ArchiCAD to Lightwave

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm an old AutoCAD user trying to adapt to ArchiCAD. I use Lightwave for rendering, and would like to hear any tips and tricks if anyone here is using that combination. What are the best ways of exporting? Can you create AC GDL objects from LW models?

(I use AC 7 and LW 7.5)

[Anonymous]

Fmr wrote:
Does some other program can open .lwo and export .3ds like Cinema 4D CE6 ?

Yes it works

The 3D is correct and the 2D symbol of the object in ArchiCAD works too…

… but i have some problems with the materials of the Light Wave objects.
I can see them in Cinema 4D CE6 but they "disappears" in ArchiCAD after the export of C4D and the import in AC8.1 with "3DSKonverter". I obtain a beautiful monomaterial object…

I try to export an C4D object in ArchiCAD by the same way and he works fine —the materials also—.

For the Lightwave object i try to merge it or to Open in C4D with no changes for the final result.
It seems to be a problem of "affectation" of materials in C4D all the materials of the lightwave object are list in the right window, contrary to C4D Objects
but when i reopen in C4D the 3DS file just the first one does exist and affect the all object.

I need some advice for … C4D use… and 3DS export in this program…

I hope that I am not too confused in my explanations…

[stefan]

Nice link!

I use two conversion programs:
3dexploration is an old shareware application (now known as Deep Exploration). And the other I use, 3D Win, is also shareware (both PC-only).

But if Cinema4D CE works for you, then it's even better, since you have direct control over the model and it's materials. No need for additional applications.

[Anonymous]

stefan wrote:
But if Cinema4D CE works for you, then it's even better, since you have direct control over the model and it's materials. No need for additional applications.

It works but…i have a problem of "bad index" for the materials of the Light wave objects in C4D.
The differents materials are "here", the object look like a "good object", I can do a render which seems correct, but if i want to export to the 3DS —or another…— format it become a mono material object…

[stefan]

AFAIK, different materials on one object are not supported in the 3ds file format.

There is an option in the C4D CE import/export settings for Lightwave files to generate different objects for different selections. This forces the model to be split up, so I guess then all materials end up on different objects.

Beware, the models you are looking at are high-poly meshes, which will make ArchiCAD slow down to a crawl!

And the 3ds format has a built in limit of 65000 vertices (or faces?) per mesh, so the ArchiCAD 3ds-importer will have to do a lot of optimizing and preparation.

[Anonymous]

Stefan

You are a Genius .

It works perfectly, the solution was to set the lightwave import to be split up and the different materials have now a good affectation. 3DSKonverter works fine and I can swich material one by one in the object menu of the ArchiCAD object.

Thanks again