topic Re: 3D PDF in Visualization

3D PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 12:42:11 GMT

Hi everyone,
I'm trying to build up my first 3D pdf for client presentation.

I did an easy test exporting the 3d model of a simple wall as .u3d file, and then I placed it in my empty pdf page.

Then I tried to import the .u3d file of a building in design, but Acrobat crashed a few times. The size of the .u3d model I'm trying to import is 60-70 Mb.

Does anyone use 3D pdf on a regular basis? Is my file size too large?

Thanks!

Enrico

Re: 3D PDF

Dwight — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 07:34:59 GMT

3D PDF is kidstuff.
You might show a cell phone model, but not a building fully detailed.
Give up.

You would be better off to embed a VR object.

Re: 3D PDF

Steve Jepson — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:18:24 GMT

...which is not to say that you can't have a very large and detailed 3D model in your .pdf. You can put the entire builing in the .pdf as a 3D object no problem. In the .pdf it will spin arround just as fast as you can in ArchiCAD. You can explor the entire builing, make new 3d views, do all sorts of things like add voice notes, movies, more stuff than you ever even want to do. Pass the file around to everyone on the team and let them explore it add comments. You must check it out. Acrobat is so much more than a way to view your prints.

I use the Adobe Acrobat 9.3 Pro Extended and have just tested it with the new IFC fire formats we can generate with ArchiCAD 14. It works great.

Save the file as .ifc , then open it with the Acrobat. From there you will be superized at what you can do with it in the Acrobat. You can add dimensions in 3D, sections, lighting, a dozen or so viewing options, solid, wire frame, transpaent, etc..... layers, notes, camera views, it's amazing. All with the Acrobat in 3D. Very good stuff.

Also, the Acrobat will handle STP and other 3d file formats as well.

I am still testing to see how many differecnt ifc. formats the Acrobat will open. The ifczip files reduce the size of the model very well.

By null at 2010-07-02

Re: 3D PDF

Gerald Hoffman — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 15:45:46 GMT

Steve, I would say I would have to agree with Dwight on this one. I am not sure if your post of a one story house with roof is your example of a large model. You may be correct in being able to use it on fairly small residential or commercial projects but I tried doing some 7 story condo buildings which I was involved with at the time and they brought my computer to it's knees.

I tried this in Acrobat 8 Extended so Adobe may have improved things in the upgrade. I ended up exporting to SketchUp which was a free download for the client and very user friendly. Even then I usually had to break the building down into parts to make it usable.

Cheers,

Re: 3D PDF

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:34:44 GMT

For me, importing a 3ds file (saved from AC) into Acrobat gave the best performance. Importing u3d files seemed too slow in terms of performance.

Cheers,
Adrian Tudoreanu

Re: 3D PDF

Steve Jepson — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:15:25 GMT

Gerald wrote:
Steve, I would say I would have to agree with Dwight on this one. I am not sure if your post of a one story house with roof is your example of a large model. You may be correct in being able to use it on fairly small residential or commercial projects but I tried doing some 7 story condo buildings which I was involved with at the time and they brought my computer to it's knees.

I tried this in Acrobat 8 Extended so Adobe may have improved things in the upgrade. I ended up exporting to SketchUp which was a free download for the client and very user friendly. Even then I usually had to break the building down into parts to make it usable.

Cheers,

I just posted that as a quick example of a typical 2 story 4,200 sqft house that is probably modeled much more than most, to show that you can have more than just a small model in the Acrobat and you can view it with no loss of speed at all.

Re: 3D PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:51:20 GMT

Nemetschek is now launching new 3D pdf features in Italy. I have an 85 Mb sample on my desktop.

It may be kids stuff, but clients are like kids and they like to play with toys like a 3d pdf.

I also think that this could really help clients (who are not usually field experts and cannot read drawings) to better understand the deisng.

Is Graphisoft going to implement anything like that any time soon, or the plan is to stay behind like we are used to?

Re: 3D PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:57:55 GMT

http://www.nemetschek.it/links/progettodigitale/download

This is no kid's toy. This is next generation of architecture presentation.

I really hope Graphisoft is doing something about it. I'm getting sick of being always behind.

Re: 3D PDF

Steve Jepson — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:55:25 GMT

Thanks for posting the link to this .pdf sample.

This is exactly what I have been doing for a long time with Acrobat 9 Pro Extended. I am testing now to see if version 10 is an improvement or not.
My demo runs out today.

People keep telling me no, it's too slow, or sure for a small project...

Download the example in the link Enrico posted and you will see that it is not slow and it is very easy to make a pdf document like this.

This is not a new Acrobat feature at all.

Also, this is has nothing to do with the CAD program. You can do this now if you have the Acrobat Pro, and more. They could have added some audio too for verbal descriptions, instructions, etc...the digital content you can add to your documents is limited only by your own imagination.

To give it a try, download the pdf and use it as a template for making your own presentation. Just edit the links to use your own stuff.

You can do all of this with ArchiCAD and the Arcobat.

Re: 3D PDF

Dwight — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:01:55 GMT

Trying Adobe's turbine 3D download moves smoothly enough now. I take it all back from a year ago.

Re: 3D PDF

Steve Jepson — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:01:11 GMT

The example in the link is made with Acrobat 9 Pro which has been out for 3 years. It's nothing new or improved about it unless I missed something.

Re: 3D PDF

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:40:39 GMT

Thanks for the support!

I'll try with the 3ds format now!

Re: 3D PDF

Steve Jepson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:34:17 GMT

Save your ArchiCAD model as U3D file if you like.

It's so easy my 9th grade daughter is using it with ArchiCAD for school project. She is quite the little ArchiGuru if I do say so myself.

Shot at 2011-04-08

Shot at 2011-04-08

Re: 3D PDF

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:15:24 GMT

Do you need to do any operation on the 3d model before you export it in u3d format?

Last time I tried to export the project of a building (a simple house), Acrobat kept on crashing...

Re: 3D PDF

Steve Jepson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:00:16 GMT

For the 3D no. I just save as U3D. It automatically makes a layer for each part of the model that you can turn on or off to make the views you like in Acrobat. Lighting, rendering modes, ect...all in the Acrobat. Very cool.

But for the other kind of regular layers, you need to save your project in .dwg format, then open the .dwg with the acrobat.

Re: 3D PDF

rob2218 — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:28:02 GMT

Doesn't seem to work for me either
I really did like that U3d file format...but it wont open in Adobe Acrobat and I have Adobe Acrobat 9.0....wonder if I need I plug-in or something??

can't seem to make it work.
I created the U3d file out of an archicad 3d model view "save as u3d" and it created the file...I just can't seem to open it using any software.

What's the trick Steve??

Re: 3D PDF

rob2218 — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:47:44 GMT

here's the error message I get.
bummer...I remember seeing this "u3d" format a while ago but never got it to work right....hopefully someone here can shed some light as to why it's not working??

we have Archicad 14, Adobe Pro version 9...and that's it.

Re: 3D PDF

Karl Ottenstein — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:14:26 GMT

The u3d format does not open in Acrobat 9 for me, rather it is placed in a multimedia frame inside a new or existing PDF file.

With a PDF open (or create new blank PDF), from the Multimedia toolbar, select the 3D tool and draw a viewport on your page. You'll be prompted then to browse for the file. The u3d file which otherwise gives the error message you show will now display itself in the view rectangle on the page.

HTH,
Karl

Re: 3D PDF

rob2218 — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:25:02 GMT

thanks Karl,
yes...that definately did the trick!
Amazing how far Adobe and PDF formats have come.
adding sticky notes, 3d viewable and rotatable embeds, jpg images, sheet insertion and merging, Optimizations...wow...amazing!.

PDF seems to be on top of their game! go Adobe.

Re: 3D PDF

rob2218 — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:33:58 GMT

Hey...do any of you guys know if Adobe Reader (the freeware tool) can view these 3d u3d embedded images or does the person HAVE to have the full blown Adobe Acrobat??

Please advise.

thanks.