silly question perhaps regarding importing

[andromeda_girl]

hey,
i do not really do much 3D work, mostly compositing so please excuse such a silly question...

i am pretty sure i can import MAX or MAYA files / models / scenes into LW, am i right?

i would expect this to be possible.

How is it done, and if it requires plug ins, which ones and where to get them?


thanks guys,,,

~A.

[Mylenium]

Well, it is doable, but not without following some prerequisites. The most common techniques involve using the *.obj format for exchanging objects and another is "abusing" the FBX plugins from Kaydara. There are several threads on this forum already describing the steps. Try the search functio to undig them. However, don't expect a perfect solution. There is always some loss of information since the programs are build around different principles of which many are specific to one program.

Mylenium

[bloontz]

lightwave can open .3ds files from max and .obj files from maya directly from the open file dialog.

[andromeda_girl]

really?
no kiddin'?

must be new.
tried opening a max file once, .3ds format, and LW sure didn't open it.
maybe this is new to v7 / 7.5?

i'll try and locate the plugin.
abusing it?
hmmm
not sure how to decode that, but ok.

the files do not need to be perfect, as long as it's motion is there and a fair representation of the geometry i'm good.
thanks,
~A.

[bloontz]

Sorry, should have been more specific, you have to open it in modeler and save it as a .lwo before you can open it in layout. Works for me in 7/7.5 anyway, I never tried earlier versions. What version are you using?

I'm just refering to geometry, for motion you'll have to get that info from someone else...

[andromeda_girl]

never tried that actually.

like i said, don't use 3D a lot, much at all.

using v7.5 now, back when i tried to open a .3ds file it was v6 i think.

it had an import max 3ds file plugin but that didn't seem to work, although again, perhaps i had to use modeler first.

grrr.
never thought of it.

opens doors man.
thanks!
~A.

[bloontz]

Oh, one other thing, you need to select "All Files" from the file type list for the files to be visible in the open dialog.

[andromeda_girl]

we shall give this a try then, thank you.
~A.

[John Fornasar]

bloontz,

Oh, one other thing, you need to select "All Files" from the file type list for the files to be visible in the open dialog.

If you open your modeler config file (LWM3.CFG) and add your other object types to the FileType Objects line, you won't have to do a "All Files" anymore...

3ds and obj added here:
FileType Objects *.lwo;*.3ds;*.obj

You can do the same thing for your graphics files...
FileType Images .rla;*.als;*.bmp;*.cin;*.jpg;*.pcx;*.pct;*.png;*.p sd;*.hdr;*.rgb;*.ras;*.tga;*.tif;*.vpb;*.yuv;*.flx ;*.iff

do the same thing to your LW3.cfg file also

[bloontz]

That's a great tip, thanks John!