Buggsy

Really like the chrome and vanity material. Could you share how you achieve both of them?

Thanks for that Tom.

Hi All, I've tried installing EI v9.1 onto my new i7 but no joy. I have installed the frameworks from Toms 'Dongle.zip' file but I still can't get a successful installation for the Dongle. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Michael

Thanks Tim. The other thing I didn't mention was that Rhino worked seamlessly with EI when it came to UV's. This proved to be so important to texturing the curtains and tent, which I had been struggling with, using EI's Simcloth. Rendering times for the external shots are super quick, only needing 1.5 minutes to render. The internal shots are a different story, taking up to 8 minutes due to the reflections and lighting. Michael

Hi Everyone, This is my latest work-in-progress personal project. It is the tabernacle in the wilderness as described in the book of Exodus in the hebrew bible. A view of the Most Holy place is missing because I need to model a cherubim and Rhino (Mac WIP) doesn't do organic modelling. You need t-splines (plug-in) in Rhino to do that so I started learning Blender to sculpt the cherubim on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. I can't see myself finishing it any time soon as the learning curve for Blender looks quite steep! Rhino has proven quick for me to become productive with but its limitations on the organic side of modelling are its let down, for a Mac platform anyway. Really like the layer organisation and the predictability of it working with EI. The only problem I had was bring models in to scale in EI but resolved that by dialling the scale factor down to 0.01 in the 'Import Options' in EI. Hope you like it so far. Michael

Hi Everyone, I finally got round to amending the driveway material and its colour. Michael

Hi Thomo, Sorry to sound obvious but an exported .fact model has its textures!? Or do exporting in any other format except .fact? Michael

http://www.telegraphics.com.au/sw/

Hi Everyone, You're too kind with your comments. The reality is that EI is doing the work and I'm just steering it. The models are from Design Connected and Turbo Squid, and a note to everyone, avoid symbols in any of your folders or object names (/!@#$%^&*() etc). I modelled the: roman blind in Rhino Mac WIP. I modelled the: kitchen cabinets, building (cornice, skirting, ceilings, floors, down lights, sliding doors, stairwell, living room cabinet etc) in ArchiCAD v17. I have realised over the years the two greatest channels to focus on when doing internal work are specular and transmission. Specular is so misunderstood and transmission is difficult to get right. I spent several hours just getting the pillows and bed sheets to look good. If I get the time I'll post the project file with the lighting set-up (minus the purchased models of course). Michael

"...overexpose the view outside the window a bit" Hey that's a great tip, thanks Thomo!

Hi Everyone, Another recent project. Michael

Thanks Diego & Tim. I would really like to sink my teeth into animation Diego but I struggle to get reasonable rendering times and at the same time to maintain high quality lighting and texturing. Animation quality becomes so vastly reduced in quality from the still shots that I loose heart. I fantasise about producing punchy animation but it all becomes too much and life interrupts (you know, money, needs, food, family, mortgage etc)! Yes Tim, it's becoming a little predictable. Don't get me wrong, it pays the bills and my customers are constantly coming back but I really want to push it further with modern architectural scenes and not just 'everyday residential unit marketing'. I was really taken by these shots (http://www.designconnected.com/page/view/who_uses_our_models) and was thinking of trying to reproduce one of these scenes over Christmas to further find the limits of EI and my skills. The chink in my armour stills remains a modelling program that works robustly with EI and is serious enough for me to dedicate to learning. Michael

Hi Everyone, Just completed another lot of internal renderings. Hope you like them. Michael

Hi Thomo, Yes I feel like a bit of a dill (idiot)! Tomas helped me find it! Thanks Tomas! Michael

Hi ALL, It appears as though I have violated a cardinal rule of the OS by using a symbol in my folders name. Where the models failed to import, I had inserted a '/' symbol. Once removed the model/s imports without failure. I have been aware of this in the past but like all OS bugs you don't know when or if it has or hasn't been fixed because its resolution is often buried in marketing. It appears as though it is still a problem and I will be checking all my folders where models and projects are kept to weed it out. Thanks everyone for their help. Michael

HI Thomo, Sorry, I didn't mention it as it was the EI native .fact export which ArchiCAD exports without fail every time! Michael

Hi Thomo, I don't even get an error message. I select 'Import Object' in the EIAS menu, find the model to import, change the 'Enable' menu at the bottom of the 'Open' window to enable selection of all model types, click on the model, and yes I mostly import .obj & .3ds, then hit 'Open'. The first thing is it doesn't display the 'Import Options' dialogue, it just takes me straight back to the 'Open' dialogue to import another model! If I continue to add another model, one that has imported in the past, I only get that model importing with the other model being none existent in my EIAS project. This isn't a one of instance either. I recently purchased 4-6 models from Turbo Squid that would not import, having the same problems on import. I then bought a model form Design Connected and it also had the same problem. All of the failed models open in Rhino (Mac WIP v5.0) except for one, but when I export them from Rhino they still do not import into EIAS having the same import failure. Michael

Richard, Can you email me your version 9.0 file with the models in it? This may be my only solution at the moment! Michael

Hi David, This doesn't work either! This is so inconsistent with my experience importing models into EI! I think I must be doing something wrong or else all the internet sources for models are conspiring against me to frustrate me! When ever I import the modles I don't get the 'Import Options' dialogue. It just skips straight past it like it used to when we didn't have the 'Import Options' dialogue. I feel like I have become disconnected from this dialogue box that gave me power and control and now I've lost it! Where is it? Has anyone seen it? I think I'm going crazzzzy! Arrrrggggghhhhhhh! Michael

Hi David, Thanks for the tip, much appreciated. I'll try Blender and see if it works. Michael

Thanks Rick, I have sent you an email with the model attached. Michael

Hi Richard, I can't really post a model, as I'm sure that would violate the terms of use. Where can I send you a model and are you doing this in the capacity of an authorised representative of EIAS3d? The model formats are mostly .obj, .fbx & .3ds Michael

Hi, I have bought a number of models from different internet vendors, in .obj, .3ds and .fbx formats. At least 3 out of every 10 models fail to import! I also have the modelling program Rhino (Mac work-in-progress) which opens the failed imports no problems at all. I save them out of Rhino but they still fail to import into EI! I am wasting my money on models that I have to trash in the bin, which is extremely frustrating. Could there be a bug with EI's new model import function? Is there a work around? Is there a modelling program that can bridge the gap? Transporter doesn't work any more does it!? I need help with this because I have a deadline on a project and can't put my hope in virtually any 3D model I see! Michael

Thanks for the suggestion and your time to check the workflow. I don't have Mrs Bebel though and I don't have the funds to purchase it and put it through its paces to see if it will be compatible with my needs. It does though seem like a viable solution. Thanks again. Michael

Ok did this and the UV's work fine. These are the steps: 1. Select Simcloth at the required animation frame and export from EI as .obj. 2. Import .obj file straight back into EI. Seems that the EI doesn't treat the UV space the same as in Meshlabs or Rhino. Michael