"Glass" panels not coming out transparent in fbx

tfdesign · 3 Dec 2010, 16:44

Hi Gang.

Can anyone explain to me why any transparent "glass" panels are not coming out as transparent when exported as fbx or collada? (possibly even 3DS and OBJ too).

Rendering within Sketchup seems to be fine.

Tom

dale · 3 Dec 2010, 17:50

Have you tried reversing your glass faces to see if that works?

TIG · 3 Dec 2010, 18:25

View your SKP in Monochrome Mode with a distinct back-face color set in your Style and transparency off.
Give the glass some thickness so it has two outside faces too. Back-faces always cause rendering glitches in 3rd party a renderers...

Chris Fullmer · 4 Dec 2010, 05:32

I have never exported to those 2 file formats (beyond some simple testing purposes). Do you know if they are supposed to keep track of material transparency? Is it possible that they do not track that sort of thing? I know that the render plugins that export geometry to their renderer often make assumptions that if a material is set as transparent, that it is a glass like material. But there is nothing that really states that an exporter must do that by default.

Gaieus · 4 Dec 2010, 06:01

I am also not sure if simple SU transparency would export. Have you tried with some semi-transparent png material?

TIG · 4 Dec 2010, 10:17

The FBX exporter includes all Material properties - including some you can't set in Sketchup like 'Reflectivity'!

<span class="syntaxdefault">Material</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Material;;Translucent_Glass_Blue"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxkeyword">{<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">        Version</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> 102<br />        ShadingModel</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"phong"<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">        MultiLayer</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> 0<br />        Properties60</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault">  </span><span class="syntaxkeyword">{<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ShadingModel"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"KString"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Phong"<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"MultiLayer"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"bool"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"EmissiveColor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ColorRGB"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"EmissiveFactor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">1<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"AmbientColor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ColorRGB"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"AmbientFactor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">1<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"DiffuseColor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ColorRGB"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.392156862745098</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.584313725490196</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.929411764705882<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"DiffuseFactor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">1<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Bump"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Vector3D"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"NormalMap"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Vector3D"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"TransparentColor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ColorRGB"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">1</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">1</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">1<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"TransparencyFactor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.5<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"SpecularColor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ColorRGB"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.33</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.33</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.33<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"SpecularFactor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">1<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ShininessExponent"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">20<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ReflectionColor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ColorRGB"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"ReflectionFactor"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Emissive"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Vector3D"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Ambient"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Vector3D"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Diffuse"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Vector3D"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.392156862745098</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.584313725490196</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.929411764705882<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Specular"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Vector3D"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.33</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.33</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.33<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Shininess"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">20<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Opacity"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0.4<br />            Property</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">;</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"Reflectivity"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">"double"</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span><span class="syntaxstring">""</span><span class="syntaxkeyword">,</span><span class="syntaxdefault">0<br />        </span><span class="syntaxkeyword">}<br /></span><span class="syntaxdefault">    </span><span class="syntaxkeyword">}</span><span class="syntaxdefault"> </span>

As you see near the end there is 'Opacity' - that is the 'alpha' value... So it should export OK...

Gaieus · 4 Dec 2010, 13:26

Okay, fine, I am convinced!

tfdesign · 4 Dec 2010, 16:53

@dale said:

Have you tried reversing your glass faces to see if that works?

The problem with reversing a face is that any colour you have given the face is lost, because effectively you are looking at nothing.

TIG, I did everything you suggested anyway. Only "No Transparency", I don't know what that is. Essentially I made a face and extruded it. Then I grouped it, changed the colour to a steely-blue colour, then set opacity at about 20%. That works fine with in-house renderers such as Podium, but not with externals it seems. I also tried OBJ, which did the same (and opened up the file in Cheetah3D, as well as Blender- same problem).

Maybe I'll just leave the windows out, or export them separately, but it all seems like a lot of extra work for very little.

Tom

TIG · 4 Dec 2010, 16:56

I have a script 'Fix Reversed Faces Material' which you apply to faces that are 'backwards with a material on the back. The face flips and the material flips with it - keeping any UV-mapping as before...
It was written for this very problem. Search for it here...

tfdesign · 4 Dec 2010, 17:34

TIG, I don't have a problem with flipped normals, I just have a problem with my transparent surface coming out as opaque.

TIG · 4 Dec 2010, 20:04

@tfdesign said:

TIG, I don't have a problem with flipped normals, I just have a problem with my transparent surface coming out as opaque.

So... the face is the 'right' way round ?
Is the expected material 'made' ?
Does that material have the correct 'color' ??
Is its opacity / transparency set 1/0
I know with some renderers - like Octane - although the materials transparency is 'available' in the imported file the actual material imported is never transparent, with Octane if you set transparency and re-import the SKP the transparency and RGB of that material do not change, and it remains transparent!
I don't have experience of your specific renderer... but have you ever managed to get a transparent material to come in first time and be transparent like you'd expect ??

tfdesign · 5 Dec 2010, 20:55

@tig said:

I don't have experience of your specific renderer... but have you ever managed to get a transparent material to come in first time and be transparent like you'd expect ??

Hi TIG.

My renderer is Cheetah3D. However I'm also exporting directly into Unity using the Caffienatedbits fbx exporter (as well as the little time remaining on my SU8 pro demo). I'm trying not to fork out for Lightup, and I'm trying to avoid that as much as I can, but Adam can get surfaces to export from SU as transparent, so why can't this be done using SU alone? It seems that I can export a model with other materials connected to the surfaces, so why is it that when I change the opacity of a surface within SU, it only remains as a transparent object within SU? Something somewhere I suspect is not being 'told' what to do.

Tom

TIG · 5 Dec 2010, 21:39

@tfdesign said:

@tig said:

I don't have experience of your specific renderer... but have you ever managed to get a transparent material to come in first time and be transparent like you'd expect ??

Hi TIG.

My renderer is Cheetah3D. However I'm also exporting directly into Unity using the Caffienatedbits fbx exporter (as well as the little time remaining on my SU8 pro demo). I'm trying not to fork out for Lightup, and I'm trying to avoid that as much as I can, but Adam can get surfaces to export from SU as transparent, so why can't this be done using SU alone? It seems that I can export a model with other materials connected to the surfaces, so why is it that when I change the opacity of a surface within SU, it only remains as a transparent object within SU? Something somewhere I suspect is not being 'told' what to do.

Tom

As I said.... some renderers just ignore the exporter>imported transparency - it's not SUp [that DOES export what's needed] BUT the renderer itself that's simply ignoring it

tfdesign · 5 Dec 2010, 23:42

Hmm- interesting. I'll contact Martin who makes Cheetah3D, ask him how to get around the problem. I'll also drop the Unity crowd a note too (the perfect excuse now to join their forum!).

Thanks

Tom

&quot;Glass&quot; panels not coming out transparent in fbx

"Glass" panels not coming out transparent in fbx