3ds Max to Autodesk Impression

[rmccoy]

I'm trying to export either a DWG or DXF file from 3ds Max Design 2011 to bring it into Autodesk Impression. I am able to do the DWG with the exception of I can not keep the camera view. it goes to a default isometric view. Since Impression is a 2.5d program I can not change the camera angle.

 

Is there a way to export a DWG with the camera view intact?

[rmccoy]

Ok,

 

I've found a solution. It's not the smoothest option, but it works.

 

1. Export a DWG of your scene. If there are any X-Refs in your scene you must merge those into one file.

 

2. Open the DWG in AutoCAD.

 

3. Create a new camera that matches your view in Max. This is not going to be the exact same. But you can get close. The camera from Max does not come over in the DWG.

 

4. Create a Sheet in AutoCAD with a Viewport that has your new camera angle.

 

5. Save your file and exit AutoCAD

 

6. Open Impression and open the DWG.

 

7. Select your Layout that you created in AutoCAD and open it up.

 

Now you can use your layers from your Max file in Impression and have the ability to select your layers and use the intelligent fill options with Impression.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

I would be interested in seeing results and further reviews on how it handles. I tried using it for the first time a couple of weeks ago, but it kept crashing every time I tried to bring in a DWG or DWF.

[rmccoy]

Here is a test scene that I just brought in. This only has the default stroke applied to the lines... no fills or anything done so far.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]39694[/ATTACH]

 

The process I took to get here is this:

 

Revit -> DWG Export -> 3ds Max -> DWG Export -> AutoCAD -> Impression

 

You could probably skip Max but I finished some renderings of this last week and had the model ready to go.

 

So far things have been running smoothly (I've spent a whole hour total inside Impression trying to see what it does).

 

I like the ability to set up everything in layers and have them brought over from revit/3ds max. You can turn on and off the layers to help with visibility.

 

Editing line work to close the areas for fills is a pain. I'm sure it will get easier but for now I haven't figured out a good way to do this. I've tried editing some lines but it just got frustrating quickly. The line editing is like an rough draft version of editing line work in illustrator. You have some of the same capabilities of illustrator but it's just not as intuitive to do things.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Nice looking line work. I constantly want 'pigtails,' but I only know of 1 render engine that will do them (FinalToon.)

 

So, ...I open my model in Impression and it generates the hidden line view for me since it is a 2.5d program? If so, this will be extremely helpful also since this feature is severely lacking in Max without extra plug-ins (illustrate.) Looking quickly through the drop down menus, it appears as though the only way you may be able to get a vector line file out is via EPS. I don’t use EPS often so I am not sure how well this will work. You should be able to open it, and extract the vector lines using Illustrator, but only if Impression saved them as vectors into the EPD, rather than as pixels.

 

My install is still crashing when I do anything so I think I need a fresh one. It seems to be working for you, so hopefully it is just a local problem.

 

I don’t suppose there is a way to animate a camera inside of this Impression?

[bev.lynn]

Travis,

Excuse my ignorance, but what are 'pigtails'?

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Travis,

Excuse my ignorance, but what are 'pigtails'?

 

I had a professor that used to call overlapping lines pig tails, so I often refer to them as that also. It is one two lines that are supposed to intersect at a corner overlap to help convey looseness and life to a design.

 

There is probably a much better name for these than pigtails.

 

SketchUp does them quite well....

http://www.sketchupartists.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Step-04-merge-two-lines800.jpg

[bev.lynn]

Sounds like you want the overshoot setting in Impression.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]39712[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]39714[/ATTACH]

Or am I missing something?

Edited October 19, 2010 by bev.lynn

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Yes. The overshoot is what I am referring to.