how do you model?

[zeronove]

I always model everything in max importing only a few basic lines from a clean dwg created by me xreferencing the dwgs provided by clients; I never import data directly from a client file. As someone already mentioned, I don't want waste my time fixing drawing errors done by others.

[trick]

Just to mention: I have been modeling in 3DStudio since DOS R1 many (10+) years, only to get MUCH faster in FormZ !!!!! Never had any import errors by using the Lightwave format and PolyTrans !!!!!

[s0real]

it's a shame really that spline editing in max is so crap... and the snaps are so finicky...

[lukx]

Just to mention: I have been modeling in 3DStudio since DOS R1 many (10+) years, only to get MUCH faster in FormZ !!!!! Never had any import errors by using the Lightwave format and PolyTrans !!!!!

hmmm 1125$ ! for extra software to model and then import to 3dsmax ?!

[thablanch]

Just to mention: I have been modeling in 3DStudio since DOS R1 many (10+) years, only to get MUCH faster in FormZ !!!!! Never had any import errors by using the Lightwave format and PolyTrans !!!!!

You are talking simple geometry, like windows an doors, or anything soft including organic shapes and furniture?

[peterguthrie]

the fastest way to do it is mapping as much as possible in SU, keeping the same name materials between SU and max....exporting the model by material, in max updating the materials takes one click. it's not difficult if know the correct work flow.

yep it really doesnt take long to reimport and reassign materials. My clients make changes all the f&%€##" time, thankfully changing things in sketchup is very quick and painless. I always found max models a bit of a pain to make changes to, needing more careful planning with regard to modifier stacks etc. but maybe thats just me!

I model all architecture stuff in sketchup and all furniture in 3dsmax (slowly).

[trick]

hmmm 1125$ ! for extra software to model and then import to 3dsmax ?!

Over all these years it must have been a LOT more....but worth every penny
Max(incl.plugins) as rendering and animation software ONLY...even way more....and worth every penny too

[trick]

You are talking simple geometry, like windows an doors, or anything soft including organic shapes and furniture?

Mainly for large architectural plans, which I do 90% of the time! Particularly the flawless snapping and booleans, the very strong 2D tools, and the easy symboling help greatly in that regard. For fast organic modeling I started with Lightwave a long time ago and added Modo since it's conception It's all just a matter of: how can I be MOST productive and still do this job when I'm 90

[lukx]

the fastest way to do it is mapping as much as possible in SU, keeping the same name materials between SU and max....exporting the model by material, in max updating the materials takes one click. it's not difficult if know the correct work flow.

what is the trick for this "ONE CLICK: updating mats?

[Morne]

what is the trick for this "ONE CLICK: updating mats?

there was a tutorial a while back on this on cgarena (or evermotion) i forget now which one
do a search and I'm sure you'll find it

[lukx]

didn't find anything on ever and arena but found this (but it's far away from ONE CLICK) :

http://3dsmaxrendering.blogspot.com/...x+Rendering%29

[flino2004]

what is the trick for this "ONE CLICK: updating mats?

If you keep exactly the same name materials between both applications(SU & MAX):
-Save your materials in MAX(library material)
-Import the model created in SU via 3ds. Exporting the model by material
-Open the library material and Click icon" Update Scene Materials by Library"...DONE!

It works very well if you mapping your textures in SU because they will be in place in MAX.

Exporting by Material if much better because you will have groups under selection in MAX (they are named by material) so you could select them pretty quick and all the materials are standard which updating them to Max is super easy...having multi-subobject materials don't work well with thist workflow...if you need objects with multi- sub objects materials, you can alwalys import them independently as a single object.

Other thing that I like about sketchup is the access to a lot free rubyscripts an the commercial ones are very affordable for example:

http://www.1001bit.com/pro/
http://www.smustard.com/

Fernando

[lukx]

So you need to use 3ds not direct sketupch import?

[flino2004]

Yes, direct import so far the last time I tryed to use it, it didn't work at all... another reason to use 3ds is if you have surfaces with displacement I export the model twice:
firstable, always make sure that "Export standalone edges" if OFF in any case, for displacement in options I select "Welding vertices", after that in MAX I only keep the surfaces with displacement material> attach all the surface to become one object(same material). After that I import the second file where I turned the option "Preserving texture Coordinates".

Because I model as well in sketchup I know what I have to do but if you get the model from clients, one of the common mistakes is having two different materials in a face (front and back)....there is a free Rubyscript to apply default material or any to the back side, they have to be default or the same material that you have on the front to evoid problems later.

if you model in SU there is a free "Purge" script to clean your file specially when you import backgrounds in CAD....bringing a lot layer from AutoCAD slowdow the performance.

Another excellent script that I use a lot is "Profile Builder" from http://www.smustard.com/ ....very useful tool and an affordable model, texture library subscription is http://www.formfonts.com/ (they have models in different formats biside SU).

with my clients I usually show SU screenshots or the SU model itselft to get quick feedbacks regarding the model, I found that when I show renderings in MAX I spend more time in meetings and changes
the main reason is with renderings they attention is more in materials and colors than the model...so if I show the model in SU I can show it in realtime, sections, elevations, shadows, etc so the model is the main focus....when we are agree that everything is there the second part is materials and lighting (in MAX)....It works for me very well!!


Fernando

[lukx]

cool ! Big thanks Fernado for explaining your workflow. I got another question to you an Peter. DO you guys also model windows and doors in SU?