Exporting from Revit Architecture to 3ds Max Design

  1. In Revit Architecture, open a 3D view, and prepare it for export.
  2. Click File menu Export FBX.
    Note: If this menu option displays as gray, open a 3D view of the project. Then try the menu option again.
  3. On the Export dialog, for Save in, navigate to the target folder for the exported file.
  4. For Naming, do one of the following:
    • To specify a file name manually, select Manual (Specify file name). For File name/prefix, specify the name of the output file.
    • To use an automatically generated file name, select Automatic – Long (Specify prefix), or Automatic – Short.
  5. Click Save.

    Revit Architecture generates the FBX file and saves it in the target location.

    You can now import the FBX file into 3ds Max, using the 3ds Max FBX Plug-in.

  6. In 3ds Max Design, Click File Import, and select the FBX file you want to import, and Click OK.
  7. In the 3ds Max FBX plug-in, make sure that the Autodesk Architectural (Revit) Preset is the selected preset.
  8. Click OK in the FBX UI window, and your FBX file is imported.

    You can download a high level compatibility chart that details FBX 3ds Max Design interoperability here.

Note: Revit 2011 FBX files are fully compatible with only 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design 2011 and later. When you import Revit 2011 FBX files into 3ds Max 2009 or 2010, lights, materials, RPCs, and environments are lost; only cameras and geometry are imported. If you are using Revit 2010/2009 FBX files, use 3ds Max version 2009 or later.