Topic: Visibility animation for imorted objects

[snopysis]

Hello,

I am making an construction building animation in maya,
the model has many pieces and their visibility parameter are animated from 0 to 1 to show as they are being constructed.
the question is how and with which format I can export this file from maya to lumion ,
So far I tried fbx 2009 and 2013 , but they are only able to export Transformation animation

If you have any experiences regarding to this issue please share, it would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

[Ecuadorian]

Try this:
-Export each part to a different file, keeping the origin in the same place
-Import all parts into Lumion and place each one in a different layer.
-Align all parts.
-In movie mode, add the "hide layer" effect to control visibility.

If you need smooth fade-in or fade-out for parts, you can achieve it in your video editor.

[snopysis]

Thanks for your reply,

the problem is the model contains over hundreds of parts, it is an industrial factory
the animation of one of plants is attached , I have 8 more to animate and present so I need to find an automatic way,

Try this:
-Export each part to a different file, keeping the origin in the same place
-Import all parts into Lumion and place each one in a different layer.
-Align all parts.
-In movie mode, add the "hide layer" effect to control visibility.

If you need smooth fade-in or fade-out for parts, you can achieve it in your video editor.

[Morten]

Hi snopysis, there is no automatic way to do this in Lumion, and as you already found out, you can't import show/hide object animations. As far as I know, Miguel's advice above is currently the best method but with 100 separate parts it will require a significant amount of manual work to get this working.

[snopysis]

Hi snopysis, there is no automatic way to do this in Lumion, and as you already found out, you can't import show/hide object animations. As far as I know, Miguel's advice above is currently the best method but with 100 separate parts it will require a significant amount of manual work to get this working.

Yes I will be died at the end, I should forget lumion for this project and do environment modeling texturing lighting effecting, all in maya just because there is no way to transfer "visibility animation"
from an application such as maya to a 3000EUR application such as lumion, really, is it so difficult and complicated  for you to write a  plugin for all major 3D softwares to transfer all model and TRS and visibility and material animation in one go to lumion?

and also think about the other situation when it is required to export all ground and environment with their textures to other application to use another renderer such as renderman , it will open a lot of possibilities for other film makers and studios to use your lumion
Regards,

[Morten]

Thanks for your feedback, and best of luck with the project.

[brigdengenis]

In the construction arena, show/hide animations are a fundamental communication tool. I'm wondering if this something that can be requested for development? Is there a process for this?

[Jared G.]

Try animating the section plane and control what's cut with layers and the show/hide layers effects

Or render two videos, one with and one without and combine with video editing software

[brigdengenis]

I understand your workaround however my workflow is a little different.

The show/hide information that I would like to incorporate into Lumion is contained within an FBX file. This is a complex construction sequence which would be next to impossible to recreate within Lumion.

I do see an option for including animations upon importing a fbx file, however this only provides for object translations, but not show/hide. Thoughts?

[Jared G.]

Might want to try a free trial of Adobe After Effects. Its really easy to do animated masks on layers of video. Also, the way that Lumion renders, every video will be exactly the same so the end result will be seamless even though you are sourcing multiple videos.

[brigdengenis]

Again thanks for an additional work around, however we are constantly incorporating complex construction sequences, and can transmit them into Lumion via an fbx file. It would take some development on Lumion's part to read this information. If this is not possible then 3ds max will replace it for our company.

[peterm]

Hi brigdengenis

...I'm wondering if this something that can be requested for development? Is there a process for this?

Apologies for reply a little late on this one.

Licensed users can submit suggestions, ideas, and suggestions for new models, materials and resources to the Wishlist Boards on the forum.

Presently your forum icon shows you as not using a licensed version of Lumion and a Guest member only, so access is limited to Guest member boards.

As I recall Lumion has been used by some in the construction industry.  It depends on the nature of the scene required.  So far it is likely most have not needed to show the complex hide/show fundamentals you refer to.

Whether a hide/show is possible for Lumion will depend on how it is built.  I gather most involve a transition/fade state which may be per object or group of elements comprised in a construction, and this is not directly supported for in importing to Lumion.  Some transition based methods are within the other software and do not export in any case.

If the hide/show was built with simple transforms it might be possible.  In some cases (untested as don't have the sources), the show/hide would need baking to simple transforms, however if parts of it involve vertex or morphing, then that is not currently supported.

[CSMcKillip]

With a little pre planning on your part, because you already know your scope....then I would do the following.

Construction is simple, so you build the science as a superintendent would run his contractors.
1. Preliminary site work- export the fbx
2. Foundation- export
3. Steel framing-export
4. Metal panel- export
5. Glazing and studs

Ect, ect till you have a finished building.

Blaming lumion for your improper planning is just silly.

My 2 cents.

[brigdengenis]

Improper Planning? Construction Schedule simulations are a little more complicated then 1 2 3 4 5. But thanks for 2 cents. Were talking about hundreds of schedule activities. I will go ahead and put in the development request.