#3DS and AutoArchitect
12 messages in this thread
Is anyone out there using Softdesk AutoArchitect and 3DS together…I am
presently using both products but not together…I have not figured out how to
render meshes created in AA without having the 2 sided option on…I am also
not to thrilled with the translation of the DXF and how entities retain certain
attributes…I haven't spent a lot time with it yet but if someone has any
suggestions or recommendations I would greatly appreciate them…
Thanx in Advance, pHred
Hi Clemente,
<< .I have not figured out how to render meshes created in AA without having
the 2 sided option on…I am also not to thrilled with the translation of the
DXF and how entities retain certain attributes…>>
To flip the face normals over and to reduce the number of faces created by
outside applications, there is a great IPAS routine to help you out. Please
check out the demo version of Optimize…
File Info for OPTMIZ.ZIP
Section: IPAS Usage Contributor: 76702,413 Size: 97681
Submitted: 5/1/94 Type: Binary Accesses: 306
Title: Yost Group IPAS Optimize real-time mesh reducer.
Keys: YOST GROUP IPAS3 OPTIMIZE PXP REALTIME SHADED MESH REDUCTION DEMO
This file contains a working version of Optimize pxp, but cannot write meshes
back
out to the 3D Editor. Optimize features real time shading, interactive
flipping of
visible surface normals, adaptive geometry reduction and tessellation, and text
embedding. It also works with Meshres axp by embedding various resolutions
within
your object for extraction at render-time. From Yost Group IPAS Boutique
Disk#7.
Jonas, thanx alot for the info on the IPAS routine available for a cleaner DXF
translation into 3DS. Have you ever used Auto Architect? What can you tell me
about how it works with 3DS. I think Auto Architect is great (aside from a few
bugs), but I am just wondering if I should invest the time into using the two
together. If you (or anyone else on the board) have any suggestions,
recommendations, hints, or opinions, please let me know.
Thanx in Advance, pHred
Hi Clemente,
<< Have you ever used Auto Architect? What can you tell me about how it works
with 3DS. >>
I'm sorry but I don't have any experience with that product.
Clemente
I have used AutoArchitect quite extensively with 3DS and find that the more
detailed your AA plans are, the more problems you'll have. Very often I'll save
an intermediate file, say, before any windows/doors are in place, and map
or boolean the windows/doors in 3DS. Also, many of the 3D blocks from AA must
be rendered with 2-sided, just because there are so many flipped faces it's not
cost effective to try to correct them.
As Jonas mentioned, Optimize is VERY useful on AA models, not only to flip
faces, but also to reduce the size of the meshes by optimizing the face count.
I find myself creating more and more of the model in 3DS, because of the
inherent problems. If the model is for presentation and not for working plans,
I use all 3DS.
Don't forget the option of importing the 2D outline of a facade or floor plan
to the shaper and extruding the required thickness, check out Nancy Fulton's 3D
Studio Applied book by Advancestar.
Good luck
TedB
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Clemente,
I have used AutoArchitect and 3D Studio together since 3DS R1; not really from
choice, but because AutoArchitect is used by drafters at our firm. My
experience has been very much the same as Ted Boardman. I end up recreating
all of the "labor saving" 3D entities AA makes.
You might look at FACADE by Eclipse for helping you to make 3D architectural
models from AutoCad. I have found it to be easy, fast, and a bargain (approx.
$189). I use Facade for large simple parts (walls, roofs, some windows and
doors) and 3DS for the more complex bits.
Regards,
KJK
We use Softdesk products extensively in our office, but I tend to avoid
AutoArchitect for my 3D Studio models because of the face normals problem. Some
of their routines use thickness extrusions, and some use 3D faces, but none of
them are optimized to work with 3DS. I have talked with their tech support
people about it, and it is doubtful they will change anytime in the near future
because of the programming headache of trying to draw the objects so that the
normals are what one would want in 3DS.
I generally cannot afford the overhead of rendering with 2-sided on, so I
usually just build all the stuff myself. If you mainly need walls and such,
there is a program called Facade (David Cohn can jump in and elaborate) that is
good for an AutoCAD add-on that has correct face normals in 3D Studio.
I am getting pretty good results these days with R12 DXF files, and I am
looking forward to having the 3DSOUT option in AutoCAD R13. If there is
anything else I can do, let me know!
Bob Keefer, AIA
Bob,
>> I generally cannot afford the overhead of rendering with 2-sided on <<
You might want to try using 2-sided MATERIALS instead of the 2-sided button.
Use these materials ONLY on the .DXF objects that are giving you face normal
problems. The time you save by not modeling something twice (or by modeling
with a faster modeling program) will usually more than make up for the time
lost in rendering the 2-sided matl.
– Steve Ormonde
Steve:
Thanks for the suggestion – I was actually referring to using 2-sided materials
as opposed to rendering everything with 2-sided on. I just wasn't very clear,
and I agree with your idea. As I get more experienced, I find that I have less
trouble with DXFing objects I create from scratch, but objects created with
something like Auto-Architect require 2-sided materials if they are used at
all.
Bob Keefer
Bob, thanx for the reply. I kinda like Steve suggestions about having the
2sided option on only for the meshes that require it. I am thinking with the
proper foresight and prototype drawings setup, many of the materials can be
automatically placed onto the meshes by having the ACAD.mli loaded when
starting a new 3DS session. The only thing that will be left to be done is to
place mapping coordinates. Does having the two sided option really slow down
the rendering time? I've tried a couple of tests and found only a difference
of 5-15sec.
Ted Boardmen had also mentioned FACADE. How does it work? What is primarily
used for? Any additional info would be appreciated. This might not be the
proper forum, but are you using the standard AutoArch doors and windows or do
you have other manufactures? Pella/Hunt windows just sent our office their
Designer Series cad files that are supposed to work in Auto Arch, I tried to
install them but I could not get them to work. I haven't found time to fool
around with them yet. One last note, does Softdesk have a Compuserve forum?
Thanx again, pHred
>> I am thinking with the proper foresight and prototype drawings setup, many
of the materials can be automatically placed onto the meshes by having the
ACAD.mli loaded when starting a new 3DS session. <<
You're on the right track! 🙂
– Steve Ormonde
pHred:
Steve's technique of using 2-sided materials sparingly is a good one. I have
suffered slower rendering with 2-sided materials, but I don't have any specific
figures available. The number of faces using the materials will naturally
affect the results, as will the complexity of the materials (texture maps,
reflection maps, etc.).
>>Ted Boardmen had also mentioned FACADE. How does it work? What is primarily
used for?<<
I have tried Facade, and it has some applications for walls, doors, windows,
roofs, stairs, etc. The biggest advantage is that all objects are generated
with correct face normals. The biggest drawback is that the faces are not
efficient in some cases, although you might be able to use Optimize to correct
that.
>>are you using the standard AutoArch doors and windows or do you have other
manufactures?
I don't need residential 3D doors and windows, and I often just build the
commercial ones I need if I need that level of detail. I haven't tried the
Pella or similar products.
>>One last note, does Softdesk have a Compuserve forum?
They announced in October that they were going to have a forum, but I haven't
heard of it yet. I might be able to find out – I'll let you know if I hear
anything.
Bob Keefer, AIA