Mudbox supports the Autodesk® FBX® file format for data exchange between 3D applications. FBX supports a broader range of entities between Mudbox and other
applications in many cases.
FBX is a conversion technology that lets you acquire and exchange 3D models and related assets and media from a variety of
sources more quickly and easily. FBX plug-ins are available for Autodesk® Maya® and Autodesk® 3ds Max® software, and is also supported by Autodesk® MotionBuilder® and Autodesk® Softimage® using the Autodesk® Crosswalk software.
Note
FBX files exported from Maya 2011 are not compatible with Mudbox versions earlier than Mudbox 2011 unless you specify an earlier
FBX version in the FBX export options.
Export a Mudbox model using FBX
- Ensure that your model has the assigned as its shading material.
- Sculpt and paint on it.
- Set the subdivision level on the model as you want the mesh to be exported. For more information, see Display a different subdivision level.
- If you want sculpt layers to be exported as blend shapes, you must first turn on the preference in the window. Only sculpt layers associated with the current subdivision level are exported as blend shape/morph targets in the
FBX file.
- In the tray, select the tool and select the items to export.
- Select .
A file browser window appears.
- Specify a directory path and file name, set the to , and click .
Important
If you are exporting a mesh that has been used as the source in a texture map extraction (for example, if you used this model
as the source to extract a displacement map), be aware that any extracted texture maps are automatically exported with your
model.
This can result in unexpected deformation when you import the model into another application, as the texture maps are automatically
assigned to the model on import. If you experience this issue, you can remove any unwanted texture map from the associated
channel (such as the displacement or bump channel) after importing the model.
Mudbox features supported for FBX export
The following table describes the entities that Mudbox supports via FBX and whether they are fully supported or converted
when imported by FBX supported applications.
| Mudbox feature |
FBX |
Maya |
3ds Max |
| Polygonal meshes
- Only the current subdivision level is exported when exporting a mesh from Mudbox using FBX. Any sculpt layers not locked to
that subdivision level are baked into the resulting mesh when it gets exported. The current subdivision level becomes the
base level for the exported mesh. If you want to preserve the separate sculpt layers, turn on the preference in the Preferences window. For more information, see FBX.
|
V
|
V
|
V
|
| UV texture coordinates
- Only one UV set is currently supported and exported by Mudbox via FBX.
|
V
|
V
|
V
|
| Paint layers
- When you export a Mudbox scene using FBX, Mudbox creates a subdirectory titled <filename>.fbx-files to store any associated paint layers (textures). If you prefer that the FBX file reference the paint layers (textures) in
the same directory as the .mud scene (<filename>-files), turn on the preference in the window. For more information, see FBX preferences.
- By default, paint layers on the exported model (including the background color) are saved as discrete textures when exporting
from Mudbox using the FBX format. If the importing 3D application supports it, the textures usually appear as layered textures
on the model's shading material. For example, within Maya, Mudbox paint layers appear within the shading material as layered
textures.
- Layer blend mode attributes for layered (composite) textures are supported to a limited extent for export. The l, , and blend mode settings are exported with the material. Any other layer blend mode properties that are set for any layered textures
in the file are set to when an FBX file is exported from Mudbox. When this occurs, the following warning is displayed: “Paint Layer Blend Mode:
<blend mode name> is not supported in FBX, it will be converted to the Normal blend mode”.
- If the preference is turned on when exporting (see below), the resultant flattened texture will look correct regardless of the blend
mode settings.
- Some 3D applications do not universally support multiple layered textures within a single texture channel. In these circumstances,
turning on the preference is recommended. This causes the paint layers to be merged into one texture per channel during export. The flatten
operation also includes the background color for the material.
- Normal Map channels that contain multiple paint layers (and have the Preview As Paint Layer property turned on) will automatically
be flattened to one paint layer when exported as FBX. This occurs because some 3D applications do not support the rendering
of multiple normal map channels in a material.
- Bump/Displacement Map channels that contain multiple paint layers (and have the Preview As Bump Layer property turned on)
will automatically be flattened to one paint layer when exported as FBX. This occurs because some 3D applications do not support
the rendering of multiple normal map channels in a material.
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
| Default shading material
- The default shading material is converted to a material with an equivalent appearance.
- Material attributes that are written out by Mudbox when exporting an FBX file are: Diffuse, Specular, Gloss, Bump Map, Normal
Map, Incandescence, Reflection Mask, Reflection Map, Reflection Strength.
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
| Sculpt layers
- The preference must be turned on for sculpt layers to be exported as blendshapes. Sculpt layers are converted to blend shape
targets (Maya) or morph targets (3ds Max) when transferring between Mudbox and these 3D applications via FBX For more information,
see FBX.
- Keep in mind that sculpt layers are locked to a specific subdivision level, so only the sculpt layers locked to the currently
active subdivision level will be exported as blend shape targets. Any other sculpt layer information that exists on any other
subdivision levels gets baked into the base mesh when exported using FBX and not exported as a blendshape.
- The property on a sculpt layer is ignored by FBX.
- Any layer masking that exists in a Mudbox file is baked into the blend shape target/morph target when exported as an FBX file.
- When the property for a sculpt layer is turned off, the blend shape target’s weight is set as zero in the FBX file.
- Export layers as blendshapes works on selected faces.
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
| V - Perfect compatibility
C - Data has been converted or interpolated to yield results that are functionally equivalent.
X - Entity is not supported and is ignored
|
