There is an apparent defect in 3ds Max Design 2013 when linking files from Revit 2013. When you first link your Revit model in (I use the “Combine by Revit Material” preset, although I’ve tried other settings with the same results), the materials in your Revit model are imported just fine. Bringing up one of the scene materials in the Slate Material Editor shows the texture maps, with the correct path to the FBM folder that is created when the link is established.
Once the Max file is saved and closed, however, that path is apparently lost – or worse…
When the file is re-opened, the linked geometry is still there, but the texture maps for all of the linked materials are no longer valid. In the Slate Material Editor they all show up with a lovely pink color, and checking their properties simply shows “Invalid Asset Instance!” (whatever that means – don’t you just love these oh-so-informative error messages?). Worse, you can’t fix it – unless you detach the texture map, then re-apply it manually. (Don’t do that, by the way, the mapping coordinates will probably be more than a bit messed up).
Fortunately there is a workaround. If you simply use the File Link Manager to reload the link, the maps get restored and all is well (until you save and close again). Make sure to uncheck the option to keep the 3ds Max scene parameters on reload as shown below.
