Project Manager
Version:
4.00.63
Date Updated:
06/29/2026 After a long stretch of development, Project Manager 4 is officially out — the biggest release in the product's history, and now with full 3ds Max 2027 support.
The headline is AI Asset Classification.
Your library gets sorted automatically — by object type, material, and style — no manual tagging.
Project Manager 4 — What's New Since v3
Changelog · 3ds Max 2016–2027
AI-Powered Asset Classification
- Automatic categorisation of 3D models by object type, material, form, and style — no manual tagging required
- Runs entirely on your machine — no cloud, no subscription, your assets never leave your computer
- GPU-accelerated background processing at low priority — won't interfere with rendering or active work
- Reclassify specific folders or categories on demand — no need to reprocess the entire library
- Scale across a team: multiple workstations share the same database and classify in parallel
Colour Tools
- Find assets by colour — pick from a palette and instantly see matching models or textures
- Perceptual colour similarity search — finds visually related assets, not just exact hex matches
- Find Similar by Colour in the right-click menu for models and textures
Find Similar
- Find similar by content — AI matches 3D models by style, shape, and visual look
- Find similar by colour palette — matches assets to a reference image or mood board by dominant colour proportions
Smarter Search & Filtering
- Multi-keyword search: "Chair, Glass" finds a file named Chair.max described as "glass"
- Category filter correctly includes all subcategories — filtering Furniture also returns Furniture → Chairs → Dining
- Combine category and material filters: find glass-and-metal tables, or wooden ones, in one click
- Categorised / Uncategorised quick filters — see which assets still need attention
Gallery & 3D File Browsing
- Three gallery tabs for .max files: Models, Materials, and External Links
- Drag materials directly from the gallery into your open 3ds Max scene
- 3D viewport preview for FBX, 3DS, OBJ, and other formats — inspect geometry before importing
- Edit external links inline — fix or replace missing textures without opening the .max file
- Zoom & Pan for images — inspect textures at full resolution inside Project Manager
Migration & Compatibility
- v3 and v4 share the same database format — point v4 at your existing library and go; no rebuild required
- Run v3 and v4 side by side on the same team; supported from 3ds Max 2016 through 2027
Performance & Other Fixes
- Significantly improved overall performance — faster navigation, filtering, search, and file/folder operations
- Live sync in shared database mode — changes by colleagues appear automatically without reloading
More about new features ⇒ Project Manager version 4
Update History for all versions.
Models  | Materials  | |
Textures  | IES  | Asset Files  |
Quick Start Frequently Asked Questions
Main Features
- AI Asset Classification — automatically categorises 3D models by object type, material, form, and style. Runs entirely on your machine, no cloud or subscription required.
- Find similar by content — AI matches 3D models by style, shape, and visual look
- Find similar by colour palette — matches assets to a reference image or mood board by dominant colour proportions
- Search by external image — drop in any reference picture from outside your library (a render, a photo, a sketch) and instantly find the closest-matching models you already own. The image is analysed on the fly — nothing is added to your database
- Reference Sets — collect several reference images into a named set, tick the ones you want, and search against the whole mood board at once. Save sets and reuse them across sessions
- Colour Labels — tag assets with workflow statuses (Draft, Approved, In Review, Archived, Urgent) and filter by label. Ideal for team pipelines and asset QA.
- Easy to organise and browse 3ds Max Models, Materials, Textures, and IES Photometric Lights.
- Merge Models, Materials, Bitmaps, and IES using Drag & Drop.
- Three gallery tabs for .max files: Models, Materials, and External Links — drag materials directly into your open scene.
- Interactive rendering previews for Materials, IES Photometric, FBX, OBJ, 3DS, USD, BVH Motion Capture, and other 3D formats.
- Show native previews for 3ds Max files, ArchVision RPC, GrowFx, Revit, Substance, BIP Motion, SketchUp, HDRI, and more.
- Store and create Proxy objects with materials.
- Create PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials and support for Substance textures.
- Smart search by tags, keywords, categories, colours, and labels — with OR / AND filtering modes and instant results.
- Asset Tracking Management — edit external links inline, fix missing textures without opening the source file.
- Team database support — multiple workstations share one library with live sync; AI classification runs in parallel across the team.
- Supports all major renderers: V-Ray, Corona, Octane, Arnold, Redshift, Maxwell, and more.
Version Requirement:
3ds Max 2016-2027
Comments
Yes - of course It's a good
Yes - of course
It's a good idea
Menu for future version.
"xref objects" in 'Model Merge Options'
Hi thanks. But your method is "xref scene". What I want is "xref objects", is that possible?
xref objects
"xref objects" in 'Model Merge Options'
There are only three options in "Model Merge Options":
1) Merge as Proxy
2) Use Existing Proxy-File
3) Display as Box
Is it possible to merge the 3D model objects like using the "xref objects", that can be found in 3dsmax's file menu?
Excuse, but I think that you
Excuse, but I think that you incorrectly measure time.
=============================
Folder: Z:\!_Maps\_Maps_sorted\!_Best_Maps\Fabrik\waverly.com
Test #1
Project Manager
Items Count: 2069 | Total Lenght: 47.2 MB | Time:7.784 sec
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HCG
Items Count: 2069 | Total Lenght: 47.2 MB | Time:12.564 sec
==================
Test #2
Project Manager
Items Count: 2069 | Total Lenght: 47.2 MB | Time:7.923 sec
==================
HCG
Items Count: 2069 | Total Lenght: 47.2 MB | Time:12.151 sec
==================
=============================
Folder: Z:\!_Maps\_Maps_sorted\!_Best_Maps\Fabrik\waverly.com\New Folder
Test #1
Project Manager
Items Count: 2267 | Total Lenght: 145.4 MB | Time:8.99 sec
==================
HCG
Items Count: 2267 | Total Lenght: 145.4 MB | Time:13.052 sec
==================
Test #2
Project Manager
Items Count: 2267 | Total Lenght: 145.4 MB | Time:8.954 sec
==================
HCG
Items Count: 2267 | Total Lenght: 145.4 MB | Time:13.23 sec
==================
=============================
Folder: Z:\!_Maps\_Maps_sorted\!_Best_Maps\_ARROWAY\arroway-wood\Maps
Test #1
Project Manager
Items Count: 157 | Total Lenght: 1.1 GB | Time:0.533 sec
==================
HCG
Items Count: 157 | Total Lenght: 1.1 GB | Time:1.067 sec
==================
Test #2
Project Manager
Items Count: 157 | Total Lenght: 1.1 GB | Time:0.535 sec
==================
HCG
Items Count: 157 | Total Lenght: 1.1 GB | Time:1.053 sec
==================
Another thing I noticed...
And another thing I noticed - is there going to be speed improvement in the next versions? I noticed that the project manager hangs for 4-5 second before showing up the files if they are on a network location. In "HCG asset browser pro" (script similar to "Project Manager") the files show up almost instantly. I hope that this gets solved in next releases.
>>I just did a test with an
>>I just did a test with an empty folder on the network and it gets wiped out completely!
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Any who is familiar with a network knows about it.
Windows so works.
I think the "Project Manager" must have ability to delete files.
And certainly a key "Delete" have knowingly placed out separately from the basic keyboard keys.
It is difficult for pressing by accident.
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Sorry, but i not plan to remove this ability.
Yes, it moves the folders and
Yes, it moves the folders and files to the bin but only if they are on the local disk. If they are on the network - bye-bye files. I just did a test with an empty folder on the network and it gets wiped out completely! In the rush someone won't pay attention to the pop-up dialog window. Most users hit "yes/ok" or enter by default on any window which pops up.
Files and folders from the
Files and folders from the local disk is will be removed to the recycle bin.
Before removing pops up a dialogue with the possibility of cancellation.
Have to be very-very inattentive to accidentally delete a file.
Why delete from the HDD???
I don't know if this was proposed before but I have a vital suggestion for the script.
You should remove the delete button from the right click menu and also make the delete key on the keyboard delete just the folder from the script not from the hard disk. Someone will accidentally wipe out his libraries by mistake and will be really pissed off for sure. I hope this gets implemented in the next version.