[chickentech]

ok so I am able to import a simple object into max now but when I import my dragon it comes up with a warning telling me that theres several cases where 2 vertices share the same coordinates. so I try selecting all the vertices and apply a merge on them and give it a ridiculous distance so half the vertices on my model are merged and it still tells me the same verts share the same coordinates. and it crashes max if I don't fix this so what do I do?

And while on the subject of specializing in programs and such I just want to really specialize in max in all aspects of it. I don't plan on doing 3d as a job but just as a hobby. so being I would be the only one working on a project I want to become really good in as many areas of max as possible. however I want to learning how to do special fx more than any other area. In fact my friend is considering having me do special fx for a short video he might make. which is great because that sexactly what I want to specialize in, and what I don't know how to do. so I need to learn how to add 3ds max footage into live action footage and make it look good enough to be cool and not cheesy.

I know maya is powerful and all, and I wouldn't have a problem with learning it, but I already know a lot about 3ds max,and its said to be just as powerful as maya. and seeing as it took a very long to get as good at 3ds max as I am, I really don't want to start trying to become really good with maya.