JonnyC Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) Hey Everyone, Just wondering what everyones preferred file format for importing Complex 3D files into Vectorworks is. I have tired 3DS and OBJ but with both Vectorworks seems to struggle with a bit. My Machine is AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT 64gb RAM 1gb Samsung SSD 970 EVO GeForce RTX 2080TI The main slow part is importing. Takes hours and when I check the performance of what the PC is doing nothing is stressing out so that makes me think that Vectorworks its self is struggling with it. Thanks for the help 🙂 Edited November 19, 2020 by JonnyC Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 You mean 3D Mesh formats, like from Blender, Modo, C4D, .... not CAD files ? In this case VW import options are a bit limiting. Beside most CAD Apps don't really like Mesh data. (I think VW is even on the better side here) If it is about CAD exchange, I always try to get exports in IFC or DWG first, if not possible I would accept, in the worst case, RVT, DXF than Rhino. Quote Link to comment
JonnyC Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 Hey, Yea not CAD files. For example its a set drawing that has been made which I want to get into vision. Im pretty sure its made in Rhino. Would IFC or DWG be better than OBJ and 3DS? I might see if I can get it either of those and try them. 🙂 Quote Link to comment
Claes Lundstrom Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 It very much depends on the quality of the file, which varies a lot. I personally use OBJ for the most part as the program I export from typically delivers rock solid results with perfect UV mapping of textures. The results are consistent when importing to a wide range of programs. I have however found that you have to try a few formats when the model comes from an unknown source. This applies to many programs that can read these file types, even high end ones heavily relying on being able to import files. So, the conclusion is to try to get at least a few different file types and use the file type providing the best possible result with any given file. Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 If it is from Rhino, I would try Rhino import first if you can get the file. Well, I did some Rhino import tests and for me it was not so useful ... Quote Link to comment
Kevin K Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 I totally agree with Claes. I import a lot of objects into VW and for me, obj works the best in most cases. Mainly because the textures on the object(s) are very faithful to how they should appear. That said, many times after import you will need to flip the orientation and sometimes scale the objects. I will say that the only other choice is 3ds, but I have found that less reliable, especially where ore complex textures are in involved. Quote Link to comment
Claes Lundstrom Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Just importing a model correctly is unfortunately not good enough. On the OBJ side, VW could improve it substantially by leaving the original internal file and object / texture structure alone. As it is now, it tends to merge things into meshes in a completely erratic way. It effectively stops models from being edited and textured in an efficient way. I have bug reported it. Quote Link to comment
C.T Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) On 11/20/2020 at 7:50 PM, Kevin K said: I totally agree with Claes. I import a lot of objects into VW and for me, obj works the best in most cases. Mainly because the textures on the object(s) are very faithful to how they should appear. That said, many times after import you will need to flip the orientation and sometimes scale the objects. I will say that the only other choice is 3ds, but I have found that less reliable, especially where ore complex textures are in involved. @Kevin K @Claes Lundstrom @zoomer I imported a *.obj. 'nespresso machine'. Along with the model I got the images of buttons, logo and also a bump file which I all imported in resource manager to apply. Doing this by hand since it doesn't come by importing the object. Also the model is one big mesh group containing lots of 3D polygons. So it's quite a lot of work to go into the group and select the 3D polygons that need to have the same texture (i.e. milk, transparent containers, shiny chrome parts etc). Is this normal way of handling an object file? Or is there a better approach? Edited March 14, 2021 by C.T Quote Link to comment
Kevin K Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 @C.T sometimes it is difficult to resolve issues like this without actually having access to the files. is it possible for you to post all of the associated files relating to the object in question, so we can see if we are having the same problems? There are times when Importing an obj file into VW is not working as expected, so I will open it in Cinema 4d, then export it back out as an obj file to reimport into VW. I realize not everyone has c4d, but if you can post all the files related to that object, I am happy to see if I can get it looking right for you. remember.....all obj files MUST have an accompanying.mtl (materials) file. Quote Link to comment
C.T Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) 42 minutes ago, Kevin K said: @C.T sometimes it is difficult to resolve issues like this without actually having access to the files. is it possible for you to post all of the associated files relating to the object in question, so we can see if we are having the same problems? There are times when Importing an obj file into VW is not working as expected, so I will open it in Cinema 4d, then export it back out as an obj file to reimport into VW. I realize not everyone has c4d, but if you can post all the files related to that object, I am happy to see if I can get it looking right for you. remember.....all obj files MUST have an accompanying.mtl (materials) file. @Kevin K I managed to get this far in vectorworks, see rendered image. I'll send you the files. Edited March 14, 2021 by C.T Quote Link to comment
Kevin K Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 @C.T Yes, after analyzing the obj file and noting that it was created originally in 3d Max, the moron who exported the file to .obj format had no idea what he/she was doing :-). That is why you were having an issue. Not your fault at all. Normally you would not need to spend any time tweaking the obj import. 2 Quote Link to comment
Kevin K Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 @C.T No problem. My pleasure. Just curious, are you going to use the espresso machine in an interior rendering?? Quote Link to comment
Kevin K Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 Also.....did the ones I sent you open ok? 1 Quote Link to comment
Pat Stanford Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 It is likely that the "Best" format will be highly dependent on how the export was done. If a vendor offers three different file versions, you probably will want to test all three and see which one gets you the best results for your needs. I know you are talking about 3D formats not CAD, but I regularly import cad data format from different vendors. Usually I like STEP, but there are some vendors where IGES or even DWG provides a much cleaner and easier to use version of the file. I wish that people who are exporting these models would think about how they are going to be used. We rarely need to have any interior details. Just get the exterior dimensions correct and give us enough pieces so we can apply textures (or better yet use the already applied textures) to parts made of different materials. I hate it when I have to edit an object to apply different textures (which the manufacturer is specifying) because they exported a single part instead of two. 2 Quote Link to comment
C.T Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 14 hours ago, Kevin K said: Also.....did the ones I sent you open ok? Yes they did, many thanks. Quote Link to comment
C.T Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 14 hours ago, Kevin K said: @C.T No problem. My pleasure. Just curious, are you going to use the espresso machine in an interior rendering?? That's the idea. Working on a kitchen design for a bungalow. Do you mind I am using one of yours?☕ Quote Link to comment
Kevin K Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 I don't mind at all :-) Happy Rendering! Quote Link to comment
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