Is it possible to share material libraries between 3d apps

from WinCustomize Forums
I was wondering if anyone knows how, if it is even possible for one to use materials from bryce 5 with 3ds max. The reason I was asking is I noticed that the material libraries in 3dsmax were identified as bryce material library presets on my pc. I didn't like bryce when I tried it but really dug the materials; I tried putting the bryce .mat files in the directory with the 3dsmax materials and 3dsmax showed the libraries as being installed but as being empty. Is there a way to use the materials between the 2 apps or is it just that they both have the same .mat file extension but it's a formatted different for each app.
skinning
2,671 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think that each of the files are proprietary, thus they can't be shared without a little work. I am not sure because I don't use 3d programs but you might find a program that converts one file to the other, google is your friend.

of course the actual 3d data might be the same between both and the difference is just the header, but I don't know.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Can't offer you any help on this one daVo, never bothered with bryce.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the advice Crazy Travis, and your not missing out on anything horiz0n. It does have some pretty cool materials though, but that's about the only cool thing.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Crazy Travis, When you say the difference may just be the header; could you go into a little more detail. I apologize if that's a stupid question, but I'm a noob.
It does seem as though 3d materials are all comprised of the same basic parts

Google must want more than friendship cuz I'm still goin through the list!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Crazy Travis, When you say the difference may just be the header; could you go into a little more detail. I apologize if that's a stupid question, but I'm a noob.
It does seem as though 3d materials are all comprised of the same basic parts

Google must want more than friendship cuz I'm still goin through the list!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
don't worry about the header, its not important. And for any remainder I have no idea. my suggestion is to keep at it with google.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
http://tbruckner.esmartweb.com/tools.html

I found this site. the guy has a program that will convert the mat file to a bmp. I don't know if its the right mat file though and if having a bmp file is useful
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You kick @$$ dude. I checked out the site and I don't know if he can help, but the best thing about good sites is they usually have good links. If I can't get some of that stuff to work "grog" has a good bryce post that has a lot of helpfull stuff. I was thinkin of just creating a scene in bryce with a bunch of simple objects and saving it, then converting it, opening it in max, and then just saving the materials to my material library.

I'm sure some of the stuff I've already come across could be used but I'm a relative noob to the whole computer world, as it's only been little over a year that I've owned a pc. My friends aren't much help cuz they all use linux (I really don't like linux). You guys (the "advanced" members, moderators, and admins) at wincustomize have always been extremely helpfull anytime I've had a question. I see posts all the time by people bitchin and complaining about this and that, so I figured I'd take a second to say thank you since you probably don't hear it enough.

I'll stop before I write a novel and maybe I'll start a new thread
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
your welcome and I am still relatively new here...about maybe 5 months. And about a new thread: don't start a redundant one. a lot of questions that are being asked can be found on previous threads. there is the search function up near the top. of course if it is a question and you can't find the answer to it feel free to ask, I am sure somebody will help you. If it isn't a question, but a decent topic also you can start it.

Have a nice day