Importing 3D Models
 
 
 

You can import 3D polygon objects such as 3ds Max files, FBX files, Wavefront files, Inventor files, and Paint geometry. 3ds Max files contain object data, specifically, texture and materials. The FBX format acts as the intermediary between different file types. Files can be exported from another product to the FBX format and then imported into Flint.

NoteA library of 3ds Max 3D models is located in the usr/discreet/<product home>/models library. All models are textured with an identical image found in the same directory. The library consists mostly of various geometric shapes such as cubes, cylinders, and spheres.

Paint geometry files are created by the Flint Paint module. If you want to work with polygon geometry in Action, import Paint geometry. Action ignores its animation and attributes, such as its colour, outline, and gradient. For example, in Paint, if you create a blue polygon, animate its scale, and save it as geometry, it is imported in Action as a white polygon with no animation.

You can import a 3D model into one or several geometry nodes. You can also import multiple 3D models into a single animated geometry node.

To import a 3D model:

  1. Do one of the following:

    The Import menu and file browser appear.

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    (a) Import Type box  (b) File Extension field  (c) Smooth button  (d) Fit button  (e) Separate Nodes button  

    The Import controls are described as follows.

    Import Type boxDisplays the 3D model you want to import: FBX, Wavefront, Inventor, 3DStudio, Paint, or Photoshop.

    File Extension fieldSpecifies a particular file extension for FBX, Wavefront, Inventor, or 3DStudio files. By default, Wavefront files have .obj, Inventor files have .iv, FBX files have .fbx, and 3D Studio files have .3ds as their file extensions.

    NoteWhen selecting Paint or Photoshop, the subsequent controls described in this section do not apply. When selecting FBX, other controls appear. See Importing the FBX Format.

    Smooth buttonBuilds normals for the 3D model. Enable this button if you are importing polygons that do not have normals.

    Fit buttonScales the imported model to fit into the current frame. When this button is disabled, the imported model maintains the same size in which it was created using a third-party application.

    Separate Nodes buttonCreates individual nodes for all 3D models contained in a file.

    When this button is disabled, the 3D model is added to the scene with its own axis.

    Rotate Axis buttonRotates the imported 3D model by 90 degrees on the X-axis so that it is compatible with Action's coordinate system. This button appears only when 3DStudio is selected as the import format.

  2. From the Import Type box, select the import format.
  3. If the file you want to import has a file extension different from the one specified, type a file extension.
  4. Enable Smooth or Fit as needed.
  5. Select the file to import from the file browser.
  6. Click Load.

    The 3D model is added to the scene.

    You can change the 3D model's colour, specular highlight, shine, and other material properties. See Working with 3D Geometry.

To import multiple 3D models into an animated sequence:

  1. Follow the same steps for adding a single 3D model, but from the Import file browser, select multiple 3D models by holding the Shift or Ctrl key.
  2. Once the models are selected, click Load.

    The selected 3D models are loaded to the same line in the Media list.

  3. Double-click the Geometry node in the schematic to access the Geometry menu.

    The Animation Mode, Hold, and Slip buttons appear in the Geometry menu.

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    (a) Animation Mode box  (b) Hold field  (c) Slip field  

  4. Set the Animation mode.
    Select: To:
    Loop Play in a continuous loop.
    Once Play once. The 3D geometry is no longer displayed.
    Last Still Play once, and hold the last frame.
    Timing Animate according to the timing in the animation channel.
  5. If you selected Loop, Once or Last Still, set the Hold value to determine the number of continuous frames to display, and set the Slip value to offset the start point. If you selected Timing, go to the next step.
  6. If you selected Timing, set the value for that frame in the Timing curve using the Frame Timing field.

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    (a) Timing Range option  (b) Frame Timing field  

  7. Set the Timing Range option to determine how Frame Timing values outside the timing range of the animation are handled.
    Select: To:
    Roll Roll over the Frame Timing value.
    Cut (Geometry is not displayed.)
    Round Display the first or last geometry (with this option, you can select the first and the last geometry of your animation).