## Copy your textures & export your model

After you've created custom textures for your car and copied them to the correct location, the next step is to export your model as an ARTS.GEO file. When you export the model, the Asset Manager plug-in translates the geometry into files that can be used by Midtown Madness:

1. In 3D Studio MAX, on the File menu, click Export. The Asset Manager should automatically copy all needed textures from the mapped directory into the shop\tex directory.
2. In the Save As Type dropdown list, click ARTS (*.GEO).
3. In the File Name box, type a name for the GEO file and click OK. IMPORTANT: Include the .GEO file name extension when you type the file name.

#### Notes on exporting your model:

- The VCK automatically uses the file name you entered for the MAX file in the GEO file, regardless of what you type in the File Name box.
- The VCK automatically uses c:\vck\shop\geo as the destination folder for the exported GEO file regardless of the location you specify. The save location is specificed in the maxpaths.ini file, which is located in c:\vck\angel by default.
- As your model is exported, the following error messages may be displayed:
  - Missing Texture message: ":Cannot copy c:\vck\vehicles\vpredcar_s\*.tif to c:\vck\shop\tex\*.tif". (Substitute the name of your custom car for "vpredcar_s". You can click OK and ignore this message as long as you have copied all of your texture files to the correct location.
  - Asset Manager message: "BODY not present in c:\vck\shop\geo\*.geo". This message is displayed to indicate that there is a group missing from the car body model files. The BODY group defines the bounding box used by Midtown Madness to assist in collision detection. When the BODY group is not present, Midtown Madness uses a rectangle sized to the geometry of the custom vehicle as a default bounding box. This may affect the accuracy of collision detection for that vehicle.
  - "Units must be set to meters." In 3D MAX 2.5 there are two configuration settings that must be set to meters in order for the model to be exported properly.
- You must include 3 LODs in your car model.
- Ideally, your model should be between 350 and 450 polygons. Using triangulated polygons will make it easier to keep track of your polygon count.