Topic: [Resolved] scaling ?

[joza]

hello
1.what is the default scale rate of lumions objects?
2.what scale is the best for exporting to lumion in order to be directly compatible with all the objects, since it seems to me that lumion is not adjusting to the importing files scale, am i wrong?
3. how can i manipulating the object with exact size that i need? the scaling slider is not curate.let say that i need the object person to be 176 cm?

[peterm]

Hi joza

1. The scale/size of an object is that set by the 3d model when importing to Lumion.  So Lumion generally relies on the modeller to set the scale in the 3d modelling application.  Usually that should be at real world size.

2. Real world scale. 
    Some export formats such as 3ds and Obj do not contain any Scale reference, so they can only be imported at the physical size of the model.  Where that is the case, the scale of the object needs to be set prior to importing.  If you have models to import that are in those formats, and do not have the source model, you need to use a 3d modelling tool that can import and then rescale.  For example stock models might be made in 3ds Max, but are provided in 3ds format, so you need to use 3ds Max, or a tool like Meshlab to fix the scale/size.

   That of course is only needed when the scale is outside of the Lumion Scale slider limits, in the Demo v5.3 that is 0.1 to 50, in v7.0+ it is 0.01 to 10000.

3. As with all sliders, you can double-click on the slider, the value then is colored red, and you can use the backspace to edit and enter your own value.  Alternatively, using the Shift key slows the change in value of the slider to give refined values. 

    The slider is however a Scale, not a unit measurement slider, so you can't directly set a size of 176cm.  Other than if you knew the base size of the model, and could then recalculate the scale value needed to set it to a size.

[peterm]

Just a note for you, that the Demo v5.3 is now quite an old version.  For final or more detailed evaluation prior to considering purchase, you can access a 7 day Trial (subject to reseller review). Refer our Knowledge Base Article: Is there a Demo or Trial version of Lumion?

[joza]

first of all i would like to give you a big bravo for the quick respond and it's not the first time. thank you.
my 3d modeling tool is vectorworks and i make my own 3d models.
i am exporting my models from vw with the 3ds format. in the export box i can define  which scale i want to use.
so if u can guide me which is the most compatible scaling for lumion i will apreciate it.

[peterm]

You're welcome. 

I understand Vectorworks can export in the following formats

Support for both the import and export of 3DM, SKP, and COLLADA file formats, as well as OBJ, STL, and 3DS,

I also see from their web site support for FBX.

So you best option is the Collada Dae format or FBX.  These formats is one well supported within Lumion.  See the Video Tutorial for Vectorworks export here.

As you will be modeling in real world units then there should be not need for any further scaling adjustment.  The models should import as expected, and you can then place other entourage from the Lumion Library etc, where all objects match for proper size.

[joza]

for some reason my version of vw crashes when im trying to use collada! and the others some time  exporting with deformation. the only one that works good is the 3ds.
i can ex to skp and then to lumion but then again i need to define eich scale is the best for me.

[Morten]

How weird...

Which version of VectorWorks are you using?

[joza]

vw 2014
but again don't you know the scale of the objects in lumion or i don't understand how it works?

[peterm]

for some reason my version of vw crashes when im trying to use collada!

Hmmm  , we've not heard of that here from other users.  Does it happen on just one model or on all exports?  Please follow up that issue with Nemetschek Vectorworks support.

I would expect FBX to work well.  It is a well defined and industry wide format.

There are of course sometimes some specific modelling objects in one software or another that become hard to convert to basic polygons, especially where specialist tools/plugins to do some things are used.  We rely on those formats and the software exporting correctly.  Revit, ArchiCAD and SketchUp have dedicated export/import to Lumion.

In some modelling applications, it's still needed to explode models.

For a workflow Vectorworks -> SketchUp -> Lumion; so long as you keep the same units of measurement throughout (Feet or Meters), then you should be fine. 

3ds is of course problematic, but if Vectorworks gives you control at export time to set a scale then that makes it much easier.  It should work with a scale of 1 if in Vectorworks you are in real world units, and for example working in meters, then the 3ds to Lumion, with Lumo in meters, 'should' translate directly to the right size.

[peterm]

Maybe the exporting has improved since Vectorworks 2014.

[joza]

i found out that it almost 1: 25 but not precise .
if i had an object that i knew the exact hight for example i could size the all scene acording to it one time at the beginning of the project and solve by that the problem.
do you have something that can give me this from the objects library?
how can i being a single object to a scene ?
can i make one and bring it to a scene but not with the all model but as a single one like you have inside the lumion program.

[peterm]

There's two things about using 3ds:
1. It is an extremely old file format from 1990 and is unfortunately one of the worst formats for 3D models. We only recommend using it if there are no alternatives.

Here are some of the limitations of the .3DS format:
All meshes must be made of triangles.
All texture filenames are limited to the 8.3 DOS format.
The number of vertices and polygons per mesh is limited to 65536.
Material names are limited to 16 characters.

2. We recently found an issue in the 3ds format that was fixed and is available in v7, but not in the old Lumion version you are using.  I would suggest getting access to the Trial version (see my earlier post), as it may be extremely difficult to otherwise workout the conversion required.

If Collada is not possible, then FBX would be the next choice.


To determine the rescaling currently in v5.3, try this:
Attached is a 1mx1mx1m generic units 3ds box. 
It imports something much smaller in Lumion.
This is confirmed also if I import it in to 3ds Max.  The generic size is 0.0254m.  To scale that to 1m would require multiplying it by 39.370.

how can i being a single object to a scene ?
can i make one and bring it to a scene but not with the all model

You can make any object, and export/import to Lumion.  It does not have to be a specific building design.  So in Vectorworks you can create any primitive solid such as a cube or sphere or rectangular box and import to Lumion.  You import it in the same way, using the Import tools,  It imports and is saved as part of the Imported Models Library.

[joza]

THANK YOU SO MUCH
I WILL TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH MY VW.
HAVE A NICE DAY

[Morten]

You too, Joza. Let us know how you get on.