Dropper

Dropper brings archives, 3D models, and reference images into your current 3ds Max scene through one compact drag-and-drop window. It handles extraction, model selection, import, texture relinking, and placement so you can spend less time preparing assets and more time building your scene.

Use it for downloaded model libraries, batches of props, architectural assets, and image references for modeling.

Features

• Drag and drop files, or click the drop area to browse.
• Process multiple archives, models, and images in one batch.
• Extract archives and nested archives.
• Find suitable models inside extracted folders.
• Prefer compatible MAX files, with filename-based Corona and V-Ray matching.
• Merge MAX files into the current scene and import other supported formats.
• Ground imported models at Z = 0.
• Arrange assets from the same batch side by side.
• Restore missing texture paths from nearby files.
• Control duplicate object and material names during MAX merging.
• Organize imported content into unique layers.
• Create reference image planes with the original image proportions.
• Orient selected objects with Front, Left, and Top controls.
• Save settings and remember the main window position.
• Review results, warnings, and errors in the built-in log.
• Automatically check for updates in recognized installed MaxPkg builds.

Installation

1. Install the Dropper package through MaxPkg.
2. Launch the tool using its Dropper button.
3. Open Settings to configure extraction and import behavior.

Quick Start

1. Open the scene you want to add assets to.
2. Launch Dropper.
3. Drag one or more files from Windows Explorer into the drop area. Alternatively, click the drop area and select files in the browser.
4. If a model selection dialog appears, choose a file and click Use Selected.
5. Wait for processing to finish.
6. Click Show Log to review the results.

You can mix archives, models, and images in one batch. Dropper processes models and archives first, then creates the reference image planes.

Dropper accepts files. Dropping a folder does not import its contents.

Supported Files

3D Models

MAX files are merged into the current scene. Other formats use the importers available in your 3ds Max installation. Support for a particular file version depends on its importer.

Archives

The custom RAR executable setting applies to RAR extraction only. It does not configure the provider used for .7z archives.

Reference Images

The file browser includes .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .tif, .tiff, .bmp, .gif, .tga, .exr, and .hdr.

Other bitmap formats may work when 3ds Max can read them. Choose All files in the browser to select an unlisted format.

Importing Archives

Drop an archive into Dropper. The tool creates or reuses an extraction folder, unpacks the files, searches for a suitable model, and imports it into the current scene. It then grounds the imported asset, positions it within the batch, and searches the extraction folder tree for missing textures.

Extraction Folders

By default, each archive is extracted into a folder beside it using the archive's base name. For example, Chair.zip is extracted into a sibling folder named Chair.

To collect extracted assets in another location, disable Extract next to archive and choose a Custom extraction folder. Dropper creates an archive-named subfolder inside that destination.

Nested archives are extracted automatically, up to five levels below the original archive. Their output folders use an _extracted suffix.

Extracted files remain on disk. Materials may reference textures in those folders, so keep them accessible. Existing extraction folders are reused, and files with matching names may be overwritten during extraction.

Model Selection

Dropper searches recursively for compatible MAX files first.

• Invalid MAX files are excluded.
• Files detected as saved in a newer MAX format are excluded.
• Missing plugin information is reported when available.
• A single compatible candidate is selected automatically.
• When multiple candidates exist, Dropper compares filename tags with the active renderer.
• A single renderer match is selected automatically; otherwise, a dialog lets you choose among the relevant files.

Renderer matching recognizes Corona and V-Ray naming patterns. It is based on filenames and does not convert materials or guarantee that all required plugins are installed.

If no MAX file is selected, or its merge fails, Dropper searches other formats in this order:

FBX > OBJ > 3DS > IGES/IGS > SKP > DWG > DAE > STL > ABC > DXF

When multiple files exist in the first available format group, a selection dialog appears.

One model file is chosen per archive. To import additional models, drop those files directly from the extracted folder. Archives containing only images are not automatically converted into reference planes; extract them and drop the images directly.

Importing Models and Batch Placement

Drop a supported model file directly into Dropper to add it to the current scene.

After a successful import, Dropper identifies the newly added objects, grounds the asset, applies batch placement, optionally assigns an import layer, and relinks supported missing texture maps. It selects the imported objects and adjusts viewport framing.

Grounding

The lowest geometry bounds of the imported asset are moved to Z = 0. Root objects are moved together to preserve the internal arrangement of the asset.

This places assets on the world ground plane. It does not project objects onto terrain or other scene geometry.

Side-by-Side Placement

Assets imported in the same batch are arranged along the X axis. Each asset is treated as a unit, with spacing calculated from its width and a minimum gap of 0.1 m.

Placement starts fresh for each batch. It does not check for collisions with objects already in the scene or assets imported in earlier batches.

Automatic Texture Relinking

Dropper restores missing paths on supported texture maps attached to newly imported objects.

Supported map types:

• Standard Bitmaptexture
• CoronaBitmap
• VRayBitmap
• VRayHDRI

Renderer-specific map types require their corresponding plugins.

For direct model imports, Dropper searches the model's folder and all subfolders. For archive imports, it searches the full extraction folder tree.

Valid existing paths are preserved. Missing textures are matched by filename. When several files share a name, Dropper compares trailing folder paths to find the closest match. If the result remains ambiguous, it leaves the path unchanged and reports the candidates in the log.

Missing texture maps shared with pre-existing scene objects are skipped to avoid changing those objects.

The log reports available, relinked, ambiguous, missing, and skipped shared textures. Relinking reconnects existing maps; it does not download textures, create missing materials, or convert materials between renderers.

Reference Images

Drop bitmap images into Dropper to create textured reference planes.

Each plane receives:

• The original image aspect ratio.
• A longest side of 1 m, interpreted through scene units.
• UV coordinates and a bitmap texture.
• A uniquely named object and material.
• Viewport texture display where supported.

Multiple images are arranged in a row with 0.1 m spacing.

Dropper uses an available Corona material when Corona is active, a V-Ray material when V-Ray is active, and a Standard material as the fallback.

Reference planes remain linked to their source images. Keep those files accessible after creating the planes.

Front / Left / Top Panel

After reference creation, the Dropper Views panel appears unless disabled in Settings.

1. Select the objects you want to orient.
2. Click Front, Left, or Top.
3. Dropper rotates the selection to the corresponding orientation.

These controls rotate scene objects; they do not switch the active viewport. They also work on objects other than reference planes.

Multiple selected objects rotate together around their collective center. Orientation changes support 3ds Max Undo.

Settings

Click Settings in the main window. Changes are saved automatically. Text fields save when you leave the field, and the settings window also saves when closed.

Archive Extraction

Use the browse buttons to select a destination folder or executable. When using full 7-Zip for RAR extraction, choose 7z.exe and keep 7z.dll beside it.

Import

With importer dialogs disabled, Dropper imports without prompting. The result depends on the importer and its current settings.

Safe Merge

The duplicate-name controls apply to merging MAX files.

Layer creation applies to imported models and reference images. Layer names use DROP_ followed by the source name, with a numeric suffix when needed, such as DROP_Chair_002.

For archives, the layer name comes from the archive. A batch of reference images shares a layer named after the first image.

Saved Preferences

Settings are stored in Dropper.ini beside the running script. The main window position is also remembered. The settings folder must be writable.

Interface and Processing Log

The log records extraction destinations, selected models, import results, texture relinking details, warnings, and errors. If one file fails, Dropper generally continues with the remaining files in the batch. Review the completion totals and detailed messages when processing finishes.

Automatic Updates

Recognized installed MaxPkg builds check for newer releases when Dropper opens. Update checks and downloads run in the background. Prepared updates are applied automatically, and the tool restarts when it can do so safely.

Editable source versions do not update themselves automatically.

Requirements and Compatibility

• Autodesk 3ds Max on Windows.
• Package metadata declares a 3ds Max 2012-2027 range. Feature availability also depends on the installed .NET components, importers, and plugins.
• Compatible importers for the model formats you use.
• Required renderers and third-party plugins for imported assets.
• An appropriate archive provider for RAR or 7Z extraction.
• Write access to the extraction destination and settings folder.

A declared version range does not guarantee that every file format or third-party plugin is available in every 3ds Max release.

• Developer website
• License