V-Ray 5 has an experimental option that allows converting scene objects with a V-Ray Displacement modifier to a V-Ray Proxy (.vrmesh) file. Once converted to а V-Ray Proxy object, the geometry can be also imported as native 3ds Max mesh using the Import as mesh functionality.
Steps:
- Select the desired object in the viewport.
Note: The object should have a V-Ray Displacement modifier in 3d mapping mode. - Open the 3ds Max MAXScript Listener from the Scripting menu.
- Type and run the script: $.VrayDisplacementMod.write_vrmesh="C:\\path_to_file.vrmesh"
Replace the file path and the output file name in the string according to your needs. - Start the V-Ray Rendering process to export the .vrmesh file during the pre-rendering stage.
Note: To revert back to the normal rendering behaviour use: $.VrayDisplacementMod.write_vrmesh=""
- Additional steps and adjustments:
The resulting V-Ray Proxy file can be imported back in 3ds Max using the drag-n-drop or via the V-Ray Proxy Importer.
The Import as mesh option allows you to convert the proxy to an Editable mesh.
Note: Sometimes 3ds Max hides some edges from the mesh objects, you can make them visible again by selecting them and clicking on the Visible option from the Editable Mesh modifier.
Limitations:
Currently, only V-Ray Displacement with 3D Mapping type can be converted with this script.
2D mapping and Subdivision types do not work with the script.