Importing ACAD 3D files into ArchiCAD

[Anonymous]

Hi im new user of ArchiCAD and i see that its rendering capabilities are amazing...i want to bring in A 3D file for rendering. Its a bit difficult. Could someone pls help in providing or directing me to a tutorial for me to import and attach materials to the model so i can present to a client immediately. thanks in advance.

Think real, think big...think positive!

[Anonymous]

What you propose to do may be very difficult. DWG 3D is neither parametric nor an intelligent building model (I assume you mean DWG when you refer to an AutoCAD model). It is what many call "dumb 3D" - just shapes and colors that don't know a wall from a walrus.

If all you need is to render an existing model you may do better with 3D Studio or Cinema 4D. In any case you will have better results with 3DS than DWG. ArchiCAD is best when the model is created within the program (or perhaps imported using IFC) so that you have the full intelligence of the components.

ArchiCAD imports DWG and 3DS as library parts. To bring in a whole building model in this way will probably be grossly unmanageable. The chances are it would be easier to rebuild the model using ArchiCAD.

[stefan]

Frankly, the current release of AutoCAD (since 2007) has a better rendering engine (mental ray) than ArchiCAD...