Need file format advice for importing

[domer1322]

I ask for some simple advice from you seasoned pros out there ......    i have a very large file of a museum building that I've been working on with the intent of making it suitable for photo-realistic 3D renderings of interior spaces.  The building owners will soon hire a museum exhibit designer, and it seems likely that the designer will not be using Vectorworks.  I intend to import their 3D design exhibits into my 3D museum building, so that I can show how well the exhibits work with the building.

 

Here is my simple question:  if I could dictate what software the exhibit designer uses (other than VW)  what software file format will be the easiest to import into my 3D model ?   Important point:  I'm using VW 2015, so a Revit import is not possible.

 

As you might expect, I want to import their work "as is" without having to re-generate solids or apply new textures or have to break the 3D files into a million polygons.

 

What do you think will work the best ?

 

 

[zoomer]

Even if VW 2018, I would not recommend Revit import as a useful exchange format.

 

I get my 2D info by DWG. That works ok.

Not so much in 3D, I get better results by IFCs from Revit.

Not sure if VW 2015 supports DWG Materials already. But that seems to work in later VW's.

As long as - the exporting App supports Materials too, which is very rare.

 

Exhibit Designers may not really work in a CAD but use a 3D App like 3DSMax, Cinema, Modo, ....

These are normally able to export Geometry and Materials in 3D formats.

 

For the purpose as you described, a FBX import would be very suitable.

Unfortunately VW can export FBX only.

If you also have a copy of C4D you could bring in exhibit design things there and combine

it with your museum geometry exchanged between VW and C4D.

Normally FBX still means some Material/Camera/Light adaptions between Apps for me.

But Geometry and Material assignments work great.

 

There could be a workaround by using Sketchup in between in some cases (?)

Or trying OBJ.

But for VW that often may end by using legacy 3DS format.

Edited October 8, 2017 by zoomer

[domer1322]

Zoomer ... thanks for the reply.     However, it seems there is no easy answer here (as I suspected).    Can anyone else recommend the best way to import 3D geometry (and textures) into VW 2015 ?