FBX preferences

Set the following preferences for importing and exporting from Mudbox using the FBX format.

Export ASCII FBX

When on, sets the default output file format for FBX from binary to ASCII. The recommended FBX format is binary, but ASCII can be useful when troubleshooting.

Export Layers As Blendshapes

By default, the selected object is exported based on its current subdivision level and any detail contained on the sculpt layers associated with that subdivision level when exporting using FBX.

Turn this option on if you want to preserve the separate sculpt layers on the current subdivision level as individual blendshapes. This produces separate blend shape targets that can be modified in Maya or 3ds Max in a manner similar to the layer Strength slider within Mudbox.

Export Curves

When on, selected curves are saved as NURBS curves in the exported FBX file. See also Export using FBX.

Note2D curves (ViewCurve objects) are exported in normalized space (scaled between 0 and 1 or -1 and 1), so they may appear smaller than expected when imported in another application.

Reference Textures From .mud File

By default, when you export a Mudbox scene using FBX, a subdirectory titled <filename> .fbx-files is created to store any existing paint layers (textures).

If the Mudbox scene has been previously saved and a -files subdirectory already exists, you can reference the -files directory instead.

Turn on to export an .fbx file that references the same -files subdirectory as the .mud scene.

Flatten Paint Layers On Export

By default, any paint layers that exist on the exported model (including the background color) are saved as discrete textures. If the 3D application supports it, the textures usually appear as layered textures on the model's shading material.

As some 3D applications do not support multiple layered textures within a single texture channel, turning on Flatten Paint Layers On Export is recommended. This causes the paint layers to be merged into one texture per channel during export.

Send Paint Layers On Export

Specifies whether any paint layers on an exported model (including the background color) are saved as discrete textures. If the 3D application supports it, the textures usually appear as layered textures on the model's shading material. On by default.

Export Edge Creases

When on, Mudbox includes any edge creasing data in the exported FBX file.

Export Hard and Soft Edges

When on, Mudbox includes special data on soft and hard edges in the exported FBX file.

Import Materials and Textures

By default, any assigned materials and textures in an FBX file are automatically imported into Mudbox with the mesh. Turn off if you do not want materials and textures imported with the mesh. When off, the default Mudbox Material is assigned.

Import Joints

When on (default), existing skeleton rig data is imported as joints in Mudbox. You can use the joints and associated weight values with the Mudbox Pose tools.

Smooth Joint Weights

Smooths out (blurs) the joint weighting for imported joints. A value of 0 does no smoothing, and the maximum smoothing (blur) is 100. Default is 10.

A maximum of four joints can influence a vertex on a model in Mudbox. When you import rigs where more than four joints are set to influence a vertex, only the four strongest joints are assigned for that vertex and the remaining joint influences are ignored. In some instances, the joint weighting can transition abruptly as a result.