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588 Chapter 20: Managing Scenes and Projects
use t he Normal modifier to flip them. For b est
results, leave this box turned on.
Exporting to STL
File menu > Export > StereoLitho (*.STL)
An STL file saves object data in a format used
for stereolithography. STL files have a fi le-name
extension of .stl. There is an ASCII STL format as
well as a binar y STL format. You can choose which
to create when you export a 3ds Max scene.
STL files are generally used for purposes of rapid
prototyping. A variety of methods use the STL
format to construct prototypes. For example,
manySTLmachinesusealiquidpolymerand
harden it in sma ll slices, creating a s olid plastic
model. Other STL machines use metal powder to
create a model in steel. St il l other machines use
aspecialwax.
AnSTLobjectmustdefineacompleteandclosed
surface. You can check w hether the geometry you
want to export satisfies this criterion by using the
STL Check modifier (page 1–834).
You can also import STL files. See Importing STL
Files (page 3–586).
Interfa ce
Object Na me—Enteranamefortheobjectyou
want to save in STL format.
Binar y/ASCII—Choose whether the STL output fi le
wi ll be binary or ASCII (character) data. ASCII
STL files are much larger than binary STL files.
Selected Only—Exports only objects that you
selected in the scene.
Wave fro nt ( OBJ, MTL) File s
Impor ting Wavefront (OBJ, MTL)
Fi l e s
3ds Max can import the text-based (ASCII)
Wavefront formats OBJ and MTL. An OBJ file
contains geometry descriptions. A MTL file is also
text based, and contains material descriptions that
supplemen t the OBJ file.