Line Art from .max files?

[Streetwise]

Does anyone know of a way to get fairly clean 3D line art from objects that were hand modeled (such as a task chair)? I'm wondering if there's a format I can export to and bring it into AutoCAD (which I don't own), or Inventor and be able to translate that way, or maybe there's a plugin somewhere?

These examples were created from within Inventor, so it needs to be similar.

Thanks.

[M.Max]

Illustrate ?
http://www.davidgould.com/Illustrate...lustrate53.htm

[cheerioboy]

You can export 3dmax files to .dwg and open them in CAD. Just not sure what capabilities you'll have in CAD to manipulate the line work.

[Morne]

Export the model to AutoCAD (dwg)
In AutoCAD, orbit until you have an angle you like (or setup a camera), or use DDVPOINT to select an ortho view
then HIDE (gives you what you see above).
You can also then print to PDF to whatever size you want (no rendering needed)

OR

in Max render settings disable lights. Switch off GI. Add vraylight as an override material and make it white. In Environment choose a white background. Add VRayToon. render

[Streetwise]

Thanks, Morne! With the CAD method, I'm so close... But I can't get it to export to PDF without errors. Even if I could get the background to go White and get a screen shot I think that might work... But I don't know CAD very well.

I tried the VRayToon approach and the whole things renders black, so that doesn't look like it would work...

[Streetwise]

I figured out how to get a white background and can do screen grabs, but the antialiasing is a bit much. Hmmmm There must be a way to export it cleanly.

[Streetwise]

[Streetwise]

Instead of exporting to PDF, I tried using "Plot" and selecting PDF from there. That seemed to work! Any ideas how I would get the arm in the foreground to show up better, or even thicker lines?

[Morne]

Here's a quick max file for you that I slapped together in 2 seconds. Excuse the "modern" chair and replace with yours (just delete everything besides the camera, then merge your chair in here). Render

[Morne]

And here's the max file

[Streetwise]

I must be doing something wrong then. I merged my chair into your scene, added Toon to Render Elements and hit render. Still black. Very strange.

[Streetwise]

I just sent you a PM with a link to my chair if you get a chance. Thanks for your help!

[Morne]

No dont add anything, just merge and render (the file you sent me has the camera pointing AWAY from the chair)

If you do decide to add a toon shader, here's the results from your file:

[Morne]

You can adjust the toon settings under max environment settings and adjust "normal threshold" and "overlap threshold" to increase/decrease the effect

[Streetwise]

You can adjust the toon settings under max environment settings and adjust "normal threshold" and "overlap threshold" to increase/decrease the effect

Thank you so much! I didn't realize it's an atmospheric effect. Also, I was trying to use IPR which has something to do with it not working. As for the camera pointed the wrong way, um... we'll just let that one go. haha.

Dave