Import textured models in SU 2015 Pro

[Jkoko]

I’m having some troubles importing stock models in SketchUp 2015. I’ve download a few small but detailed vegatation models at Turbosquid.com and tried to import the models in several formats (3DS, OBJ and FBX) using the import function in SU, the Simlab plugins and Fluidimporter.

The geometry is imported perfectly using the plugins, but the textures however are missing. Applying the textures manually all over again in those models is extremely time-consuming and therefore not an option.

I’m wondering whether it’s even possible to import those kind of high poly models including texturesinto SketchUp.

Can anybody tell me if it’s possible and if so, what’s the best way to go.

Looking forward to any help in this matter.

[TIG]

Sometimes OBJ files are poorly set up.

The OBJ needs to have a matching MTL file named in its header text, and that MTL is normally kept in the same folder as the OBJ itself.

The OBJ defines the geometry - the MTL defines the materials - either a color OR a color with a texture.

If the MTL specifies a texture, then there is an image file set for that material.

Usually these are stored in a subfolder, so it might say something like:
map_Kd textures/some_image.png
Giving a relative path to file inside the 'textures' subfolder.

But if the image-file is expected to be in the same folder as the MTL then it says just its name:
map_Kd some_image.png

Sometimes the images arrive in a subfolder inside a ZIP, but they are actually expected to be in the same folder as the MTL itself - so then relocate then.
Other times they are expected in a subfolder but are supplied 'loose' - then make the named subfolder and relocate the images into that.

Then retry importing that adjusted OBJ again...

[Jkoko]

Thanks for the explanation, TIG. Now I know what to look for if the model is not imported correctly. In this case, No Image-file was included in MTL-file of the model I tried to import.

Once again, thank you very much for the explanation.