How to use 3Ds Max Asset Importer Plugin

A23D 3Ds Max Asset Importer plugin provides a one-click import functionality for 3D models and PBR Textures into 3Ds Max without losing any data.

If you find any difficulty in using the plugins or figure out any bugs, please get in touch with us at support@a23d.co.

This guide shows how to download, install and use this plugin. Follow these steps to download the plugin, properly install it in your 3Ds Max application and use it to import assets.

Downloading the plugin

Visit our Plugins page using this link and download the latest version of the plugin compatible with your installed 3Ds Max version.

Unzip the downloaded file after the download is completed. You will see a (.mzp) file in the extracted folder. It is a format for zip packages of 3Ds Max plugins.

Installing the plugin

For a video tutorial, please visit this link. There are two methods to install a plugin in 3Ds Max:

Drag and Drop Method

This is the quickest way to install a plugin in 3Ds Max. Simply drag and drop the (.mzp) file into the 3Ds Max window.

Run Script file Method

1. Launch the 3Ds Max application and go to Scripting > Run Script.
2. Locate the (.mzp) file from your computer and click Open.

Using the plugin

For a video tutorial, please visit this link.

1. The plugin can be called from the main menu bar A23D > Import A23D Assets.
2. Locate the A23D Asset file/folder which you want to import into 3Ds Max from your computer.
3. Click the Import A23D Asset button from the bottom right corner and the assets will be imported into your 3Ds Max file.

Note: Our plugin will create materials depending on the currently active render engine in your 3Ds Max scene.

For 3Ds Max 2025 and above

Due to recent changes in the API structure of 3Ds Max 2025, the A23D Asset Importer may not function as expected. Our development team is actively working on an update to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

Until the update is released, you can manually run the import script by following these steps:

1. Navigate to Scripting > Run Script from the top menu.
2. Select and run the A23D_AssetImporter_3DsMax.mse file.

When you download the plugin, you will find a 2025 folder containing the A23D_AssetImporter_3DsMax.mse file.

Creating a Button for Quick Access

To simplify the process, you can create a button in the 3Ds Max UI to run the script instantly:

1. Open the MaxScript Listener by pressing F11.
2. Enter the following command, replacing C:\\path\\to\\A23D_AssetImporter_3DsMax.mse with the actual path to your script:

macroscript A23D_Asset_Importer
category:"A23D"
tooltip:"Run A23D Asset Importer"
buttonText:"Import A23D Asset"
(
  on execute do (
    fileIn "C:\\path\\to\\A23D_AssetImporter_3DsMax.mse"
  )
)

3. Run the script by pressing Control + E.
4. Open Customize > Customize User Interface.
5. In the Toolbars tab, look for the A23D category.
6. Drag the Import A23D Asset button to any toolbar in 3Ds Max.
7. Customize the Button (Optional):
   Right-click the newly created button and select Edit Button Appearance to customize its icon or text as desired.