from dwg files to model -best practice?

[eoghan]

I recently read a thread that alluded to modeling all your buildings etc before you even open c4d. I was wondering what way peole did this. I just bring the dwg files through to illustrator and into c4d to scale and then extrude/boole/ knife my way to the final model. is there a better way of doing this with other cad packages?

[Frosty]

I use FormZ and dxf into to Cinema. Personal preference really. I like the CAD style tools better for modelling structures accurately. I'm sure every user will have their own methodology.

[skala67]

I model the main part of my subject in Form-Z also and export as 3ds into Cinema4D. I do some modelling in Cinema, but as Frosty said, Form-Z lends itself to Arch Modelling and Cinema is great for dynamic modelling.

 

cheers

[Frosty]

I should have added that I am doing more and more modelling in Cinema but constructing base elements in FormZ. I love the instancing tools and poly modelling techniques in Cinema.

 

So for instance (this strategy could be used for any series of repeating elements), if I were to build a bunch of columns I would build one in FormZ and place markers for the rest in FormZ. When the geometry comes into Cinema, instances are centered on the markers and reference the original column. As we go through the design process, I only need to alter one column.