How to import CAD dwg to lightwave?

[blaz]

I'm 3Dmax user. Lightwave is very new to me,I try to have another way to render and I found Lightwave is cool. So any body can help me how can I import a CAD dwg, like I did in MAX.

Thanks guys.

[dwright]

Is the drawing in 2D or 3D mode?

 

If this is 2D just export as DXF R13 or R14 and import in LW Modeler.

 

Or, read it in Illustrator as a DWG and then export to DXF from Illustrator. If this is 3D data, export by layers to separate 3ds files or dxf files, AutoCAD does not export well huge amounts of geometry at once, so you better of by layers.

 

Importing 3D data from CAD is a more complex than just importing, for most cases.

 

Best of luck, let me know.

 

David

[blaz]

Actually it's a 2D data, like plans and elevation.I exported to dxf from autocadR14, than my file can't recognized in LW modeler.

How about MAX and LW, any way to export and import between them?

cause, I can make the object in MAX faster, than I used the surface editor in LW and the lighting also more realistic.

thanks for the info

[dwright]

Originally posted by blaz:

Actually it's a 2D data, like plans and elevation.I exported to dxf from autocadR14, than my file can't recognized in LW modeler.

How about MAX and LW, any way to export and import between them?

cause, I can make the object in MAX faster, than I used the surface editor in LW and the lighting also more realistic.

thanks for the info

Ok, try exporting on different DXF forms such as older versions.. what version of LW are you using?

Well if you prefer MAX, then model in MAX and export as .3ds file and import in LW. THat normally works 100%.

 

David

[blaz]

still can't work out, is there any plugin needed for this? Iam using LW7 and I import my max file from MAX5.

huh, this export-import drive me crazy.

I guest I need to learn to build in LW as well.

any suggestion for beginner LW user?

[blaz]

hei, I got it, man!. it works

I try to load the object from LW layout,not in the modeler and it works, so from there I bring it on the modeler to modify.

Finally, some action...

thank's for all your info.

btw, when this monthly challenge start on?

[dwright]

Lightwave.exe does not import non-lwo files, only modeler.exe does.

 

for max, you need to export as 3ds, not as .max file.

 

good luck,

 

David

[blaz]

i see, you'r right,jave to use the modeler to import the file. i can't export the 3ds, cause i used the import EPSF command, but then i used the load object command to import the 3ds file from the modeler.

[CTRL+X]

Does anyone here know how to save out of/ export out of autoCAD (.dxf files) and bring them into LW with exacting precision.. I have a 2d drawing in CAD measures 15' and when I bring it into LW Modeler it is at 220 ' for some reason..... what am I over looking??

 

Thanks

CTRL+X

[blaz]

i used the cad 2000 block command to export to dxf. and after that I load object in LW, and it's still the same scale.I didn't put any setting on it.all in default set-up.

sorry, I am just new LW user.I might not help u much.

[dwright]

Yes, that works but material setup may be lost, and huge files give problems. Better off by exporting per layer/material to DXF from acad. I do better via exporting to 3ds.

[blaz]

yeah 3ds is better, but is it normal when I load the 3ds object always come with a lot of faces?

[dwright]

yes, it is. it is triangulated, so the best to do, is divide it in layers (in any), so for example, divide the objects in surfaces per layer, then apply the reduce polygons tool, this tool will eliminate most, if not all triangles and convert them into clean polygons.

 

But watch out, sometimes, mainly on complex object, will give some errors (this is why I suggest to simplify it by using layers)

 

3ds format, as in max, has always to triangulate the faces. Wavefront (OBJ) does not.

 

Hope this helps.

[CTRL+X]

Thanks for all your advice people.

[ingemar]

I tend to get a lot of problems with polygon normals when going from Autocad via 3ds-format into LW. They face in different directions seemingly without any logic. Does anyone know of a way to get around this?

 

ingemar

[Richie]

Hello

 

What is the size (m2) of your Model ?

It can be easier to remodell the whole building in LW, than to wast time with importing (wrong)geometry.

 

If you have any troubles, I'll help you on the modelling.

 

Richie

[dwright]

If you import smaller (instead of a large file) layers as DXF or 3DS, you will avoid flipped polygons. Sometimes flipped polygons are not really flipped, are badly formed polygons, triangulating the object and reducing polygons again can fix this.

 

Regards,

[ingemar]

Most of the time I prefer to model directly in LW, but when getting material from other architects I try to import it. Remodeling is often not an option because time is short, and it's really annoying getting it almost right when importing and then start remodeling. So finding a less painful way than flipping normals manually would be great!

 

And thanks for the offer Richie, but most of the time I get finished models or model myself directly in LW.

 

ingemar

[ingemar]

Exporting the model piece by piece (roughly 1400 polys at a time) made it much better! thanks!

 

But still one part of the model is flipped inward. It's easy enough to flip it right since it's a quite separate part of the model and all polys face the same way. I suspect that this part has been mirrored in AutoCAD - could that be the problem?

[blaz]

Hi Dwright,

Finally I can finish my first 3d using lightwave.

http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/filepush.asp?file=belmont.jpg

but I cannot get the right light yet. still need a lot practice. this is just to get the schedule from the bosses.

Thanks for your advice and tutorial that I asked. you help alot.

[dwright]

not bad for the first one! my first was way worse!. I recommend, to start with, that you add:

 

1- Add one Direct light (sun) using 120% and a with 1% blue into it.

 

2- Add a large area light 30%, and 5% orange.

 

3- play with colors, perhaps switching them.

 

You can also enable radiosity, but set it up to backdrop only. There are multiple ways to light this.

 

hope this helps.

[blaz]

thanks for your comments, i'll try and let you know the rendering result,

can I ask another question?

How to avoid lost surface textures and setting when I move the files from 1 computer to another computer,for example I used to bring my work to home, after I opened, the lws file always ask the lwo files but they did not stored the textures inside. all become blank, only colors.

How to avoid this problem? anything that I shuld set in the first time?

Thanks

[dwright]

surfaces are not stored on the .lws file. You should always save your objects from lightwave or modeler to keep the surfaces.

 

David

[blaz]

I did save my surface in the modeller, but after that I bring my data to ofice this morning with the map files.nad after I open. I lost all the maped surface, so I need to put in the map one by one.

Is there a path need to be set. so the file can trace where they can fine the map files?

thank you

[dwright]

Have you specified a "content directory"? I think your problem is that. Content directory is very important, if not used, probably your files, and specially exchanging it with other computers will be missing or could not be found. You also need to learn about file structure (found on manual)

 

I also suggest, if not done already, to read the manuals, (I am not saying this as a negative post, but a sincere recommendation) you will be amazed on how much you will learn. I also don?t read manuals in some cases or not in detail and when I do, I find out a huge amount of tips that you never get by just using it.