 

sorry, but, not for me, i have 3d studio max 6, and i go to open, all it has is .max and something els, no .3ds

 

So.. try IMPORTING the model.

 

Do people do this in other forums too? I visit them all and I never see this sorta thing.

 

No, not really. Most of the questions on CG forums are generally of an intelligent sort, working out tricky effects or lighting or something. Most folks there know the ins and outs of the program fairly well. Some... others... think that we all have more info than the manual for some reason. And to think, I don't even USE that program, and I knew the answer.

 

Good god, im sorry, I am new to 3ds, and i dont have the manual, my friend gave me his copy, he doesent use it anymore. I have no manual, i dont know what .3ds, is, or anything, all i knew is that i couldnt open it in max, im sorry i never tried importing it, im sorry i took 4 and a half seconds of your time to answer my question, hey everyone, i asked a question that you knew! LETS KILL ME!

 

It's simply the fact that you chose to go ask someone to help you rather than helping yourself. You know, by looking in the help files. Even with the ever-present "missing manual syndrome", the help file is still there.

Don't bother with the "my friend gave it to me", either.. we've heard it all before. I assume your "friend" is around your age, and happened to have the four thousand dollars laying around to purchase the software, then he just GAVE it to you for free? Gee, I wish I had friends like that. Oh, yeah, I do.. his name's Kazaa.

 

accually no, i did not pirate my software, my friend DID give it to me, because he now uses maya. He is 28 years old and goes to Digipen. And, how the hell was i supposed to know that .3ds was part of max, i thought .3ds was a different program.

 

3ds Max is the name of the program. You got them both right there.

 

Well it does sound strange b/c he could have sold it on Ebay or something for $1000's of dollars. That is highly unusual for a "friend" to just give these kinda gifts away. BUT the POINT is... you don't have to have the manual. You can use the HELP system inside of MAX and simply searched the word "3DS". OR there are a TON of books that you can buy for $30 bucks or so that go over basic functions. We just don't entertain these kinda questions here. I don't know if there is any place that has a forum to do this kinda training. We like to just stick with artwork here or more complex questions. BUT.. you didn't know, and another person will come along and ask the same thing again in a few weeks maybe, and I will have yet again wasted time typing this same sorta reply over and over. I just... can't make a FAQ that includes every possible question.. and even if I did people wouldn't read it.

 

Couldn't you make a Noob question sticky? Sort of a "I'm new to 3D, help me" sticky. I'm sure there are those kind hearted souls around here patient enough to answer these kinds of questions.

To be honest, help files of OTHER programs have been less than helpful. But the sad truth is people seem to think that because they have the program, they can make things as complex as "Monster's Inc." when the truth is, that's just as easy as making a Picaso after just buying your first pencil and paper. It's art, just a different art tool.

 

Nah.. they can go to the "Help/Advice" thread that is already there. Besides.. I'd rather discourage the really dumb questions than make a NOOB thread.

 

Sounds like an uphill battle to me, Zoo.

 

Perhaps something more generically geared for n00bs.. like "How not to ask stupid questions".

This sort of behaviour on the part of n00bs also serves to give the rest of us a rather bad appearance. When we refuse to help someone, it makes us look a bit stuck-up, that we're simply not willing to help anyone, that we sit around all day waiting to bash someone. Which isn't the case. Every now and then, someone comes along and asks a *gasp* intelligent question, and you know what happens? By golly, they get good answers. The difference is, that these people have HELPED THEMSELVES before asking for help. It's the ones that are simply too lazy to open the help file or the manual, or don't want to spend three seconds on Google, and would rather have someone else on the forum do their searching for them. Those are the folks we have a problem with. We are not here to hold the hand of everybody that has delusions of doing 3D work. Quite a few of us have worked our asses off for years to get to the level we are today. It should come as no surprise that I get a little testy when someone fifteen years my junior comes along and says "I'm gonna make the bestest CGI in the whole wide world, and um.. how do I open a model from SF3D? My five thousand dollar program says it can't read the ZIP file. What's a ZIP file?" And they actually get UPSET when someone says "Get a clue."

Basically, we don't suffer fools lightly. Come here asking stupid questions, you're not going to like the response you get. Do some work on your own, show us that you're capable of learning what we have to teach, and you'll find us a valuable resource. But it won't happen overnight.

 

People will take stuff different ways.. but as long as nobody is being cursed at or called names or something... these people will have to suck it up and take some criticism. Some people are gonna get offended.. can't be avoided. But we have to put our collective foot down. I think what has happened is over the years there's been a lot of people who tell others to come here for any questions they have. And there was a time when you could come here and ask "anyting". So feathers will get ruffled but it's gotta be done. We'll try to politely criticize.. but these other people are gonna have to be a little tougher skinned too. Afterall, they are asking dumb questions.