crazy homeless guy

hi all... we would like to try and model some of our projects in 3dmax, rather than just using it as a visualization tool. currently we model in formz, and export to max. if we could model in max, we could potentially spend more time on developing our rendering and animation. the problem with this.. max's accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, especially when compared to formz. one of the solutions we are tossing around is potentially modeling in ADT, and then rendering in Max.

Can someone tell me if this is a good idea? Can I simply open an ADT file in Max, and have the layers still sorted an organized perfectly? Do the textures applied in ADT carry over to Max?

It takes valuable time to get a model from formz to 3dmax, i am guessing i could streamline the process by using ADT for the modeling instead.

Does anyone that uses ADT have experience in formz? If so, how do they compare.

.....lots of questions, but any help would be appreciated.

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travis schmiesing

Kerry Thompson

Hi
ADT4 has Viz Render built into it that will provide a level of render and radiosity functions.

The modelling is undertaken in ADT and linked to the Viz Render. Viz Render is like a cut down Viz and will probably address the requirements of many casual users but I do not think has the goods for full professional work.

Viz Render files have a drf extension which can be read by 3D Max 6 giving a direct link to ADT4 - but I have not had any experience with this as yet.

I have no experience with FormZ.


Kerry Thompson

crazy homeless guy

thanks kerry... after reading your responce i found this statement on discreets website concerning the new features in max 6...

ADT 2004 support
Design professionals using Autodesk® products that include VIZ Render (such as Architectural Desktop (ADT) 2004), can now leverage their design workflow, right from within 3ds max 6 software.

Lighting and material assignments are carried over, ensuring the time spent building intelligent objects and Materials on the design side can be fully leveraged by the visualization expert.

VIZ Render artists can now take advantage of the 3ds max advanced animation and rendering capabilitiesf, including mental ray®, Network Rendering, and Particle Systems.

i am going to play with this over the next couple of weeks, and see what kind of results i get. although i only have a beginners grasp on Max as it is, so it might be frustrating.

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travis schmiesing

bigcahunak

CHG
Here's my thought on your "prob":
FMZ is a good modeler - we all know it. transfering its model into MAX shouldnt be too complicated as you describe it. I do it myself (FMZ-VIZ). What you need to work on is a good method of doing it.
The VIZ renderer that comes with ADT 2004 has no modeling capabilities at all, and I think it wont import anything, but from ADT. But, like Kerry said, MAX 6 (and future VIZ 6), knows how to handle viz renderer's files.
ADT isnt exactly "modeling" in the way you know it, and you'll find it hard to go beyond walls, doors, windows and roofs.
Of course the best would be to do all within MAX. MAX can be accurate if you know how to control it right. Thats what I've been trying to do for a while, but always felt more comfy modeling in FMZ, so ended up doing it that way.

I'd say - try to work a better FMZ->MAX method. Build a simple model export it from FMZ (I always go DWG flavour) in a few different variations, and than import with different settings, and see what streams better for you. And, while your at it, work on your MAX modeling skills...

Thats my thought on it anyway.
Good luck.

Buttman

What's FMZ? Can I export my ADT 2004's VIZRender file to MAX 6 for animations and mental ray?

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kingeldar

you can create your architectural model in ADT2004 then link it to VIZ render then save it
you'll get a .drf file
that contains all at textures
u can open it in 3ds max6 then do whatever u want to do usin max...

that one of my workin methods
(to get architectural documents sections floor levels... from adt & rendering from vizrender for fast work or with max6

have fun

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cullen

I just received my copy of MAX 6 yesterday. One of my 1st things to do was to import an ADT model. I ran into some problems a right after ADT 2004 came out and I'll tell you, I'm not a fan of VIZ Render.

My discovery was that all of your objects will pull in from ADT.

THE CATCH!!! :???:
they are not "smart" objects anymore. They are all converted to "editable meshes."

Though you can't get the acuracy in MAX that you can in Form Z or in ADT, they have incorporated the AEC objects in MAX.(the same objects that were previously in VIZ)

Being a long time AutoCAD user, I've found that I'm starting to get more comfortable with modeling in MAX and VIZ so I'm slowly pulling away from ADT. Though I'm still a fan of ADT and it's abilities, I would say kinda fight your way through the modeling in MAX a couple weeks and I think you'll find that it's more helpful to do your modeling there instead of importing.

crw

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