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Part I: Getting Started with 3ds Max

Material XML Exporter Utility
The Material XML Exporter Utility exports a selected material to an XML file format, where it can be easily
shared with other users. After you select this utility, the Parameters rollout offers four options for selecting the
material to export: the Material/Map Browser, the Object List, Pick Object in Scene, and All Objects in Scene.
The utility also offers several export options including Native XML, export to an Autodesk Tool Catalog,
and using an XSLT template. You also can select to export the material with a thumbnail and along with its
mapping modifiers.
Panorama Exporter Utility
The Panorama Exporter Utility exports a scene into a format that allows all 360 degrees of the scene to be
viewed. Using this utility, you can open the Render parameters for rendering a panoramic scene or access-
ing a viewer for viewing rendered panoramic scenes.
Cross-Ref

More on creating panoramic scenes is covered in Chapter 23, “Rendering a Scene and Enabling Quicksilver.” n
Tutorial: Importing vector drawings from Illustrator

Before leaving this section, let’s look at an example of importing a file for use in Max.
In most companies, a professional creative team uses an advanced vector drawing tool such as Illustrator to
design the company logo. If you need to work with such a logo, learning how to import the externally cre-
ated file gives you a jumpstart on your project.

Note
When importing vector-based files into Max, only the lines are imported. Max cannot import fills, blends, or other
specialized vector effects. All imported lines are automatically converted to Bézier splines in Max. n
Although Max can draw and work with splines, Max’s spline features take a backseat to the vector functions
available in Adobe Illustrator. If you have an Illustrator (AI) file, you can import it directly into Max.
To import Adobe Illustrator files into Max, follow these steps:
1. Within Illustrator, save your file as “Box It Up Co logo” using the .ai file format by choosing
Application Button ➪ Save As.

Note
When saving the Illustrator file, don’t use the latest file format. For this example, I’ve saved the file using the
Illustrator 8 format instead of one of the latest Illustrator CS formats. n
Figure 3.17 shows a logo created using Illustrator.
2. Open Max, and choose Application Button ➪ Import ➪ Import.
A file dialog box opens.

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