Feature Introduction | D5 LiveSync for 3ds Max beta
Key words: Import model | File format | Workflow
Download and Installation
https://www.d5render.com/workflow/3ds-max
Supported Versions
3ds Max 2014-2016, 2018-2025
VRay 3.6 and above, Corona 6.0 / 7.0 / 8.0
D5 Render 2.6 and later versions
Feature introduction
Connect to D5 Render
Click ‘Connect to D5 Render’ to start livesync between 3ds Max and D5 Render. The current Max project will be imported in D5 as well. Models and materials edited in 3ds Max will be instantly updated in D5 with no need to manually click the update button.
LiveSync /Pause
Click ‘LiveSync/Pause’ to pause or continue the livesync. When livesync is paused, adjustments of models and materials will not be synced into D5 in real time. Click the button again to resume the livesync process.
View Switch
After enabling livesync between 3ds Max and D5, the viewports of Max and D5 will keep consistent.
Click “View Switch” to break the connection.
Send Scenes
Click the ‘Send Scenes’ button to send the standard/Vary/Arnold cameras to D5 Render scene list.
Send Current Camera Motion Track
Send the selected camera animations from 3ds Max to D5.
Supports batch sending of multi-selected cameras from 3ds Max into D5.
Send Lights
Click ‘Send Lights’ to sync Standard/Corona/VRay/Arnold light sources into D5, reserving their type and position info. Supports adjusting the imported light sources in D5 Render.
Note: Vray Light Dome, Mesh and Ambient Light are not supported for now.
| 3ds Max Lights | 3ds Max Light Parameters | D5 Light Sources |
|---|---|---|
Standard-Target/Free Spotlight | Position, Attenuation on/off, Spotlight Cone - Hotspot, Orientation, Color | Spotlight |
Standard-Target/Free Directional Light | Cone - Hotspot, Color | Rect Light |
Standard-Omni Light | Color | Point Light |
VRayLight | Plane - Position, Length and Width, Directional, Color and Temperature | Rect Light |
Sphere - Position, Color | Point Light | |
Disc - Position, Radius, Color and Temperature | Spot Light | |
VRayIES | IES file, Rotation | Spot Light |
VRay Sun | Position, Direction | Spot Light |
Corona Light | IES file, color temperature/color | Spot Light |
Rectangle - Position, Width, Color/Temperature | Rect Light | |
Disk - Position, Color/Temperature | Spot Light | |
Sphere - Position, Color/Temperature | Point Light | |
Cylinder - Color/Temperature | Rect Light | |
Corona Sun | Position | Spot Light |
Arnold Light | - | Point Light |
Photometric light | - | Point Light |
Export .d5a
Files of .max format can not be read by D5 Render, but can be converted into .d5a files through the LiveSync plugin for direct import into D5.
When exporting files of .d5a format, the map resolution won’t be compressed. You can choose to export only selected objects or all of them as a single file.
When “keep group hierarchy” is enabled, the exported .d5a files will reserve their group structure when importing in D5.
The auto collapse feature is used to solve export problems with model positioning, normal map UV, and sealing lines. The latest settings are reserved.
Export .skp
Supports converting model files into the .skp format to import into SketchUp and D5 Render.
Supports two resolution options for Resize Bitmap: 512 * 512 and 1024 * 1024.
Supports advanced options including Hide All Edges, Origin to Center, Merge Coplanar Faces and Including Hidden Objects.
Settings
1. Check the version number and global settings
Offers “Display choose sync method dialog” and “Automatically save scenes afer sync” options and auto retains your lastest settings.
Automatically save scenes after sync: D5 Render will automatically alters the repetitive material names into different ones after the first sync with 3ds Max, preventing the set materials in D5 from being overwritten.
2. Select coordinate switch method
X/Y Switch is both the recommended and default switch method.
Please stop the sync process if you find models are rotated or mispositioned.
Change the coordinate switch method to the other one and try again.
3. Sync structure of light component
Commonalities：
Changes made to light position, orientation, and size in D5 Render will be reset when syncing light sources from Max to ensure consistency.
Other parameters like the light names adjusted in D5 won’t be overwritten after the first sync.
| Unsync | Sync | |
|---|---|---|
Where to Use | Users who are used to grouping lights in D5 can select ‘Unsync’ if there are not so many lights in the scene. | Users who get a lot of light groups/instances in the modeling software can select the ‘Sync’ option. |
Differences | Lights will be imported into D5 individually without group structure. | Lights with the same attribute will be auto grouped after importing into D5. |
Operations such as grouping and renaming lights in D5 are not affected by subsequent updates. Supports syncing changes to light sources from Max to D5 after clicking the “Send Lights” button. If the light’s parameters (except position, orientation, and size) have been adjusted in D5, it will not be affected by the subsequent updates from 3ds Max. | The light groups and names set in D5 will be overwritten by updates from 3ds Max to ensure consistency.In addition, sync of light parameters from 3ds Max is unsupported. | |
Delete imported lights in D5 and they would not be synced again in subsequent updates. But, when livesync is restarted, they will be synced again. | Delete imported lights in D5 and they would be synced again in subsequent updates with the changes made in D5 retained. |
Quick ProOptimize
The Quick ProOptimize feature, located in the top menu bar, can reduce the number of faces and intersections to quickly simplify the model.
Known Issues
1. Instance Mesh:
After importing into D5 Render, materials of Instance Mesh will be unified and can not be adjusted individually.
2. Group Instance Mesh:
Group Instance Mesh doesn’t support adjusting materials individually and will use the same material.
If you move or duplicate the models within Group Instance Mesh, the information of the original/instanced group will be randomly displayed in D5.
3. Hide:
If the archive has a group containing multiple layers, you have to unlock the group to hide one of them. New groups created after the livesync are not affected.
4. Export .d5a with group structure info:
Problem: After exporting the Max model as a .d5a file and importing it into D5, the user directly used ‘Sync Coordinates’. However, if he subsequently replaces or updates the .d5a file, the model is misplaced.
Solution: After importing the .d5a, please manually change the Z-axis value (90°) to 0° for this group model, then apply the 'Sync Coordinates' feature, after replacing the model normally, you need to apply the 'Sync Coordinates' feature again (there will be no misalignments).
Uninstallation
Method 1： Go to Window System > Start Menu, right click on D5 LiveSync for 3ds Max and click ‘Uninstall’.
Method 2： Go to My Computer > Control Panel > Programs and Features to uninstall the program.
FAQ
Q1 : Can the previous D5 Sync for 3ds Max plugin work with D5 2.6?
The previous D5 Sync plugin is compatible with D5 2.6. D5 LiveSync for 3ds Max only supports D5 2.6 and later versions, excluding D5 2.5.
Q2 : If I have created a scene in D5 2.5 using the D5 Sync plugin, can it be updated with the D5 Sync plugin in D5 2.6?
Yes. You can open the scene in D5 2.6 and click the start button of the D5 Sync plugin in 3ds Max to start synchronization.
Q3 : If I have a scene created with D5 2.5, can it be updated with the D5 LiveSync plugin in D5 2.6?
Yes. You can open the scene in D5 2.6, click ‘Connect to D5 Render’ in 3ds Max, and select the model to update in D5 Render. Then, livesync will begin.
Q4 : If I have a scene created with D5 2.6 using the D5 LiveSync plugin, can it be opened in D5 2.5?
Yes. But please note that D5 LiveSync for 3ds Max only supports D5 2.6 and later versions. If the file is saved when File Compression is enabled in D5 2.6, it can not be opened in D5’s previous versions.
Q5 : If I have a scene created with D5 2.6 using the D5 LiveSync plugin, can it to be updated using the D5 Sync plugin?
Yes. In this case, please first open the scene in D5 2.5/2.6 and find the model for livesync in the resource list. Right click on the model and change it to a non-livesync one. Open the scene again after saving it and click the ‘Start’ button of the D5 Sync plugin in 3ds Max to update the model and start synchronization again.
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