Problem! importing Illustrator into 3DsMax 8

[jay_3d]

Hi Guys, here is a new problem, not sure if all of you too are facing the same. Well, I am trying to make a Victorian age fireplace. So naturally it must have lots of ornamental decorations embossed on it. This is a game model and the requirement is that I must use the decorations as 3D models, strictly not texture maps. Here I am using normal maps. It is obvious that I have to make a hi-res version of the same model with all the decorations embossed on it so that it can be used as a normal map to wrap up the original low-res model. So this is my goal.

Now, initially I tried using displace modifier with all the decorations. I tried using both "map" and "bitmap" options. I also had to increase the number of polygons in order to bring a smooth output of the decoration, it was looking absolutely fine. But the file got so heavy that my system was unable to handle it. So it is impossible for me to use displace modifier.

The second option I tried is to import the adobe illustrator file as a spline. My plan was to extrude it and apply a few modifiers to give it a smooth finish. But once again I am facing another problem. Whenever I am trying to import this or any Adobe illustrator file, no matter what version it is CS/CS 2/10 or whatever, I am getting the following message: "line in file exceeds 255 characters" and "improper file format". Its really irritating!! I even tried to import a simple circle ..... but no!! It would always show the same message and import nothing. Whatz the way out? Solutions please. I am using version 8.0 of 3Ds Max.

[Jelmer]

hmm you could try converting the image into a normal map immediatelly, I think i know a great free program for that.. it's called crazybump, be sure to have a look at it! Some more info in this discussion thread on polycount forums

[The_Head]

I have never had that error. But what I do differently is save a copy of my Illustrator file as version 3, and not CS2. Then I import the version 3 file into Max. If this doesn't work, then I have no clue.

[jay_3d]

Thankx a lot to both of you. Importing in Illustrator 3 might work. Even somebody said that version 8 would work too. I never tried that. I would. Jelmer, your suggestion is also a valuable one. And I already have such a plug in for photoshop. But, unfortunately this client of mine wants me to use a hi-res model only to generate the normal map from within max. And it is mandatory. This is the reason why all the problems have arised. I have got one more suggestion too. It says that if you copy and paste the illustrator path into photoshop (as a path) and again export it into illustrator, then even it works! However this one is a pretty long process. But it looks like that the problem is mainly due to the illustrator version and nothing else. The_Head, I would surely try your method too.