Can I export a model with its animation from MAX to .json?

json three.js webgl 3dsmax
Manhhailua picture Manhhailua · Jun 8, 2013 · Viewed 8.7k times · Source

I have a model with simple animation designed on 3Ds MAX (my version is 2013). How can I export it to .json extension including its animation (for usage with Three.js)? I've tried several times to export it with tools from Three.js package but these go to waste ("morphTargets" array still empty).
How can I handle this problem? Is there any way else? Do I have to use 3D Maya to make animation for my model?
Thanks for reading!

Answer

Andy Ray picture Andy Ray · Dec 22, 2013

To get morph targets you need to export each morph target object individually as a .obj file, including the unmorphed mesh. Then you need to pass them all to the python convert script found in /utils/converters/obj:

python convert_obj_three.py -i unmorphedmesh.obj -m 'morphmesh1.obj morphmesh2.obj' -o comppiledTargets.js

and then your morph targets will be populated.

If you want a boned / rigged mesh, I wrote a blog post about detailing the entire rigged 3ds max > threejs export.

It is currently impossible to have both a boned / rigged mesh and morph targets coming from 3ds max. There is an example of both skinning and morphing in threejs, so it's possible, but that model was made in blender.

Related questions

How to convert object to json file for three.js model loader

I am building a browser game with three.js and I want to load a model from Maya 2013 into my scene. I have exported the model as an obj file. Now I need to know how to convert it into …

Read More
using three.js JSONLoader

Just can't see models imported into three.js scene. The geometry looks fine but the model isn't displaying no matter what material I apply to it. I'm new to WebGL so it's hard for me to diagnose, but my guess …

Read More
THREE.JS Exporting JSON models from blender (including textures)

I'm using the mrdoob Blender Export Plugin (io_mesh_threejs) to Export to Three JS, but the exported .js or .dae objects do not contain any reference to the texture map files. Is there a special way I need to …

Read More