The SketchUp importer enables direct import of scene files from Google™ SketchUp.
3ds Max can now import SketchUp files from version 6 through SketchUp 2014.
You can import multiple cameras and scene materials, and can keep objects intact even if they reside on multiple layers.
When bringing an SKP file into 3ds Max, all objects are imported, except (optionally) hidden objects, and existing 3ds Max scene contents remain intact. All imported geometry from SketchUp takes the form of editable poly objects in 3ds Max. If an imported group, component, or layer contained multiple objects in SketchUp, the resulting 3ds Max object will contain multiple elements corresponding to those objects.
The objects in 3ds Max that result from importing an SKP file depend on how the SketchUp scene is organized into groups, components, and layers. The following rules apply:
- The importer retains the original names of groups, components, and layers, and appends an underscore character (_) and a three-place number (for example, _001) in case multiple objects result from importing the entity. Tip: To rename a group in SketchUp, use the Window menu
Outliner feature. You can also rename a component with the Outliner, but the imported name is always the one specified when the component was created. - If a scene contains only layers (no components or groups), all objects in each layer are imported as a single object named after the layer. In this case, the Split Objects By Layer import setting has no effect on the results. Split Objects By Layer takes effect only when different parts of objects in a group or component belong to different layers. For details, see Split Objects by Layer.
- Groups and components have priority over layers. For example, if a layer contains four objects, two of which are in a component, the two componentized objects will be imported as a single object with the component name, while the other two (non-componentized) objects will be imported as a second object with the layer name.
- The pivot point of each imported component or object group is retained from SketchUp. For objects not part of a component or group, the importer places the pivot at the geometric center.
- With multiply nested groups and components on the same layer, only the lowest-level grouped objects are imported as a single object. For example, say you group Box A and Box B, then group that group with Box C, and finally group that group with Box D. The result in SketchUp is a three-level nested group, but the importer recognizes only the first group. Thus, when you import the scene, Box A and Box B will come in as a single object, and both Box C and Box D will be separate objects. This behavior applies to components and mixed groups/components as well.
- Components and groups contained within components are imported as instances, when possible. However, no instancing occurs when components of the same type have different numbers of materials.