subject: Dan: "That's almost an impossible question to answer [print this page] Dan: "That's almost an impossible question to answer
Nathan: Is there a best approach to 3D Models and modeling?
"This is the thing that's difficult about 3D. Every company sets up a different pipeline and they decide how that pipeline should move data from one place to the next. It's almost a religion with them and is oftentimes a fanatical decision. So I hate using words like "best." It's tough to know specifically what will happen, but you can offer some generalities."
"Most of these come down to knowing exactly what these different formats can support. In the case of FBX, every 1-3 months they put up a new version which will allow it to support more options. But When a company sets up a pipeline, they usually don't change that. What exists in that pipeline today can be improved by FBX down the road, but there is no way the pipeline will adjust to accept that. In many cases, they stick with that from project to project, if it's profitable."
N: What happens when you move a file containing 3D Models image maps?
Dan: "That's what I mean about whether this is supported. If you're not moving geometry, then image maps don't matter at all, because they're attached to a piece of geometry. And this depends on how you move the data. As an example, one application might move the geometry, but not the UV coordinates. But if you have an image, you've likely set up UV coordinates and you've probably done this in Max. The next step depends on the translator; whether it moves over the geometry and/or UV coordinates. If both move over properly, that's great. If the map isn't in place after moving over the data, you can pop the map back into place because the coordinates are there."
Nathan: What is a general approach that you would recommend when you want to export a mesh into other applications?
Dan: "Before you start building you have to decide if this is the pipeline you want, you had better make sure you have a way of moving that data. There's nothing worse than building a that data, than having to throw a lot of that out, because the only way you get it over is by using DXF, which destroys everything. DXF is a very old format that was build around architecture and not 3D. So you don't really get UV coordinates, things are broken down into triangles and it doesn't support patches or NURBS. Its very five years ago."
"The most important point is to make sure you have everything planned out. You wouldn't move a four-bedroom house full of furniture and think because you have a VW bug that you have transportation. It will be a rude awakening the first time you try to put a sofa into the fold down seat. And that's probably not an inaccurate analogy, because 3D Models applications put their energy into building better tools; and not into translation because there are so many different ways that you can translate data and so many different types of data."
"This changes frequently and bigger companies find it hard to be that nimble; that's where smaller companies are able to keep up with that because it's their only business."
