US
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3D models specifications?
Want to create my models and i've searched the forum for the specs, but i can't seem to find what i need to know. I notice when i convert models (specifically from .blend and .3ds files) to OBJ/MAT files, the lights don't always have light sources and the models sometimes have trouble importing correctly.
What are the specifications of the 3D models that can be imported?
For example, when converting to a readable format, does the camera need to be given & included? Can more than one light source be included in the OBJ file? How must transparent (full or partial) glass be readied for conversion?
What files must be present when importing 3DS (which i often have to convert to OBJ because it won't bring in the model's textures)?
I'm also interested int he best modeling software that can be make models most easily convertible for SH3D.
A link would be helpful if the question has been answered....
(BTW, I use Blender, DeleD, Gmax, and Inkscape to construct 3D models.)
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Re: 3D models specifications?
Your question would require quite a long answer. General specs of the different formats, you can find many places online. Usually the files needed will contain the geometry and additional colour & texture files. (For transparency in .obj format, you could test different renderings with a combination of transparent graphic file and transparency in the .mtl file - see this thread and this thread).
As for the SH3D specifics you may want to have a look at the FurnitureLibraryEditor (see download page) which will allow you to supply additional model information.
For instance: .obj (and other import) files do not support some more advanced features like window/door cut-out, but this can be added with the FurnitureLibraryEditor. If you need light sources in the model and other advanced properties, you may just need to dive a little deeper into the file specifications (see Sourceforge docs).
An SVG mini-manual - specially from page 9 on - may possibly also give you a hint or two on how to add extra (SH3D specific) qualities to your models.
As for the camera / light you use in your 3D modelling software to produce a rendering, I guess you will need to substitute with light sources and view angles in SH3D - or am I misunderstanding what you are trying to do?
Best modelling software? What you feel most comfortable with Blender is very good software once you get used to it. Art of Illusion or Sketchup are simpler...
ok
PS I am curious as to how you use Inkscape for your 3D modelling. Sometimes it could be useful to start a model based on a 2D SVG sketch.
US
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Re: 3D models specifications?
I probably should have asked a different way....
Sometimes conversions to OBJ/MTL and work and sometimes they don't, and it doesn't matter what format I convert from. If I begin creating/converting my own models, what can I NOT do? What will prevent a model from being loaded either into SH3d or the Furniture Importer?
BTW, I have just started using Inkscape, but it's not good when you need exact measurements. I understand you can create SVG images with Inkscape, convert to 3D (probably with Extrude), then convert these models in the Furniture Importer. I've studied the SVG docs you mentioned already, and I still don't understand how to apply the SVG instructions on a 3d model (which 'face' do the commands work on -- top? front?).
I can say this -- my artistic nature is very fickle, and I go from one project to another if there's no easy way to get done what I want done. I need to create 3D models for this and other projects, so I'm still looking for the most intuitive modeling program I can find. Blender is WAY too complicated (I'm still at the bottom end of its learning curve), Gmax won't export to model types I can use, DeleD is simple but non-intuitive. I'm going to try out Deep Exploration, and then give Art of Illusion a try.
But still I'm interested what SH3D has trouble with when importing 3D models...
Netherlands
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Re: 3D models specifications?
Nath,
The problem with the OBJ "language" is twofold. On the one hand SH3D doesn't support all of its features. On the other hand there is the problem of its many "dialects". Many programs seem to have their own way of saving, exporting or converting to/in that format, thereby creating a kind of babylonian confusion.
I have tried several programs to do a bit of 3D designing, and my choice would be Sketchup. It's not overly difficult to learn and its DAE format can be easily imported in SH3D. Only problem is that you have to export the files with both faces applied, otherwise SH3D has a problem on which face to apply textures.
Hans
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Hans
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Re: 3D models specifications?
I've studied the SVG docs you mentioned already, and I still don't understand how to apply the SVG instructions on a 3d model (which 'face' do the commands work on -- top? front?).
SVG is used for customised cut-outs in walls (windows/doors) and ceilings/floors (staircases). So the staircase cut-out in FurnitureLibraryEditor applies to the top surface, and the window/door cut-out applies to the front/back surfaces (that aligns with the wall), as the model appears when imported. (You can also adjust how far the door/window protrudes on each side of the wall, but for that you will need to "text-edit" the .properties file.) That means you can also use SVG for other specialised designs such as vents, in-wall aquariums, chimneys etc. But mostly recent versions of SH3D will take care of most cut-out needs automatically - eg. if you need a skylight in a flat roof (but the protruding vent needs special editing).
But still I'm interested what SH3D has trouble with when importing 3D models...
Just to confirm Hansmex' comment: While I hardly ever experience problems with clean, well designed models, it is true that models occasionally can be troublesome. However, my impression is that if import to SH3D does not work, the same model also will have problems when imported to other software. In these cases, I would abandon the model. OR if I really wanted that model I would use (e.g.) Blender to remove the strange elements. But if anyone has identified specific format problems that are troublesome when importing, that would be interesting to know about (specifically whether there are valid .obj features that are not supported by the importer).
US
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Re: 3D models specifications?
Thanx for the info.
Sketchup and 3Dtin seem OK but these are online apps and i'm not on the internet at home, so those are out...
I like working with AoI because the learning curve is slightly less steeper. I was able to easily construct a painting lamp in the first few hrs of trying it out, including materials, textures, and lights. The lights is what's causing the problems. Does SH3D not import OBJ lights? I'd like to be able to import lamps with their own light sources if possible. Is there a better format for that?
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Re: 3D models specifications?
Sketchup is downloadable and can be run off-line. If you want SH3D light sources as part of imported (.obj) models, you need to add that to the .properties file (see ref doc above). But the easy solution is to add the light-sources separately from the collection of light-sources that come with SH3D (and group them if you need to move them together).
France
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Re: 3D models specifications?
Sketchup and 3Dtin seem OK but these are online apps
Sketchup isn't an online application.
Does SH3D not import OBJ lights?
Even if Sweet Home 3D doesn't recognize everything in the OBJ file format, I'm not aware this format supports lights. If you want your 3D model to contain one or more light, you have to include it in a .sh3f furniture library file and specify the properties dedicated to light in the PluginFurnitureCatalog.properties text file contained in a .sh3f (zipped) file.
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Emmanuel Puybaret, Sweet Home 3D creator
France
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Re: 3D models specifications?
A .sh3f file is actually a zip file. So either you extract it with a zip utility or you rename .sh3f extension to .zip, extract the .properties file, edit it with a text editor, rezip everything and change back the extension to .sh3f.
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Emmanuel Puybaret, Sweet Home 3D creator
Blender is very good software once you get used to it. Art of Illusion or Sketchup are simpler... 
