The direct answer
What to do first
Treat MAX, FBX, and OBJ as different handoff choices, not interchangeable labels. MAX is tied to 3ds Max, FBX is an interchange format with import options, and OBJ is a geometry-focused format that commonly travels with an MTL and texture files. Test the actual package in your software before production.
MAX: native 3ds Max scene work
A MAX file is the natural starting point when your team works in 3ds Max and the scene was built for that environment. It may preserve scene organization and application-specific settings that an interchange export does not.
That does not make every MAX file ready for your version, renderer, plugins, or texture paths. Open a copy in a test scene and check the warnings, dependencies, and material result before placing it into a production file.
FBX: a configurable interchange handoff
Autodesk documents FBX import options for geometry, animation, cameras, and lights in 3ds Max. Those options matter: importing a file can apply conversions or report warnings, and texture color handling may need attention after import.
Use FBX when the source and destination need an interchange path, then inspect what arrived. Check object hierarchy, transforms, materials, animation if relevant, and texture paths rather than assuming the export preserved every scene feature.
OBJ: simple geometry with companion files
OBJ is widely used for geometry exchange. Autodesk's 3ds Max documentation describes OBJ import with associated materials and maps, while Blender's manual notes that OBJ has basic geometry and material support and may use a matching MTL file.
Keep the OBJ, MTL, and texture files together. Confirm axis, scale, smoothing, UVs, and material links in a test import. OBJ is often a useful fallback for geometry, but it may not carry the scene behavior you expect from a native scene file.
Choose by the receiving workflow
Ask where the asset will be opened, what must survive the handoff, and how much conversion work the team can accept. The most useful format is the one that arrives predictably in that workflow, not the one with the most familiar extension.
Record the chosen format in your private board note and run the same camera and material check on every finalist before download.
Keep this beside the project
A short checklist
- The receiving application and version are known.
- MAX dependencies and renderer/plugin needs were checked.
- FBX import options and warnings were reviewed.
- OBJ, MTL, and texture files remain together.
- Axis, scale, UVs, smoothing, and materials were tested.
Read the documentation