topic Re: Export to VRML question in Visualization

Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 14:01:41 GMT

Hi,

A client wants to walk around in a building we are working on and I tried exporting VRML to use in Octagon VRML player (http://www.octaga.com/download_freeplayer.html). It works fine but with a big problem....I can only move around in "examine" mode. I can't walk or fly or anythinh like that. I don't know if the settings are wrong when I export the VRML-file. There are hardly any settings btw...
If anyone has experience with this and can help me I would be very grateful.

Best regards,

Mats

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Mon, 24 May 2004 21:32:24 GMT

on VRML you can't make that

that i understand is you want move like on the REAL TIME RENDER GAMES ?

for that you ned a one real time render engine

what i use for. Last one who i work wit is GameBryo
http://www.ndl.com/

but is too Hi level engine and is for that is too expensive

may be for you is Director shockwave studio
http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/director/3d_animation.html

that engine work fine wit MAYA and 3D MAX

or RTRE
http://www.cubicspace.com/

work wit 3DMAX export but is not sou finish like product

LOL i don't know but i thing i am the only one person on that world who make GAME Level editing wit ArchiCAD .))

nut i never see more fastest solution for make a simple RTR game level .)))

if GS make level editor for games wit all ArchiCAD tools walls dors windows terrain mesh who have archiCAD for low polys terrain is the best one for me ........

they will be the N1 editor

its really amazing my team modelers modeling a one level day after day i make for just some hours geometry export from ArchiCAD is close to perfect i not loose any time for enter that geometry to Real time render engins

last one GAME who i work on it is ZOO TYCOON 2 real time render Tycoon strategy game (i am not authorize from tam boss to post the more info screen shots and examples .( but that is the world everybody not want to share information for new one projects)

Have nice enter to your new world mathome you will find all one new world of TEXTURE and SHADOWS baking Unwrapping texture coordinates POLYGON COUNTERS and many many more if you want to enter intro REAL time RENDERS ENGINES .))))

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Mon, 24 May 2004 21:45:28 GMT

the theme continue

for me the Real Time Renders Engine that is the future all big company work strongly on it we have just some years for stop it renders

we will able to make just one building and print them directly or make one animation direct from softwares with not rendering

just look that
http://www.unrealtechnology.com/html/technology/ue30.shtml

is AMAZING a LOL

if GS is smart they too will go on that base to they software GOOD ONE REAL TIME RENDER ENGINE
that is just one idea if they can enter option for visualizing one building wit the same level of details will be just best

i can imagine that after just 3-4years

Re: Export to VRML question

SeaGeoff — Mon, 24 May 2004 22:50:20 GMT

The ArchiShock plug-in from Dunako is worth a serious look.

http://www.dunako.com/index.htm

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Mon, 24 May 2004 23:08:09 GMT

Shockwave3D technology of Macromedia Director MX

clever

but i mean to make one simple tutorial for ArchiCAD to DIRECTOR

will be Simple and Easy one CIPHER-FREE solution i thing ?

and MORE i will add GLOBAL ILUMINATION SOFT SHADOWS on it

.)

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Tue, 25 May 2004 07:41:07 GMT

IvanG wrote:
the theme continue

for me the Real Time Renders Engine that is the future all big company work strongly on it we have just some years for stop it renders

we will able to make just one building and print them directly or make one animation direct from softwares with not rendering

just look that
http://www.unrealtechnology.com/html/technology/ue30.shtml

is AMAZING a LOL

if GS is smart they too will go on that base to they software GOOD ONE REAL TIME RENDER ENGINE
that is just one idea if they can enter option for visualizing one building wit the same level of details will be just best

i can imagine that after just 3-4years

You're a true 3D source it seems! Thanks for your illuminating answer(s). I couldn't test ArchiShock because of the expiry date so I downloaded this Unreal demo and to put it mildly it was cool! I however don't know how to get my ArchiCAD model into the Unreal editor!? Do I have to go via 3DS and use the ActorX plug-in??

<<<I found another thread describing the export via 3DS so I guess this is the way...cumbersome...>>>>

Best regards,

Mats

A problem with the Unreal editor is that my office mates think I'm playing computer games at work...😉

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Tue, 25 May 2004 12:35:08 GMT

hi

naw

on first 2houers free time i will make tutorial ArchiCAD to DIRECTER wit shadows and material editing +may be camera collision

.)))

now for Unreal Engine

you can't use that engine easy for your presentation you need programmer for compiling the EXE files and many many work on that engine for understand what you need for make interactive walk and other thing that is scripting work .(((

Re: Export to VRML question

stefan — Tue, 25 May 2004 13:06:45 GMT

To export an ArchiCAD scene into VRML?

1 - you export the ArchiCAD 3D Window into a VRML file. Biggest problem: the Vertical axis is not pointing vertical in a VRML browser like Blaxxun Contact.

2 - you export the ArchiCAD 3D Window into a *.3ds file, open it in 3ds max (or similar) and export to VRML. Now everything is nice and you can walk through your scene in realtime, including collision detection.

---

And into Unreal? It's hard but it can be done:
1 - you export a 3ds file, open it in 3ds max, do some work, export to an ASE-file, open the Unreal Editor and load the ASE file as a static mesh.
---> Static meshes only have vertex-lighting and no lightmaps
---> You can transfer all material mapping with it

2 - you don't have 3ds max? Export the 3D-model as a DXF file from ArchiCAD and load the DXF-file as a brush in the Unreal Editor. Trial and error will teach you what the best size for this is, but once it's converted into a brush, you can "add" or "subtract" the model from the world.
---> Watch out : avoid high polygon counts
---> You don't get the seperation into materials with DXF imported as brush

---

I was planning to make some more tutorials, but I don't find the time anymore... Sorry.

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Tue, 25 May 2004 13:20:53 GMT

Hi Stefan .))

you too use ArchiCAD for Game design ??

yes he can enter the DXF like brush on engine but he can't make presentation after that need to open UNREAL game on the eye of them client

i mean to speak wit team programmer for make on stadalone UNREAL plier but for now he is not available

the best way for me for presentation of architecture on real time renders and fast and easy way to get your shadows materials .... is DIRECTOR you can export like a Shockwave studio file who you upload intro internet or make a simple EXE file for CD presentation and wit 2D power of director you can make a really good presentation i thing .))))

Re: Export to VRML question

stefan — Tue, 25 May 2004 13:34:46 GMT

I don't model for games, but I am looking to use VR-tools for architectural visualisation.

The free "Unreal Runtime Environment" can be used for making non-shooting realtime walkthroughs. Don't know if it will work on a Mac, though.

Or buy the Unreal Tournament game: $50 is cheap for a nice VR-tool 😉

Using a VRML-browser is a valid choice for presentation to clients.

I'm looking to do a study comparing all these tools, like I did with the renderstudy on www.sbuild.com
Most applications are allready mentioned, but I haven't decided on a common model yet.

Re: Export to VRML question

Djordje — Wed, 26 May 2004 18:44:18 GMT

mathome wrote:
A client wants to walk around in a building we are working on and I tried exporting VRML to use in Octagon VRML player

Did you try the Shockwave exporter? Not free ...

http://www.dunako.com/archishock3d.html

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Wed, 26 May 2004 23:14:11 GMT

The Unreal web page is very promising. No way will architectural modelling/rendering programs such as ArchiCAD be able to avoid this future development. If they don't think of it at the office, they will experience it at home.

I have a son who loves to frag me every chance he gets, usually happens when I an admiring the built environment for a second, WHAM two barrels of plasma gas to the back of my head!

All I can add to this discussion is my all time favorite real-time demo:

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/demo_lastchancegas.html

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Thu, 27 May 2004 06:47:42 GMT

Djordje wrote:
mathome wrote:
A client wants to walk around in a building we are working on and I tried exporting VRML to use in Octagon VRML player
Did you try the Shockwave exporter? Not free ...

http://www.dunako.com/archishock3d.html

I tried it and it is promising, though doesn't meet my wishes at the moment. I will stick to the v8 demo version of ArchiCAD which is an excellent browser if you're prepared to spend just a little time with the interface.

I was on a meeting yesterday with the purpose of finding out how we could use the 3D model as a decision support material for the manufacturers of prefabricated concrete elements. We hope that they will understand the geometry better from the 3D model (and that the different manufacturers will understand the geometry in the same way... so that we can have a fair chance at evaluating the different offers both moneywise and qualitywise...).

We have 3DS Viz at the office and I will try to export vrml through 3DS even if I think 3DS is a great time consumer....

:)Mats

Re: Export to VRML question

stefan — Thu, 27 May 2004 08:16:52 GMT

mathome wrote:
We have 3DS Viz at the office and I will try to export vrml through 3DS even if I think 3DS is a great time consumer....
:)Mats

If you have VIZ, then do try that road. It doesn't have to be too spectacular to be very usefull.

Just make sure that it end up on the right scale, meaning one "unit" in VIZ will be translated into one "meter" in the VRML model.

You can set your VIZ system unit to one meter and then make sure the export from ArchiCAD uses 1000 mm as unit settings. When importing, let VIZ "convert units". That way, both the units & measurements in VIZ will be correct. This also makes sure that radiosity rendering uses the correct units. When that is fine, the model is on scale in VIZ and through the VRML export.

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Thu, 27 May 2004 10:46:58 GMT

stefan wrote:
mathome wrote:
We have 3DS Viz at the office and I will try to export vrml through 3DS even if I think 3DS is a great time consumer....
:)Mats
If you have VIZ, then do try that road. It doesn't have to be too spectacular to be very usefull.

Just make sure that it end up on the right scale, meaning one "unit" in VIZ will be translated into one "meter" in the VRML model.

You can set your VIZ system unit to one meter and then make sure the export from ArchiCAD uses 1000 mm as unit settings. When importing, let VIZ "convert units". That way, both the units & measurements in VIZ will be correct. This also makes sure that radiosity rendering uses the correct units. When that is fine, the model is on scale in VIZ and through the VRML export.

Thanks Stefan! I will try 3DSViz with your tips. (wish I had more time...)
:)M

Re: Export to VRML question

Anonymous — Thu, 27 May 2004 13:19:29 GMT

mathome wrote:
mathome wrote:
I will stick to the v8 demo version of ArchiCAD which is an excellent browser if you're prepared to spend just a little time with the interface.

:)Mats

Yes, an excellent point Mats. Why in the world won't Graphisoft just package the 3-d window browsing capability of ver8 as a stand alone, non-editing viewer. Include a beginner GUI, perhaps recorded paths, cameras, etc so that we can direct the viewer also.

Mark

Re: Export to VRML question

Ralph Wessel — Tue, 01 Jun 2004 21:56:13 GMT

mathome wrote:
A client wants to walk around in a building we are working on and I tried exporting VRML to use in Octagon VRML player (http://www.octaga.com/download_freeplayer.html).

Have you tried the Cortona VRML viewer? It's available as a browser plugin from http://www.parallelgraphics.com/products/cortona/.

Re: Export to VRML question

stefan — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 07:24:28 GMT

An example of an ArchiCAD model, exported to VRML (by passing through 3ds max).

http://www2.asro.kuleuven.ac.be/asro/English/HOME/SBs/tutorial/3dcourse/VR/rw.wrl

The model has a scaling issue and at the back of the building, there are a few faces flipped. But it was never specifically built for realtime browsing...

In an animation tool, it's possible to add opening doors and moving things and even let it be triggered by the used (by clicking or by coming close enough).

VRML is old but still has it's uses.

---

I'm looking closer to Cult3D, AXELEdge, Wirefusion, EON and a few others at the moment, but time is always a problem.
If you buy 3D-World Magazine, you receive a (non-commercial) license for Wirefusion 3.2 Personal Edition and the WF3D-plugin, so you can load VRML-models. This is a nice technology, enabling 3D-interactive content in a JAVA-applet, so you don't even need to install a plugin to be able to view it. And this time, the authoring software (written in Java, I think) is available for MAC's as well 😉

---

Expect realtime shadows, reflections, bump mapping and other nice rendering tricks in these tool in a few years. The technology is here (graphic-cards with pixel shaders and CG-language and OpenGL- or DirectX realtime shaders), games allready use it and more and more VR-tools are starting to enable it (e.g. Quest3D, the new generation of EON-products).