Form Z to Lightwave?

[LivinOnTheEdge]

Whats the most efficient way to send modeling info from form z to lightwave? I would only use lightwave for rendering, form z for modeling.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

formZ exports in lightwave format. I organize my formZ models by color/layer. I create a layer for every color, and name it the same as the color. Then obviously, place the objects that are that color on the corresponding layer. When I export the formZ model to Lightwave format, I group by layer. I do not recomend seperating the files, leave everything in one. For some reason Lightwave crashes when I seperate the files, and bring them in individually. Open the file in Lightwave Modeler. The layers should be the same as whe you exported from formZ.

 

I like to then re-assign the surface style to help keep the model clean. If you hit the 'q' key in Lightwave, it should prompt you to creatre a new color name. I make my new color name the same as the layer name to help keep everything straight. Save the object, close and relaunch Lightwave, re-open the file. All of your unused colors should be gone, and you are left with a really clean working object.

 

You would think that it would not be necessary to re-assign the colors, but when you difference, union, section, ect.. in formZ, the will pick up the color it waas booleaned with. Lightwave will seperate out all of these colors, and give them funky names. This is why I recomend re-assign the surface style.

 

Another think that I highly recommend is to triangulate the model BEFORE exporting to Lightwave. Don't rely on the export dialog triangulation, I find it is not as reliable. Although I am the only one in my firm that seems to have that problem. If you don't like working with triangulated models, you can always add an extra step, and simplify the surfaces in Lightwave.

 

Does this help?

 

Unfortunatly going from one app to another is never easy as just saving in that format, and opening. At least if you want to do it the right way.

 

ts.

[LivinOnTheEdge]

wow, really great responses from both u guys. thanks so much. that is SO helpful!

[ingo]

Hi Brendan, i use the FormZ-Lightwave combo now at least for about two years. Since i use an old FormZ version (3.5) i use the Electric Image format (fact) for output to LW.

 

But my structuring is a bit easier. I use the layers in FormZ to structure the modell for my work in FormZ and use the colors to define the different materials. Than i export the modell by color (seperate files or not, its up to you) and open the files in Lightwave modeller, now the colors are my materials and my modell structure.

 

For easier workflow you can copy all layers on one layer in that modell, since you can still select in modeller by material and seperate the elements for additional work in Lightwaves modeller.

 

HTH