#DXF import to 3DS
5 messages in this thread
Any & All –
I'm working with a DEM file (digital elevation model) supplied (originally) by
the government (US Geological Survey) for an island off the coast of the US.
This DEM will need to be imported into 3DS, and will have a previously
ortho-rectified satellite photo mapped to it.
The firm I'm working with is offering to convert this DEM into whatever
"flavor" of DXF I prefer (we've already tested to see if the shareware
converter available here can convert it, or if it can be brought into Vista Pro
for conversion – no on both counts). I will be working with the file in 3DS, so
I want the format that preserves the proper amount of model complexity and
integrity during the import process, and creates a model that is at the same
time not unnecessarily complex (a tall order, I know – considering the dicey
nature of DXF importing!)
In the "save" dialogs of the Photoshop plug-in Cybermesh, I've seen these
references to types of DXF files – NxM DXF, 3D Face DXF & Polyline DXF. Which
type does 3DS prefer? Does anyone have a foolproof method/source for converting
DXF files, should I have problems?
TIA for the help!
bob weil
envision graphics
Robert, There will be a couple things to watch out for with the DEM file. First
3DS does not allow objects to have more than 64K faces or vertices so you will
have to break up the file by layers or colors. Next thing to watch out for is
the origin of the model, make sure that the mesh is moved to 0,0,0 origin or
else you will have a problem with rounding errors in 3DS.
-Mike
Mike –
Thanks for the rapid response – any pearls of wisdom on what software does a
good job of converting DEM to DXF? Does it make any sense to convert to DXF,
bring it into Autocad, convert elements to layers/colors, etc., before export
to 3DS?
Thanks again.
Bob Weil
Robert, The Digital Elevation Model information you have can be converted with
software, I can't think of the name of the software but you can call ESRI in
REDLANDS, CA and they will help you out. From the DEM information I have used
in the past the data was not very current and not accurate, I think it went
back as far as the 60's and 70's. Good luck!
-Mike
Robert,
I do not known if this is any help, but we use autovision, ( a plug in
for AutoCAD ) to save files imported into autocad as 3DS files. Thus these
files are about six times smaller.
If I can be of any help give me a shout.
Chris