Topic: Keyframe animation - Read each object position, orientation

[jianyunli]

Hi, first congrats to this great product!

Is there a way to read an external text file that contains each object position and orientation at each key frame? Right now I am using a simulation software to export all vehicles position at certain intervals, I can do this at 3DS Max, but you know the rendering quality.

If there is a way for lumion to do this, I will convince my boss to make the purchase.

thanks

[Morten]

Hi jianyunli, it is unfortunately not possible to read external text files in the manner you described. You can however export move/rotate/scale animations from 3DS Max - just remember to set it to 25 frames per second and export the animated models via FBX format.

[jianyunli]

Hi, Morten

Thank you very much for your reply. I tried your suggested approach, there are two little problems.

Because I am doing a vehicle simulation, there are about 500 vehicles

1. I want to replace the imported car mesh with lumion's car object, they definitely look much better. It seems I can not explode/break the imported models and replace them, how do I do that?

2. After the importing, the vehicles keep moving in Lumion(looping), is there anyway to pause it until I record a movie?

again thank you very much
jianyunli
 

Hi jianyunli, it is unfortunately not possible to read external text files in the manner you described. You can however export move/rotate/scale animations from 3DS Max - just remember to set it to 25 frames per second and export the animated models via FBX format.

[Morten]

1. I want to replace the imported car mesh with lumion's car object, they definitely look much better. It seems I can not explode/break the imported models and replace them, how do I do that?

Sorry, but you can't do that.

2. After the importing, the vehicles keep moving in Lumion(looping), is there anyway to pause it until I record a movie?

Unfortunately not, imported animations just keep looing forever.

[jianyunli]

Again thanks for the reply. Is there any way for a car object to follow selected mesh in Lumion?

Sorry, but you can't do that.

Unfortunately not, imported animations just keep looing forever.

[Morten]

Is there any way for a car object to follow selected mesh in Lumion?

You'll have to keyframe it manually using the Basic Animation or Advanced Animation effects, and use the F key whenever you move it:

http://lumion3d.com/forum/f-a-q/lumion-2-tips-tricks-and-shortcuts/

(F): The orientation of all objects (apart from Trees/plants) can be made to adapt to the surface angles of other objects. Move object button -> Press (F) for "Flatten" -> Move the object(s) to make them adapt to the surface angles of other objects.