Is it possible to import models with texture into Sketchup?

ken28875 · 21 Dec 2009, 19:11

Hi guys,

Would anyone know if there is a way to import models from other programs such as Maya or Max with their textures?

I exported some models from Maya as obj with the texture files and imported the obj into Sketchup. I tried Whaat's UV Tools (import UV's from Obj), but it did not work. Maybe I did not do the right thing pr maybe the plugin was meant for model made in Sketchup and exported as obj to other programs.

Any suggestions on how to do it would be much appreciated.

Thank you and have a great day!

_KN

Gaieus · 21 Dec 2009, 19:15

Hi Ken,

Try TIG's import plugin:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=20584

thomthom · 21 Dec 2009, 19:21

You can also use the .3ds format. But the textures must lie in the same folder as the .3ds file.

ken28875 · 21 Dec 2009, 19:57

Hi Gaius,

I used Tig's import plugin, but my model came in all black in sketchup. It seems like the texture was not located. But I did not get any error message saying .mtl is missing or something.

The .mtl is on the same location as the obj. Should i create a folder for the textures?

ThomThom: .3ds format is a good option and it works. But the thing is I cannot export a Maya model into .3ds, but only obj.

Thanks for your help guys,

_KN

Gaieus · 21 Dec 2009, 20:00

@ken28875 said:

The .mtl is on the same location as the obj. Should i create a folder for the textures?

I have no idea, sorry. Never had the chance to use that plugin yet. Maybe you should ask in that topic of the plugin - TIG is somewhere around, he could probably answer.

ken28875 · 21 Dec 2009, 23:36

@tig said:

Open the .obj and .mtl files.
The filepaths should be clearly shown in them - near the start of the code

Hi TIG,

Sorry, I am not a technical guy. Could you please clarify what you meant my "open". How do I open the .obj and .mtl files? What software should I use?

Thank you!

_KN

pilou · 21 Dec 2009, 23:59

"Open" it with an text editor for see the code
Note pad is sufficient

ken28875 · 22 Dec 2009, 00:05

@unknownuser said:

"Open" it with an text editor for see the code
Note pad is sufficient

Merci beaucoup, Pilou.

Bonne soiree!

_KN

TIG · 22 Dec 2009, 11:03

Open the .obj and .mtl files [with NotePad.exe].
The filepaths should be clearly shown in them - near the start of the code
If the obj file expects the mtl/images in a certain folder then either make it and move stuff into there or leave it where it is and edit the file so that the given path suits...

TIG · 22 Dec 2009, 11:07

Sorry - to repeat this - obj, mtl, dxf, rb [ruby] and several other types of files are all examples of 'text files' that can be opened, read and edited with a plain-text editor like NotePad.exe [don't use a Word Processor as it will add hidden formating that will mess up the program that's trying to read the data...]
You should open a rb script and read the instructions at the start...
You can open a obj file and find or edit the path to the mtl file and its images etc...

bocomofo · 12 Jan 2010, 13:41

@unknownuser said:

You can also use the .3ds format. But the textures must lie in the same folder as the .3ds file.

Can anyone offer some advice?
I have just downloaded a 3DS model from http://www.archive3d.net, I've placed the model in the same folder with all the textures, but when I import it into Sketchup there is no sign of the textures, I can't see any options for not importing them!!

Am I missing the obvious, or could it be that the 3DS was built without the textures mapped!

solo · 12 Jan 2010, 13:43

Archive 3d has many models without textures, do not judge the SU import by the model image you see on the site, in most cases the models are stripped of all textures.

bocomofo · 12 Jan 2010, 13:48

Thanks for the swift reply and clarification.

The model actually imports really well, just wanted to check I wasn't missing something fairly obvious! Trust me...I've done it before!

ta

gtalarico · 26 Jun 2012, 19:34

@thomthom said:

You can also use the .3ds format. But the textures must lie in the same folder as the .3ds file.

I think I love you....
I have been trying to find ways of bringing OnyxTrees with UV into SU, and this is by far the easiest way! It only took me 3 hours on google to find this post!

(Sorry for reviving this old as* topic)

thomthom · 26 Jun 2012, 19:39

@gtalarico said:

It only took me 3 hours on google to find this post!

For me it's usually the other way around, after searching for a problem I post it here on SCF - then when I go back to searching I just find references to my own question here! x_X Google gobbles this forum very quickly!

jpalm32 · 27 Jun 2012, 00:42

Glad I found this. Thanks

michaliszissiou · 27 Jun 2012, 17:02

Use the 3ds format!

Texture files must be in same directory as the 3ds file.
Texture file have to have max 8 digits names.
3ds file, when a single mesh is included has to be less than 64K faces.
However, 3ds file may include lot of groups-meshes, each of them less than 64 K faces.
Under macOSX, in newer builds of SketchUp8, 3ds importer is broken! I wonder when devs will have a look on this. I import using SU7 free.
You may face difficulties related with the scale of the model, in general, make it 10x bigger before exporting.
After you successfully have imported the 3ds, with UV textures, you can still edit the texture file (probably using Ps or Gimp)
In cases like using png transparent textures for leaves-foliage, you'll have textures assigned on the outer face-normal. Use the "UV toolkit" plugin to "frontface to backface"