Export .vrscene from Houdini

[Mikhalenko]

Hi. Can I export scene from Houdini to .vrscene and use it in 3ds max? I have a model with materials applied in Houdini and I need this model with this material in 3ds max. It's possible?
Thanks,
Andrei

[Gosho.Genchev]

Hey, Mikhalenko ,

sure, the option is on the Renderer ROP -> Export tab. SideFx recently dropped the restriction on Indie regarding scene description formats so the latest nightly builds will allow you to export even if you're on Indie.

Hope that helps!

[Mikhalenko]

Thanks a lot!

[Jim Meston]

How about from Max to Houdini?

[chakarov]

How about from Max to Houdini?

Yes, you could export a vrscene from 3dsmax and use it in Houdini as well.

[Jim Meston]

I have sussed the import (and in fact a cheeky way to unpack the geo too !)
I am a bit lost on where the export option is in Max, and also the export materials option.
Sorry for being a Max noob!

[EDIT]
I see the latest versions allow you to unpack and keep material assignments.

I need to convert 3 arch vis Max scenes into Houdini. This would be amazing if I didn't have to FBX it!!!

I am not sure I am doing it right. The export button does nothing, and the vray path button does nothing.



[EDIT again]

I am guessing it is because I don't have standalone installed?

[Jim Meston]

Ok so I have update 3.1 installed both standalone and vray next for max.

I click export scene and nothing happens.

I get a message window, where it says loading plugins... but then nothing.

[chakarov]

Hi Jim Meston , could you try export vrscene from 3dsmax with V-Ray for 3dsmax selected in V-Ray Path parameter.

I need to convert 3 arch vis Max scenes into Houdini. This would be amazing if I didn't have to FBX it!!!

Because of some DCC specific workflows you might need to manually edit materials/textures when vrscene is unpacked and materials are imported. e.g. 3dsmax uses uv indexes instead of attributes. Unpacking the vrscene will create meshes with uv attribtues and the indexes in the materials won't work anymore.

Also imported materials from vrscene might look significantly different because of some internal V-Ray conversions during export.

[Jim Meston]

Ok cool, I am fine with getting some kind of materials in that I have to adjust. I am still struggling to export a vrscene file from Max.
The vray path parameter only has Standalone in it. Before it was blank.

Where is vray for max typically installed?

[Gosho.Genchev]

That's strange ... Can you even render with V-Ray in Max at all ?

The default location for the installation is:

C:\Program Files\Chaos Group\V-Ray\3ds Max 2020

If the V-Ray files are there, maybe check if the V-Ray plugin is loaded: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...E2823-htm.html

There should also be a V-Ray toolbar when you start 3ds Max - if you have a fresh install, it might be floating above the window instead of docked, as in the image below:




Hope that helps!

[Jim Meston]

It is rendering etc, just not exporting.

[Jim Meston]

I am wondering if I can point it to the 3ds Max vray.exe ?
I can't find it anywhere.

Also note it will export vray mesh files fine.

[Gosho.Genchev]

The vray.exe is inside

C:\Program Files\Chaos Group\V-Ray\3ds Max 2020\bin

IIRC it's used for rendering the exported VRScene, not for the export per se.

I'll look into old issues and check with the exact build you're using, then I'll message back.

Best regards!

[Jim Meston]

Great. For info I can't even export a sphere or simple scene. I have tried everything I can think of. Thank you !!!!

[chakarov]

Hi Jim Meston , can you share more details about your setup. OS , 3dsmax /version,service pack/ , V-Ray build /is it official release or a nightly build/.