Topic: [Awaiting Reply] 4D modelling

[AliMasha7]

Hi

I wonder if you could find a way to import a 3D file from Revit Or Navisworks without losing texture and material.
That's the most important part of rendering workflow in the AEC industry now.
The other issue is that if we can import the 4D model of Navisworks into Lumion and assign it to our 3D in Lumion which is the same 3D model used for 4D modelling in Navisworks.
Without fixing these two issues, Using software like Lumion is totally useless for 4D modelling purposes.

Kindest regards
Ali

[peterm]

Hi Ali

Those are not known issues, especially with Revit.  There could be specific reasons why your model does not have textures.

What version of Lumion are you using?

[AliMasha7]

I am using Trial version of Lumion (7.5) at the moment and when I export/import .fbx file from Navisworks/Revit to Lumion, my model elements are in pure white.

[peterm]

Hi Ali

Thanks.

FBX is not the recommended format from Revit to Lumion.  Please use our LiveSync for Revit plugin and export to DAE:  Model import guidelines for Revit and Revit LT

Are you exporting/importing from Navisworks to Lumion, or you are importing Navisworks in to Revit and from there in to Lumion?

Navisworks is not officially supported but we can take a look.   The file formats would be DWG or FBX.  If you use FBX then its best to take it in to 3ds Max, apply materials by Layer, then export to FBX again so that different materials are assigned to different parts of the model.  Lumion will import based on bring all surfaces with the same material name in as one surface to optimize the model and workflows within Lumion.

I assume you've already tried using DWG export from Navisworks?  The latest version of the DWG To Lumion Bridge plug-in is here: Downloads: DWG plug-in for Lumion

[AliMasha7]

For live Sync, it is saying that you need Lumion version 8.3 or newer while you just gave us version 7.5 for the trial.
Anyway, I exported to .DAE format and imported in Lumion. It was not pure white and I had some materials especially those materials with pictures assigned. but still, there are serious issues in terms of material loss. There is no room to use another rendering software if we can't import the file exactly as it is in Revit. Why we are going to use software like Lumion at all instead of Navisworks render? better quality and it's useless to use software like Lumion if we are not able to import our Revit file exactly as it is.

[peterm]

LiveSync for Revit to run the LiveSync (real-time between Revit and Lumion requires Lumion v8.3).

Otherwise, as I mentioned, export to DAE (which you have now done).

Please provide a reply to my 2 prior questions so we can better understand the workflows you are using:

...
Are you exporting/importing from Navisworks to Lumion, or you are importing Navisworks in to Revit and from there in to Lumion?
...
I assume you've already tried using DWG export from Navisworks?  The latest version of the DWG To Lumion Bridge plug-in is here: Downloads: DWG plug-in for Lumion

Are you aware there is also another Trial version of Lumion that is for the current version 9.0.2.  The one you have is now getting old, and is intended just to get a feel for some of the features in Lumion, as well as being a small download.  See our Knowledge Base Article: Is there a Trial version of Lumion?

You are welcome to send us the Revit file so we can take a look at the materials in Revit and how those are transferring to Lumion.  How do you upload files for import/export questions?.

And, please let us know the versions of Revit and Navisworks.