Revit

[glorybound]

How are you guys breaking the tie from Revit to MAX? When I reset the xform everything jumps into space. I have tried everything from converting everything to poly's to importing into Autocad first.

[Bruce Hart]

This is always a problem. I usually file link a FBX file in (Max 2011) and then bind the file. This did not work as well in 2010 and earlier versions. The alternatives are to export the file from Revit as Dwg ACIS solids. When you bring this into Max, it will most likely come in as a gazillion objects with invisible block headers, which Max hates. With the import Dwg method - I have had some success with exporting the file out of Max in obj format and then importing it in again. Some faces can get screwed up - but generally this works well in consolidating all the objects and greatly reducing file size to make things workable. The advantage of Dwg as you may know is the better control of face tesselation, especially noticeable on curved surfaces. Obviously importing dwg will not bring in any Revit materials, but it's probably better to reassign new Vray materials anyway.

Some other points to note:
Just make sure that the Revit file is not miles from the origin - this can result in weirdness
Sometimes the UV mapping will be all the wrong scale when applied to revit objects - this is particlarly a problem when you work in metric units.

If Reset xform does not work, try drawing a box, convert to editable poly, and then attach offending Revit geometry to the box. Then delete the box at sub-object level and the remaining Revit geometry will be "reset".

Hope this helps a bit

[glorybound]

Helps a lot Bruce, thanks!