Arno, Obj Format for MCX Export?

[lionheart]

Arno,

What is the best export setting for 'Obj' format when importing to 3DS Max?

Max 2014 has quite a few customized preference settings for the various forms of OBJ format. I was wondering which one you used, if you used a particular one. Would it be LightWave?

 

[GaryGB]

Hi Bill:

Until Arno has a chance to reply, perhaps this item from the ModelConverterX (aka "MCX") wiki might help clarify MCX's use of "Wavefront" OBJ:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=ModelConverterX#OBJWriter


Also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file

http://www.andrewnoske.com/wiki/OBJ_file_format

http://paulbourke.net/dataformats/obj/


BTW: Although I am not a user of 3DSMAX, IIRC I've seen posted reports of problems with 3DSMAX import of textured models, especially with improper retention of UVW mapping and unwanted merging of geometry:

https://www.google.com/#q=3DSMAX import OBJ problem


However, there seem to be (comparatively) fewer problems of that sort when importing Collada DAE files:

https://www.google.com/#q=3DSMAX import DAE problem


AFAIK, MCX does not (yet ?) provide a 'object writer' for Collada DAE files; it will be interesting to see what Arno might tell us about this, and whether the above reported problems are specific to particular versions of 3DSMAX and/or the version of (3rd party ?) importer code plugin used to bring OBJ file into 3DSMAX.


Hope this helps !

GaryGB

 

[arno]

Hi Bill,

I have no idea what all those different "tastes" of OBJ files are. What I am writing is quite simple and plain Wavefront OBJ (that's the name of the format). So I would try WaveFront.

Hi Gary,

Exporting COLLADA is on the wishlist, but I doubt I have time to look at it soon.

 

[GaryGB]

Hi Arno:

Thanks for considering this; I think a "Google Earth" KMZ implementation of Collada DAE (capable of being imported back into Sketchup and/or being displayed in Google Earth) as a MCX 'Object Writer' export output type would be very helpful to have ...when you get some time.

GaryGB

 

[GaryGB]

Bill:

Perhaps one might use the 3DSMAX OBJ Import Options Dialog with ex: "LightWave" to see what 'default' settings in MCX generates as output:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...7A9535E6-235D-459B-B32D-5A9E5E4EBF28-htm.html

[EDITED]

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...87B0A138-8348-4DCB-87EE-585841A27318-htm.html


"Note: When you import an OBJ file by dragging and dropping, by default the importer does not display the OBJ Import Options dialog. To see the dialog, hold down the

key while you drag and drop."

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...AC73E24F-65AA-4748-9096-ACB3B8FEC03F-htm.html

[END_EDIT]


Then one might be able to fine tune MCX output via controls for the 'Object Writer' OBJ format ...as described in the MCX wiki linked above:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=ModelConverterX#OBJWriter


PS: A few considerations for frequently reported issues when importing OBJ to 3DSMAX:

http://support.turbosquid.com/entries/22075033-What-to-Expect-When-You-Import-Exchange-Formats


Hope this helps a bit more !

GaryGB

 

[arno]

Adding KMZ support as well is a nice idea. DAE is like MDL and KMZ as BGL.

 

[lionheart]

Thanks Arno.

 

[GaryGB]

Adding KMZ support as well is a nice idea. DAE is like MDL and KMZ as BGL.

Indeed; also users of 3D modeling apps other than Sketchup may wish to preview 3D models in Google Earth with 3D objects mode 'active'.


Additionally, Global Mapper and other GIS apps are beginning to support import / display of Google Earth KML / KMZ files (including the 3D models).

Thanks in advance for your efforts to make this possible in MCX, when you get a chance to do so.

GaryGB