FBX Export with Standard (Legacy) Materials

3ds Max 2021 FBX exports with Physical Material by default to support Arnold Standard Surface. Before 2021, 3ds Max FBX exported Standard Materials.

To recreate this legacy workflow, the Physical material must be converted at export time to Phong/Lambert options which you can do by modifying the <name> INI file.

1. Locate 3dsmax.ini. You can typically find this file here: %localappdata%\Autodesk\3dsMax\[version]\ENU
2. Open 3dsmax.ini in a text editor, such as Notepad.
3. Create a section called [ExportPhysicalMaterial], and on a new line, for Lambert materials, write: PhysicalMtlAsLambert=1

   And, for Phong materials, write:

   PhysicalMtlAsPhong=1

4. Save the file.