Export 3ds Max models to FBX files for import into Showcase. Make sure you use the latest version of the FBX exporter. To do this, click the Web updates button at the bottom of the FBX Export dialog box.
It is best to know in advance that your model will be used in Showcase and build it accordingly. Follow the guidelines described here.
For a detailed white paper on this subject from version 2012, see http://autodesk.com/showcase-otherdocs.
NURBS are not supported. Showcase will convert polygons into meshes upon import and this can cause visual irregularities. Try to convert 3ds Max polygons into meshes in 3ds Max. Alternatively, you can use the Triangulate option in the FBX exporter.
Combine objects that do not need to be independent of each other. This will help speed up Showcase. Multi/Sub-Objects (MSOs) are not supported on Autodesk Materials, only on standard materials.
Reduce polygon count to optimize Showcase performance. Use tools such as the Optimize modifer or ProOptimizer to do this.
Autodesk Materials are supported, and standard materials with regular texture maps are supported. Avoid 3ds Max procedural textures—these are not supported.
Use Real-World Scale UV coordinates and set the texture size in current units. Make sure that proper UVs are applied—UV modifiers are supported in Showcase.
If you are using standard materials, convert bump maps to normal maps.
To achieve good ambient lighting in Showcase, use the Unwrap UVW modifier to generate unique UVs in 3ds Max.
To successfully import custom texture maps on Autodesk Materials into Showcase, apply the Autodesk Bitmap to them.
Procedural maps are not supported, except for those related to Autodesk Materials, including:
Scale texture maps in binary multiples for best efficiency (64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, and so on).
If you notice that texture maps are not being imported into the Showcase scene, try enabling Embed Media in the FBX exporter. However, if you do this, texture map links will be lost, and the FBX file will be larger.
