smoothing groups How can I import smoothing groups from 3ds Max to 3DCoat correctly?

[hyujii]

I’ve completed modeling and smoothing group work in 3ds Max, and now I’m trying to texture the model in 3DCoat. However, when I export the model from 3ds Max as an FBX or OBJ file and import it into 3DCoat, the smoothing groups don’t appear as they did in Max.

Sometimes all the smoothing groups are gone, or they all seem to be merged into one, which makes the model look different from what I originally created.

How can I properly import my model so that 3DCoat retains the smoothing groups as they appear in 3ds Max?

Thanks in advance!

in 3dsmax  /  fbx in 3d coat / obj in 3d coat

[Carlosan]

Hi 

3DCoat does support smoothing groups from other software with out using the auto-smoothing groups feature. 

Smoothing groups are supported via OBJ format. But you need to export normals also from your 3D-model app. 3DCoat uses normals in OBJ file to recover smoothing groups. Import the normal map using "Textures menu > Import > Normal map"

You can send/receive models using the MAX applink. Here's a link to all the Applink.

 

Also try turning on Lock Normals if the Normals was edited on the mesh model.

 

* On the other hand, 3DCoat by default sets the smoothing groups to your object to 90 degrees when importing objects to the paint room or baking from the retopo room.

In the import panel, choose auto-smoothing groups and set it to the degrees so desired. Start at 30 and then change it if necessary.

 

Hope this help

[hyujii]

On 2025. 6. 10. at 오후 5시 41분, Carlosan said:

안녕 

3DCoat는 자동 스무딩 그룹 기능을 사용하지 않고도 다른 소프트웨어의 스무딩 그룹을 지원합니다. 

스무딩 그룹은 OBJ 형식을 통해 지원됩니다. 하지만 3D 모델 앱에서도 노멀을 내보내야 합니다. 3DCoat는 OBJ 파일의 노멀을 사용하여 스무딩 그룹을 복구합니다. "텍스처 메뉴 > 가져오기 > 노멀 맵"을 사용하여 노멀 맵을 가져오세요.

MAX 앱링크를 사용하여 모델을 주고받을 수 있습니다. 모든 앱링크에 대한 링크는 다음과 같습니다 .

 

메시 모델에서 법선이 편집된 경우 법선 잠금을 켜보세요.

 

* 반면, 3DCoat는 페인트 룸으로 객체를 가져오거나 리토포 룸에서 베이킹할 때 기본적으로 객체의 평활화 그룹을 90도로 설정합니다.

가져오기 패널에서 자동 스무딩 그룹을 선택하고 원하는 정도로 설정하세요. 30부터 시작하여 필요에 따라 조정하세요.

 

이것이 도움이 되기를 바랍니다

Thank you for the response! I have a follow-up question. I understand that to bake a normal map, a low-poly model is usually compared against a high-poly version. However, in my case, I want to preserve the smoothing groups exactly as they are on the low-poly model.

Is it still possible to bake a normal map using just the low-poly model with its original smoothing groups, without a high-poly version?

[Carlosan]

I am afraid it is not possible...

uncheck the normals box on export of an obj, but keep your smoothing group and optimize normals settings, it may be imports the OBJ file with the original hard edges.  Sorry I don't have MAX installed to try it.

* I'm not sure if this is ideal for your workflow

[hyujii]

12 hours ago, Carlosan said:

I am afraid it is not possible...

uncheck the normals box on export of an obj, but keep your smoothing group and optimize normals settings, it may be imports the OBJ file with the original hard edges.  Sorry I don't have MAX installed to try it.

* I'm not sure if this is ideal for your workflow

Thank you for your kind reply. I've been working hard for 4 days to do this, but apparently there's no answer.. 

Looks like the only way is to control auto smoothing groups well in 3d coat to make them as close to maxview as possible!

[Carlosan]

What about fbx export ?