Softimage XSI Archviz tools - SunpathXSI and DXF-XSI conversion

[jasonio]

Along with a dxf importer for Softimage XSI, I've made an .xsiaddon which calculates the position of the sun anywhere in the world. It uses a custom PPGlayout to control the position of a spotlight, which could be used to make animated sun studies.

 

 

 

Example animations can be found at my website here at the sunpathXSI gallery.

You can also download, unzip and install the xsiaddon file to try out. It is free to use. If you do anything special with it, let me know.

 

Also, you will find information on a little program I am writing which converts 2d DXF files into the dotXSI file format. Softimage XSI isn't used for Archviz and this is probably the main reason why: NO 2d dxf line import. The idea is to enable the import of 2d architectural drawings into XSI to create accurate Archviz. Some people like convoluted routes to their visualisation, but I'd like to use ONE program to model, texture, animate and render.

 

Softimage XSI Foundation is now less than $500: See

http://www.softimage.com for info. (A 30 day trial is available here for download.)

 

For a view of the program in action,please go to the DXF to XSI gallery. I will put it on the site for download very soon:

 

 

Enjoy. I will post an announcement when the beta version of the DXF-XSI convertor is available to download.

[lambros]

I am looking forward for the dxf to xsi convertor, it would be such a helpful tool. Up to now, I have used .dwg->.ai and .ai import from XSI which is not cool at all!

[Sketchrender]

Well done

This is the only reason i stepped away from softimage at an early stage.

You can not even have a lookin to the arch viz business with out an import or export of 2d dxf or more importantly dwg.

 

I'd advise to get this software while it is free, xsi will buy it before you know and you will have to pay for it.

 

 

phil

[jasonio]

You can now find the demo of the DXF-XSI convertor I am working on here:

 

www.redmotion.com

 

It is a limited use demo at the moment and I will update this page when the complete working version is available. (Hopefully before Xmas.)

 

Please email me from the website if you have any problems running it, or encounter any bugs, or have any ideas to improve it.

 

I have more information and a tutorial on how to prepare a .dxf file for conversion on the website. Please note: you will need .NET framework 1.1 to run it.

 

Hope this will help any budding Softimage XSI ArchVizzers out there.

[jasonio]

I've updated both of these plug ins now for XSI version 6. You can find links on the side bar of my website, if you are interested:

 

http://www.redmotion.com

 

Changes:

 

DXF importer - now about 10 times faster (a small 2d dxf file will import in under 2 seconds) and far more accurate (once imported, scale it drawings to desired size.)

Sunpath plugin - accuracy vastly improved as to be very reliable now. (Animation is possible by setting key frames at points along the lights rotation.)

N.B. These currently do not work over a network, install them locally.

[vkirchner]

I am a new user to Softimage, so I will try my best to make my questions sound like I have some idea what I am doing when in real life I do not have a clue yet.

 

Where do I place the DXF XML file so it can be accessed from the Softimage program?

 

Thank you.

Vince