Our office is modelling in Form-Z and looking to render in 3dStudio Viz 2005. What's the best way to export your model from Form-Z? Ideally, we'd like to manage materials by layers, so a layer of all windows would end up as one object in 3dStudio. This is possible in Autocad, but not sure if possible in Form-z
thanks
Hey Melvin. The best way to do this is to export as a .dwg file and import into Viz. Be sure your layers are correct and that your geometries are accurate. This should group the objects together per layer. Also, you could use the file link option in Viz to link the cad file to Viz. This way the layers would be grouped together.
Also then you can update the Z model and relink the DWG in Viz and you will retain all the materiality that you set up in Viz. DXF sometimes has less rubish lines for some reason. Good Luck.
go for .3ds if any of the geometry that comes in with screwed up normals (or go to sub object mode and manually fix them).
G-bot- are you saying you can save over the DWG (as you correct things in FMZ) and it'll update in Max? I've never used the file link feature. That'd be pretty cool if it did do that.
Can't do file link manager in Max though, not in v.6 anyway. Another reason why we got Viz.
If you can in Max 6, can somebody tell me how?
thanks for the .dwg suggestion, by the way, worked great
I thought that was one of the big improvements to Max 6? I have to learn more about it.
Don't check 2 sided unless you have to. It increases render time. But if you are using GI, most likely the plugin's materials will be 2 sided anyway (Final Render's mat's are all 2 sided).
form-z model to 3dstudio Viz
Our office is modelling in Form-Z and looking to render in 3dStudio Viz 2005. What's the best way to export your model from Form-Z? Ideally, we'd like to manage materials by layers, so a layer of all windows would end up as one object in 3dStudio. This is possible in Autocad, but not sure if possible in Form-z
thanks
Hey Melvin. The best way to do this is to export as a .dwg file and import into Viz. Be sure your layers are correct and that your geometries are accurate. This should group the objects together per layer. Also, you could use the file link option in Viz to link the cad file to Viz. This way the layers would be grouped together.
Also then you can update the Z model and relink the DWG in Viz and you will retain all the materiality that you set up in Viz. DXF sometimes has less rubish lines for some reason. Good Luck.
go for .3ds if any of the geometry that comes in with screwed up normals (or go to sub object mode and manually fix them).
G-bot- are you saying you can save over the DWG (as you correct things in FMZ) and it'll update in Max? I've never used the file link feature. That'd be pretty cool if it did do that.
just remember to click "Force 2-Sided" when you render in Viz, in case anything you imported is facing the wrong way.
yes the file link manager lets you update geometry, and will update textures according to layers.
Can't do file link manager in Max though, not in v.6 anyway. Another reason why we got Viz.
If you can in Max 6, can somebody tell me how?
thanks for the .dwg suggestion, by the way, worked great
I thought that was one of the big improvements to Max 6? I have to learn more about it.
Don't check 2 sided unless you have to. It increases render time. But if you are using GI, most likely the plugin's materials will be 2 sided anyway (Final Render's mat's are all 2 sided).
Max has the file link option if you have a subscription from AutoDesk, so I hear.
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