3D RNDR

Sincronizing ArchiCAD model with 3ds Max

2014-08-18T00:34:00.000+03:00

Sometimes there is a need to update the 3ds Max scene with the changes made in ArchiCAD. Let's see how we can do it in a few simple steps.

There is one thing you should know and remember for all your life. Almost all 3d and architectural software use a coordinate sistem in 3 dimensions: on X,Y and Z axis. The center of this space, also known as the point of intersection of this axis is the point of origin with coordinates [0,0,0]. Every object contains information about it's position in 3d space.
What does that mean? For example you have a rectangular Slab object in ArchiCAD. This object contains information about his dimensions - width, length and height; and information about his position on X, Y and Z axis (how far it is from point 0 of X, Y and Z axis).

There is another thing that should be noticed. 3ds max has two ways for importing models in the scene. The first is when you go to File >> Import and choose your model. This option lets you import the model keeping original position of imported objects. The other option is when you drag&drop the file into 3dsMax viewport. Using this option lets you choose the point in 3d space where the model will be imported.

So, the most important thing to satisfy when updating the model from Archicad in 3ds Max:
a. The model that you want to update should be imported through File >> Import

b. Try not to move your model in ArchiCAD, maintaining it's original position
c. It is preferably to use the same file format that was used when the original model was imported (.3ds, .dwg, .obj, etc..)

Follow the steps to update your model:
1. Verify what objects have been changed (walls, roof, architectural elements, etc...)
2. 3ds Max - Select the objects that you want to update and delete them
3. 3ds Max - because the impoting action does not support the UNDO, after deleting the objects from p.1, i suggest you to freeze all the objects in the scene
4. ArchiCAD - select the objects that you want to update and press F5, wich will send you to 3d window and will hide all the unselected objects; or RightClick on selected objects and "Show selection in 3D"

5. ArchiCAD - from 3d window go to File >> Save as , and choose the file format you need. Save the file.
6. 3ds Max - Go to File >> Import and select the you just saved from ArchiCAD

That's all. Verify that your objects are placed at the right position and start editing. If something gone wrong, you can easily select the imported objects and delete them, because the other objects are frozen (see p.3)

This method is not automated, it is a manual solution, but it is not so hard to do and lets you control the sincronization at all the steps.
Have a nice render!

VZ Renamer

2014-08-17T21:54:00.003+03:00

VZ Renamer is an easy to use 3ds Max script that will help you rename Geometry, Cameras, Lights, Scene Materials in your 3ds Max scene.

USING THE 3ds MAX SCRIPT
Enter the prefix name for specific objects and press RENAME. If nothing is selected, the script will rename all objects in scene, otherwise it will act on selected objects. The name of the objects will be: Prefix+ Number. If ”Add layer prefix” is checked, the layer name of the object will be added to the name. The name of the object will be: Layer name + Prefix + Number. When renaming scene materials, the script renames all used scene materials.

INSTALLATION
- Run the downloaded .mzp file or drag and drop it in 3ds max Viewport.
- Look for the category “VZ Tools” in the “Customize user interface” section.
- Add the “VZ Renamer” command to a toolbar / quadmenu. - Click it and have fun!

DOWNLOAD VZ RENAMER

Version Requirement:

created in max 2012, should work on older versions

To uninstall the script just delete this two files:

“C:\Users\–USER–\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\ — 3ds max version –\enu\UI\usermacros\VZRenamer.mcr” and

“C:\Users\–USER–\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\ – 3ds max version –\enu\scripts\VZTools\VZRenamer.mse”

VZ Tools

2013-06-03T21:38:00.002+03:00

Hi, there!
So after a lot of working on this script i tried to collect all the usefull things in one place, so you don't have now to do 5-10 actions to press a button. It's in the Z Manager. There are two versions of this script - for Default Scanline and for Vray users. Here i will describe what is ZManager Vray consist of.

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DOWNLOAD ZTOOLS v0.6

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[File Manager]

Save, S as and S + are functions for Save, Save as and Incremental Save

Open [ ] - Opens the 3ds max file folder

Import, Merge - for simple Import and Merge actions of 3dsMax

Copy, Paste - is a very usefull tool, for copying and Pasting objects from one scene to another.

[Objects manager]

VR light, VR IES, VR Sun - starts the Vray lights creation

VR Plane, VR Grass - starts VR Plane creation and Autograss plugin (if you have Autograss installed)

VR Camera, Max Camera - create a specified camera from current perspective view.

+ is for selecting the camera from current active camera view.

UVW Map - create an instanced UVW Map with Box mapping for selection with Real-World Map Size active.

UVW Map Box - create an instanced UVW Map with Box mapping for selection with no Real-World Map Size active.

+ By Mtl, + By Color, + By Layer, + Instance, + No Mtl, +Random - is for selecting geometry by criterias - Select by material (current selection or pick an object), by wire color (current selection or pick an object), by layer the object is assigned to (current selection or pick an object), select instances, select objects with no material, or select random from all geometry or selected geometry. You can choose the percentage of random selection.

- Layer is for hiding the layer the selected object is asigned or pick the object from the layer to be hidden

Pick Material - assign material to selected geometry, by picking it from other object. Don't bother with material editor and assigning by object. Do it quick.

ML - open material library and browse it in material browser

MR - open Material Replace dialog, where you can replace materials from scene with other materials from scene, material library or material editor.

Kill INST - if you want to change the object from instance to single object. does not work with Groups.

Kill 4 ever - a helpful tool, if you want to delete a lot of objects, without undo. saves time and PC memory.

Box dislay ON/OFF- changes display property of objects to box display ON or OFF. Now you do not need to open Objects Properties dialog, do it faster.

Node transform Copy, Paste - a useful tool when you are working with moving objects and you need to bring objects to a position from a specified frame. Or if you need to copy object position, rotation and scale to another object.

ID [..], Mtl, Lr - assign a specified ID for selected objects or assign ID to all geometry sorting it by Material or Layer.

VrAlpha - is vray alpha contribution. Value is -1, 0 or 1

Visibilitfrom y 0->1, 1->0 in x frames - change the visibility of an object from 1 to 0 or from 0 to 1 in specified number of frames.

Start editing by Vertex, Edges, Face, Polygon or Element. works for Editable Poly or Edytable Mesh. att - start attach action for Editable Mesh or Editable Poly

[Randomize & Pivot & Place]

Randomize actions for moving, rotating and scale. For scale if you choose scale by 0.1, it will scale your object for +/- 10%

Pivot control - change the pivot position for selected objects. Works for every object separately and it does not change the pivot according to selection coordinates.

Throw it? - is a tool for placing the selected objects to a specified surface on Z axis. Similar to Glue plugin

[RNDR Manager]

Save R, Save as - check to save the output or choose the output file. X - clear the output settings

+1 is an increment tool for the output file name, adding a number from 00,01,02 to 99 to the filename.

1/2, x2, x3, HV, 720, 1080 - change the dimension of the output filesize, dividing it by half, or multiply by 2 or 3, Change Horizontal with Vertical dimension, or set output filesize to HD 1280x720, 1920x1080
Edit REG and Menu - select the Area to Render and if Edit REG pressed, sets the Area to Render to region and starts the Edit Region.
Cam>, + - Go through cameras in scenes, or select current active camera. If checkbox is checked, then the next Camera is selected when Cam > is pressed.
Rend - Save+ Render
RNDR - Save+Render and if output file exists, then an incremental number is added to output file.
Batch - start the Batch render
All2Btch - For all cameras in the scene automatically create a batch render view.
C2Btch - For selected camera create a batch view
Light Render - Create a render with half of output settings. It could create a preview for up to 10 times faster.
MtlOvr - Material Override and a button to add objects to exclude for Override Material. If no Ovverride material is set, it creates a simple material with gray color.
Rfl/Rfr - Reflection/Refraction, LowThr - checkbox for Low Thread Priority, MaxDpth - set the maximum depth for reflection/refraction. DynLim - set the Dynamic limit from Vray settings. log - activate or dezactivate the Vray Log window.
also, you can controll the MinSample and the Subdivisions vaules fromVray Settings
gamma - set the gamma for your scene.
DR - settings and checkbox for Vray Distributed Rendering
Load vr settings - set the most useful settings for scene: activate GI with Irradiance map+LightCache, add Vray Sky

DOWNLOAD ZTOOLS v0.6

Export 3D from ArchiCAD to 3dsMAX

2013-05-26T15:12:00.001+03:00

This section contains explications about some ways to export the model from ArchiCAD to 3ds MAX. what are their benefits, what are the lacks. Maybe there exist some other way to transfer the model to 3dsMAX, but i will tell about what i prefer for their operability and fastness.

Through .DWG
Through .OBJ
Through .3DS

Exporting

To export the model just open the 3D Window in ArchiCAD and go to Save as. In the opened window choose the file format wich you want to export to. Some file formats has some settings to be set before exportig.

DWG file format

The DWG file format is my favourite, because it exports not triangulated meshes and separates the objects by layer. Layering is easy to use and sometimes hiding the layers simplifies the work with not hidden objects. Also there is very precise units conversion. Objects are imported with assigned wire color, that was set in ArchiCAD material. Using this method, you will find that it is easy to sinchronize 3dsMAX with ArchiCAD model, replacing just the changed objects.

The issue with the DWG translation method is that it does not export the materials assigned to objects. But anyway it is simply to select objects in 3ds max by color, by layer and then assign the materials.

OBJ file format

When the model is imported in 3dsMAX from OBJ file format, the objects are comes unified, in one single mesh with a multimaterial assigned. The multimaterial constists of a set of Standard materials with bitmaps from ArchiCAD. The unified object is not a big problem. If you use tiled maps for materials, just replace materials in multimaterial assigned. The other way is to divide object in multiple objects by ID assigned to elements in the mesh.

3ds file format

The 3ds file format is most used to export model from ArchiCAD to 3dsMAX because: the objects are exported with materials assigned and different wirecolor. The issues tha you can meet while using this file format is the model scale. For example when you export the model from Archicad and you use milimetric units, you should input the scale for conversion 1000. The other thing that i have noticed is that there might be some problems when converting geometry to editable poly or when applying modifiers.

Also, there are other file formats, that you can use, for transfering your model to 3dsMAX. Like .skp – Google Sketchup file format, that from the latest versions of 3dsMAX is possible to import. Notice that for exporting the .SKP you have to install Google Earth connection plugin for ArchiCAD.

At the end, I suggest you to try different file formats and to choose the one that satisfies you. My option is to use .DWG.

Export 3D from ArchiCAD to 3dsMAX through .DWG

2011-10-25T13:00:00.051+03:00

There is many ways to import your model in 3ds Max. Every way has it's positive and negative parts. In this tutorial I will tel you about importing 3d model from ArchiCAD to 3ds Max trhough a .DWG file
Import 3d model from ArchiCAD with .DWG file is very powerfull method. There are two things i suggest you to do, when you are working in ArchiCAD, is to clasify your objects by layers.

Work with layers, and place objects to it's relative layer. Place walls to layer "Walls", beams to layer "Beams", stairs to layer "Stairs"... .

This will help you later, when you will edit your model in max, or when you will be asigning materials to the objects.

Assign correct materials to objects. Don't left object with no materials, if you plan to export model through a .DWG file. It is better that the Surface color of Internal Engine materials will be different from each other.

Here we go to export the model.

The first step is to open your 3D window in ArchiCAD. Verify that you have all materials assigned to the objects.
Got to File > Save as. Select in the Save as type filed the DWG File (*.dwg)
There will appear an additional field - Translator. In this field select 03 For as is output, and in the right of it enter Settings. In the Layer Methods set the Windows and Doors Layer names. It is useful to have this elements in separate layers, else they will be on the same layer as the walls. Save settings and close. These settings are saved, so you shouldn't set them every time.
When you get back to Save 3D window, click Save, and Skip All when it asks you to open some files.

This is it. you exported your model to .DWG. Note that when you export it from a 3D View, it is saved as 3d model, and when you save as .DWG from a 2D View, it is saved as 2D. But this is another story ...

So let's go to 3ds Max and import our model.

First of all I recommend you to activate the Layer toolbar in 3ds Max

Open 3ds Max and go to File - Import. Select the .DWG file you have exported from ArchiCAD. OK
In "AutoCAD DWG/DXF Import Options" window I use the default settings, because they are set preety. The only thing I change is the definition of primitives -to Entity.

3. Select ALL IMPORTED GEOMETRY and apply the UVW Modifier with Box the Real World Map Size setting checked.

It is very helpful for architectural visualization, especially using tiled materials such as bricks, wood etc. and it does not affect materials with no texture such as glass, or colored materials. Note, that when you use RealWorldMapSize at UVW Modifier, your materials in the scene should also have this setting checked. The except can be the cases when you have to assign special materials with non-tiled textures (e.g. book covers, paintings...)

4. Now you can select objects and assign the materials. The selection is easy now because you can select objects
By layer - in the Layer toolbar or the Edit menu
By color - in the Edit menu

Select All, Select None, and Select Invert are also helpful tools.

Select Similar, Select Instances are useful for other objects you create or merge in the scene e.g. created geometry, lights, trees, furniture etc. - objects that has a unique name, a specified class or is a copy/instance of other objects.
Some useful tools you can find in ZTools - a tools set for 3dsMax that you can download here. It will help you with optimized tools for selection and applying the materials such as Select by Material, Select Objects with no Material, and Random select

Architectural modeling for 3ds Max

2011-10-24T16:46:00.011+03:00

The first thing that we should have for an architectural render is the 3d model. What do you want to render?

This things depends on who are you? Are you a graphical designer, are you an architect or a painter? What concept do you have?

I will tell you things that I know, specialy for architects and interior designers.

As a 3d creation software for architectural 3d model I prefer to use ArchiCAD, but there are a lot of architectural software that helps you to model your building or design in 3 dimensions: Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture, AllPlan, SketchUP and others.

But this softwares helps you create architectural elements and simple forms. If you need to create more complex meshes like a sofa, toilet, a tree or else - you need a special software like Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, Rhino, Cinema 4D etc.

ArchiCAD is a good solution architects. it has a lot of facilities for architects

- Speed creation and edit of architectural elements: windows, doors, columns, and lot of predefined 3d objects

- Work in 2D, and create architectural drawings

- Work in 3D with materials/textures

- Create renders.

ArchiCAD renderings are not so realistic and that that is why sometimes you need more accurate and realistic image. Autodesk 3ds Max and Vray is a good solution to get fantastic results.

In this blog you can find a lot of stuff for rendering.
So here are some things that i recomend to you, if you plan to create 3d model in ArchiCAD and then render it in Autodesk 3ds Max:

Work with layers, and place objects to it's relative layer. Place walls to layer "Walls", beams to layer "Beams", stairs to layer "Stairs"... .

This will help you later, when you will edit your model in max, or when you will be asigning materials to the objects.

Assign correct materials to objects. Don't left object with no materials, if you plan to export model through a .DWG file. It is better that the Surface color of Internal Engine materials will be different from each other.