Sketchup to 3DS MAX issues
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I recently did some modeling work for a rendering company. They use max and insist all similar colours to be grouped. This is a real pain. I model the sketchup way with components and groups. I have tried to explode and group by texture it just hangs. I have also tried the group bt texture script it doesn't work on this model. I also try to copy & paste grouped surfaces between active windows this eventually crashes and i am back to the beginning again. I am really at a loss what to do. Perhaps someone can help me i am using sketchup 8. I believe the client is using the latest version of max with the sketchup importer. I am also aware that i can export to 3ds using this method:
http://www.ramyhanna.com/2008/09/sketch-up-to-3ds-max-does-work.html
however he doesn't like all the materials being on one object. I am tempted to tell him to shove it ! Does someone have any ideas or a workaround ? Many thanks in advance
chedda
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Sounds like you're dealing with a Max guy that only know a subset of its tools?
Personally I use LightWave and export 3ds from SU, but I have exported for Max users without any problems using 3ds format.
I don't use Max, but in LW it is a piece of cake to regroup any objects based on materials, although I never use that way of working myself. I'm sure there must be similar tools in Max.
However, I did a little test in SU with a few objects with differently textured faces and regrouped with all entities with the same material grouped together, and had no problems. I used the rclick meny "Select/All with same material"
Are you models very big? Or are you maybe applying materials to groups/components instead of directly to entities? -
Thanks for the response Bjorn. I am trying the bomb command again before i do the right click select all with same material trick again. Yes it's a big model it has been bombing for about an hour sketchup reports 1122 of 1430 instances exploded. I will wait until it finishes and then try to group. The guy insists he needs it like this for mapping of surfaces he is using v-ray. I use artlantis & sketchup and don't ever need to do this. He tells me i want to map a reflection layer to all the glazed faces it must be one object ? wtf ?
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You could try exploding/regrouping smaller sets, instead of doing it all at the same time?
And then process those bigger sets when they're exploded. Should be a lot less work for SU?
BTW, it sounds very strange that he needs all glazed surfaces as one object if he wants to add a mapped reflection. You certainly wouldn't need to do that in LW. -
That's what i tried before copy and paste in place in a new window strangely after a couple of times it just crashes. I think i have made the problem worse by making it high poly. I have no experience with max it seems to work on a different mindset.
As far as mapping window reflections this is also something i have never done. I always place billboards or geometry behind the camera so reflections are real rather than mapped. Using maxwell as well means that i can place a diferent hdri behind the camera at a different scale so it's a non issue.
What i have learn't from this is it's always better for the modeller to do the render ! This guy wants the glory of the easy render while i get the days of drawing !
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Why do you use Copy/Cut and Paste?
SU crashes very rarely, but almost all the crashes I've had through the years have been when using Copy or Cut.
I would select a set of copms/groups and group them (I use G as shortcut and Shift+C for Explode).
Then enter that group and explode the contents until there are no comps/groups left.
Then I would pick a material, select all with same material and group them.
Repeat until there are no ungrouped entities left.
I would probably make new layers, like 'glazed', 'brick1' etc and put those material-groups onto those layers.
Then I would explode the group and hide the layers.
All objects that are done will now be hidden, which makes it easier to see what's left.
Repeat until all objects are hidden.
Now you could do the same with all groups on each material-named layer, and you're done.In LW you could either use a global HDR or other spherical map globally, or apply it as a reflection map to specific surfaces/materials.
And yes, it's always better to have full control all the way, but the worst is when you're sub-contracting for someone who appears to not really know what he is doing
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Thanks Bjorn that sounds really usefull. Especially hiding pieces as they are done. Part of the problem with bombing a whole model is that co-planar faces are lost which means it's a one way street for editing. Plus i am not at all happy with all this extra work and the stress involved with the crashes.PS now i see 1193 of 1430 instances exploded lol.
Also my experience is that sketchup rarely crashes as well it just seems connected with the paste in place command in a new window. I often have multiple sketchup windows open and move geometry between them.
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Solved thanks again Bjorn !
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