has someone tested the engineering b.

[vid2k2]

I'm on the fence about the E-extras CD too.

Being a Mac user, there's only a couple things on the list I can use.
- IGES import
- Sniper

- No with Okino=windows
- Maybe=shaders and environments (should be known by users)

As for .dwg files, they can be opened in Illustrator since v8, I believe.
I just re-save the file in v8 to import splines to C4D.

I'm sure we'll get some additional info as things evolve. I'd like a demo
version to see how various CAD files open before making this investment.

[lllab]

hi
thanks but this is not what i meant, i am talking about workflow, there are thousand ways to open dwgs, i normally open them in rhino and save them as dxf.

i asked if the direct import of 2d dwg is possible now and if it is better than cinemas 2d dxf import.

and most important to me rhino import, is it nicer than exporting the polys?

thanks
stefan

[Kuroyume0161]

As for .dwg files, they can be opened in Illustrator since v8, I believe.
I just re-save the file in v8 to import splines to C4D.

Is this true? And is it limited to 2D .dwg files? I mainly work with 3D lines or solids in AC.

[vid2k2]

Yes, it's true and they are limited to 2d files .... with views and measurements.
This allows you to extrude the splines in a group or seperately for a 3d version of the file.

There are some sample dwg files that can be d'ld on the net. from there, you can see
this for yourself ... or e-mal me and I'll send some to you.

As for 3d dwg files ... I haven't seen any because of the C4D limitation to this point.

There are also many helpful people out there that will convert a file or 2 for you in case
of an emergency project.

[vid2k2]

hi
thanks but this is not what i meant, i am talking about workflow, there are thousand ways to open dwgs, i normally open them in rhino and save them as dxf.

i asked if the direct import of 2d dwg is possible now and if it is better than cinemas 2d dxf import.

and most important to me rhino import, is it nicer than exporting the polys?

thanks
stefan


Sorry Stefan,
I don't own Rhino and have yet to experiment with dwg files other than through illustrator.
I can, of course open dxf files as that's one of the imports we can do. Saving as a 3ds file
has also worked for me.

[lllab]

is there anybody out there using cinema, rhino and the engineering bundle?

or anybody who uses dwg based apps and the engineering bundle?

cheers
stefan

[Ernest Burden]

is there anybody out there using cinema, rhino and the engineering bundle?

I know AdamT uses Rhino alot, maybe he will have bought the Bundle.

I own Rhino (never use it, though) and I will buy the Engineering Bundle, but only after going to SIGGRAPH to ask at the Maxon booth whether they will do an Architectural Bundle. This may be it, for the foreseable future. Of course, I'm hoping the booth also shows off a new C4D version.

I would hope the import of Rhino files would be good, since the export of them is a difficult process to get right.

[Srek]

is there anybody out there using cinema, rhino and the engineering bundle?


The Engineering Bundle is only just starting to sell, don't expect to many installed sites right now :)
Cheers
Björn

[lllab]

yes right, i thought maybe there where some testers that have it before release know something. i guess now that it is released they can talk?

but thanks for the answer. yes an architectural bundle( maybe with rhino and dwg connection) would be excellent too! that one i would buy without sight.

cheers
stefan

[Srek]

but thanks for the answer. yes an architectural bundle( maybe with rhino and dwg connection) would be excellent too! that one i would buy without sight.


Since there are already several special plugins for different architectural software packages another take on this is imho not very likely and not realy needed. It's more likely that other bridge plugins to connect to other specific packages are done. DWG or Rhino support is much more limited for architectural use then the specific bridge plugins.
Cheers
Björn

[Ernest Burden]

Since there are already several special plugins for different architectural software packages another take on this is imho not very likely and not realy needed.

Then may I suggest you call this new bundle an Architectural/Engineering Bundle to save everyone in my industry from sitting here waiting for another targeted bundle that isn't coming? If it isn't, I'll just buy this one. I'm still waiting 'til after SIGGY, when my deadlines are all met. And I've been paid.

[lllab]

thanks for the answer srek,

yes i know the are the connection plugins, but only for 3 cad packages(VW,Archicad, allplan)

autocad is the most commen used, so some kind of dwg import, and specially some kind of referencing would be a great timesaver.

as for rhino, most highend architecture studios modell in rhino, it is quasi standard for architects now. escpecially for all younger ones. as far as i see there will be the nurbs plugin sometime, the developer saif it will read files from rhino, and the iges plugin in the engineering bundle sounds interesting too.

well some kind of connection to rhino would be an intetelligent thing to do i guess.
for the rest cinema already has very much, some additions like better snapping, layers, better splines will not make a bundle and will be good for all users i guess.

cheers
stefan

[Srek]

Then may I suggest you call this new bundle an Architectural/Engineering Bundle

The Engineeering bundle does not contain the architectural bridge plugins, it's not targeted to architects.

Cheers
Björn

[AdamT]

I've had a chance to test the .igs import, but that's it. It works nicely. If you're importing a big architectural scene it takes quite some time to open. When you export layers from Rhino it comes into Cinema in layers--with all objects per layer combined into a single object. You can choose the level of detail you want for tesselation, and it generally does a very good job. You can set it to bring the file in as polygons, or you can bring it in in parametric form, which allows a for a *lot* of customization, but the controls for parametric customization are in tags, a bit spread out, and somewhat obscure. Takes a bit of trial and error.

In short, the advantages are that it allows you to export/import an entire scene in one pop without having to tesselate separate objects in Rhino, and it's great when you have a complex object that needs more tesselation control than Rhino offers. For example, if you've ever tried to export floor mouldings from Rhino you know that there's no way to control x/y subdivisions independantly. As a result you get *way* more polys than you need. Cinema's .igs import gives you total control over that and allows for a much more efficient import.

You can import 3d curves, too, which can be a big plus, e.g., you could import moulding curves and profiles and set up sweeps in Cinema instead of importing the geometry.

[Ernest Burden]

The Engineeering bundle does not contain the architectural bridge plugins, it's not targeted to architects.

OK, then we're back to 'it's not targeted to the architectural users' point. As mentioned, the VW connection doesn't exactly cover all needs. I guess I will have to look more closely at the new dwg importer. Does it read anything past a 2000 flavor of .dwg? Does it translate blocks into instances (very important!)? Support ACIS solids? The Okino site does not answer these issues in the 'CAD table'.

Most arch-vis people I know who use Cinema model in other programs. With better arch-targeted tools we could do more or evan all of our work in Cinema. That would be nice.

[Continuumx]

OK, then we're back to 'it's not targeted to the architectural users' point. As mentioned, the VW connection doesn't exactly cover all needs. I guess I will have to look more closely at the new dwg importer. Does it read anything past a 2000 flavor of .dwg? Does it translate blocks into instances (very important!)? Support ACIS solids? The Okino site does not answer these issues in the 'CAD table'.

Most arch-vis people I know who use Cinema model in other programs. With better arch-targeted tools we could do more or evan all of our work in Cinema. That would be nice.

I am one of those few that do most if it in cinema!

[rendermania]

Most arch-vis people I know who use Cinema model in other programs. With better arch-targeted tools we could do more or evan all of our work in Cinema. That would be nice.

There was a project to do that at one point

http://sourceforge.net/projects/c4darch

seems to have died without rendering any fruits though.

[duderender]

OK, then we're back to 'it's not targeted to the architectural users' point. As mentioned, the VW connection doesn't exactly cover all needs. I guess I will have to look more closely at the new dwg importer. Does it read anything past a 2000 flavor of .dwg? Does it translate blocks into instances (very important!)? Support ACIS solids? The Okino site does not answer these issues in the 'CAD table'.

Most arch-vis people I know who use Cinema model in other programs. With better arch-targeted tools we could do more or evan all of our work in Cinema. That would be nice.

Okino supports the 2004/2005 dwg format and ACIS solids in the form of SAT.

Are you modeling in Acad2005 with solids? Or, are you taking 2D floorplans to extrude? Acad still exports to 3ds just fine so I don't know why you're having such a hang up on getting 3D data out of ACAD.

Perhaps be more specific to your issues. I don't have ACAD2005 loaded ATM but I could try some 2D stuff from Acad LT to see how the 2D stuff is handled through Polytrans.

[Ernest Burden]

I am one of those few that do most if it in cinema!

Any you produce amazing work!

Do you do much 'rendering'--meaning illustrating other architects designs? Most of what I've seen from you is your own design work.

Working for others requires working with whatever they give you, which can be 3D but usually isn't.

Are you modeling in Acad2005 with solids? Or, are you taking 2D floorplans to extrude? Acad still exports to 3ds just fine so I don't know why you're having such a hang up on getting 3D data out of ACAD.

I'm not hung up. I don't use Autocad. I was asking about how robust the importer is, as a general arch-vis user. Last time I did anything with ACAD you couldn't explode solids, you had to do a '3dsout' command, then re-import. Great app.

I usually model in Datacad (no ACIS) and the 3D transfers painlessly via DXF, group by layer and I'm good to go.


Perhaps be more specific to your issues.

We have had several threads about this before, but...
we really need an importer that reads block data from a DXF/DWG file and correctly translates them into C's equivelent object, the Instance. It should maintain scale, position and rotation applied to any block. This should be easy. It's really frustrating to have an apples-to-apples comparison of features, but lose the data upon import.

And better snaps, of course.

[duderender]

And better snaps, of course.

Without going nurbs I don't see how you can get better. I presume you mean to snap to centers and arcs. Very difficult to do when dealing with meshed data.

[AdamT]

Nah, it can get a *lot* better just by implementing two-point snaps and a snap for the mid-point between selected points.

[Aries]

Or snap preview :)

[dan22]

Sorry, Srek, but CAD export modules are not the whole story.

I do Arch Viz, and highly recommended C4D to a colleague who was moving over from watercolour renderings. I happen to have modelled in Vectorworks for years, from the old Artlantis days, so I still import .dwgs into (and still mostly model in) VW - but because he does not have VW, he has to get all his Architect clients to send him .dxfs instead, as he models directly in C4D. That is a bit daft really, and to be honest I think it must be quite time consuming and tricky for him.

Now you would think Maxon would be encouraging us to keep all that Arch. modelling within C4D, so please could you let us have at least just the .dwg import ability in the next upgrade???

(Unless this is a plot by Nemetsheck to get people to buy VW and it's Export module as well ;) )

BTW, Srek, thanks for clarifying the position on the unlikeliness of an Architectural Bundle - though to be honest, I think Maxon could be missing a very good commercial opportunity here...I would love to see an Architectural Bundle that would allow CAD type 'drawing' of rectangles with resize handles, etc, with CAD-type accuracy, proper dimensioned Viewport Rulers (like VW's, not dear Katachi's), smart scrolling viewport windows like VW and Photoshop, and those features similar to the E.B. (That's Engineering Bundle, not Ernest Burden) i.e. a collection of architectural/interior design-specific materials, lighting set-ups, some sample Camera tracks, plus Sketch'n'Toon, and of course the famous .dwg import.

Would anyone other than me be interested in this?

Cheers,

D.

[dan22]

Would anyone other than me be interested in this?


Oh yeah, and can it be cheap as well, please ? :)

D.

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