How to properly import 3rd party models and edit them?

[snowseals]

How to import a 3rd party models into Chief Architect?

 

Goal:

1. Replicate my gardenhouse in real life from scratch with CA.
Esp. the way how CA handles/lets you edit dimensions is a BIG plus (compared to SketchUp).

 

2. Once all is in, I want to apply materials and so with V-Ray (for SketchUp).
The raytracing of CA isn't bad, but I bet I can achieve better results with V-Ray.

 

I export the full CA design to DAE, which I'm able to open up in SketchUp Pro, then ditch the window glass, and I'm basically done.
Now it's a matter of applying the right materials from V-Ray onto the models/objects/walls/floor/etc.

 

But I'm getting stuck with importing goodies.
Like 3dSky or 3D warehouse.

 

Example 3DSky:
https://3dsky.org/3dmodels/show/krovat_como_veda_base_1

My bed looks kinda like this.
I only need to ditch the feet underneath this bed.
In order to do so, I can't use CA, I'm aware.
Altho it lets you edit the CAD, it won't apply this to the model itself.
I've tried using: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00499/editing-architectural-blocks.html

 

And create a blanket with ClothWorks using SketchUp.
Most of these beds dont use a blanket but a bedsheet, which looks way too thin and tidy.

 

It's a MAX, OBJ and FBX file.
I can import the OBJ file into CA, but it's taking like 5 mins to import (on a AMD Ryzen 1700x / 32gb RAM / 1080Ti):
"A Face was defined with more than four vertices. Only triangle and quadrilateral faces are supported. The face vertices will be truncated after the 1st four."
So yeah, it seems this OBJ is a lil too complex for CA in the 1st place.

 

Now I want to import the file into SketchUp Pro 2021, in order to do the small editing, but it doesn't know how to handle fbx nor .obj files.

I can open the MAX file in 3ds Max 2023, then select model , collapse, and convert to editable poly, in order to delete the feet.

 

Since CA nor SketchUp can handle a .MAX file I export it to 3DS:
"Object [ComoVeda B] has too many faces (more than 64k) to export".

 

So I try DAE instead and import to CA:
"Couldn't create a symbol. There were no 3D surfaces found in data file."

 

So I try DWG instead and import to CA:
after 2 minutes it appears to be able to put into the scene.
without feet \o/

 

I now save the scene, then export it to DAE.
I open SketchUp Pro 2021, open a new Metric template, and import... the DAE file.
After 3 mins I get error of daeimporter: missing textures...
I hit OK.
After 1 minutes the full garden house appears.
I right-click it to Explode, so i can move the bed and stuff.
This is still loading...

Questions:
1. What's causing all this lag?
I use a NVMe + internal SSD.

 

2. How to properly import 3rd party models?
I got the feeling I'm doing it wrong, hence the lag?

[Kbird1]

You can use the CA Surface Delete Tool to remove things like Feet from Beds etc ....

 

- Place Object from Library and in a 3D View.....

 

- Use Surface delete tool to remove parts not required

( do not refresh view or leave view or deleted surfaces will comeback )

 

- Save remaining object as a new Symbol.....

 

Mick

 

  

[snowseals]

@Kbird1

 

Yes, this works for small stuff, I notice, thank you!

However when it becomes more detailed, even the SketchUp female shape, needs triple if not more click each hair,chest,skirt, etc. do ditch it.
And if you do too much ctrl-Z (undo) will revert back to its default, incl. all the bells/whistles again.

 

 

So I still prefer to do the editing outside CA.

But the real question remains how to import 3rd party models in the proper way?

I'm willing to buy a few 3dSky models to make my scene perfect, but aslong CA won't be able to import a .MAX file correctly, it might be a bit useless to buy them in the 1st place?

 

Edited June 10, 2022 by snowseals
added video demo

[Kbird1]

True Yes,   The Delete Surfaces Tool    is not for Large Edits on Symbols , the Original program is best if available.

 

And you can't use undo etc as that will "refresh" the View, same as leaving the View will set it all back to default.

 

From the Video it looks like you need to download individual Model , NOT Scenes.......

 

Try .Dae or .obj files if possible instead too.

 

Mick.

[snowseals]

Follow-up with exporting from CA to some file formats...

 

When exporting from CA to .3DS file:
PROS:
1. This .3DS file imports relatively fast into SketchUp (~30 secs to import + ~30 secs to show up).
2. Also moving within the scene is all fast.

CONS:
1. The complex objects (like the imported bed), a detailed lamp and computer model, get lost in the exporting:
"vertex limit exceeds 655535"
2. The window glass is not transparant. Needs editing/right-click/explode, click window triangles and hit delete.
3. The size isn't kept 1:1. I'm not sure how much bigger it is, but compared to the SketchUp woman, the house is immense. Scaling it down to 0.50 seems right.

 

When exporting from CA to .DAE file:

PROS:
1. All models are kept, incl. the imported bed, lamp and detailed computer model.
2. The window glass is transparant. No more editing to do.
3. The size is kept 1:1 compared to the SketchUp woman.
4. Place and save 1st! After saving the file to .SKP file, all seems to react faster. (if moving before too fast, SketchUp seems to hang).

CONS:
1. This .DAE file imports relatively slow into SketchUp (~4 mins to import + ~30 secs to show up).
2. Moving within the scene is slowish.
3. When rendering the more complex objects, they seem to deform or getting a different color partly.

 

When exporting from CA to .DWG file:

PROS:
1. The size is kept 1:1 compared to the SketchUp woman.

CONS:
1. This .DAE file imports slow into SketchUp (~10 mins to import + ~1 minute to show up).
2. The window glass is not transparant. Needs editing/right-click/explode, click window triangles and hit delete.
3. Slow even after saving. Unworkable. SketchUp not responding.

All in all, I don't think this is an issue with CA, but more likely an issue regarding the amount of faces used, which SketchUp doesn't seem to handle well, nor CA.
I guess I should use 3ds Max in the end, to import these more detailed objects.
 

[Michael_Gia]

4 hours ago, snowseals said:

Follow-up with exporting from CA to some file formats

Thanks for the in depth analysis. 
 

If you’re using Chief primarily for its precision in designing the home, why don’t you just simplify the model as much as possible before exporting to SketchUp?
No wall or floor layers, no cabinets, doors or windows (use openings) etc…. Just the structure. You can use plugins in SketchUp for doors, windows and cabinets. 
 

I get that Vray is on another level, but there are a lot of real-time ray tracing programs that are getting close, not quite but close.  
Is the extra time really worth it in Vray?