I am new to Capture and trying to figure things out so please forgive me if ask some dumb questions.
Any help is welcome, both from the development team and fellow users. Any general advice and guidance is welcome too.
Can anyone who has used textured models with Capture share their methods please?
So far the best example of the kind of thing that I would like to be able to achieve is the Capture Dockhouse demo, the venue building is constructed in great detail and with appropriate texturing on everything. It would be extremely useful to know how that model was created. (especially if it was imported in it's finished state or if it was textured or more within Capture?)
I am trying to work out the best way to achieve similar results in Capture.
I am open to any choice of cad as I currently don't have any so will need to pick something, and learn how to use it anyway.
My brief experimentation's have revealed a few things (please correct me if I have any of this is wrong)
1. Capture is all about lighting pre-vis, the kind of stuff I want to do (pretty set visuals) may be possible but not the primary aim of the development team. (I always knew that, but giving it a go anyway)
2. There doesn't currently seem to be a method to move models with textures or materials both into and out of Capture. For example, after playing with some Sketchup export settings I have managed to get some 3d warehouse models to import at about 95%(getting closer!) intact via the 3ds format. I have only found dwg/dxf export from Capture which currently does not support texture or material transfer either way.
The situation I am trying to avoid is where a lot of time is spent creating a model in "cad program", imported into Capture, the model altered in Capture; say to add more materials/textures, then changes are needed to the original model (beyond what can be done within Capture) meaning re-importing the whole thing and then having to re-do all the Capture tweaks.
I know there are a number of ways of managing things to reduce the impact of a situation like that but the ideal would be for the Capture model to be editable in the original cad without destroying all of the Capture information. (not expecting stuff like fixture info or video to survive, unless some kind of placeholder system could be worked out?)
3. Sketchup compatibility is desirable. There is such a wealth of pre-built models on the 3d warehouse that it is hard to ignore.
4. A couple of major things that Capture doesn't like when importing are double sided faces and anything with alpha channels. This is fine (although life would be loads easier if those those abilities could be added at some point, wink wink...) but if anyone can offer any tips on how to edit these things out of existing models then that would be fantastic. (initially thinking of how to get Sketchup 3d warehouse models imported quickly and accurately)
Is there anyone out there who has found a good method for creating detailed/complex models that will import fully textured into Capture with little hassle, maybe using something that is more suited to the 3ds format such as 3D Max?
Can you build things in Sketchup without allowing Alpha or dual sided faces?
Is anyone creating detailed/complex models just with the built-in Capture tools? (If so, care to share any tips to help a novice?)
Lastly a plea to Lars and his team; if cad is intended to remain left to external programs then please look to increase the abilities of importing and exporting. (no rush but it would be appreciated if it was somewhere on the wish list)
The ideal would be to have a route for creating models in "whatever" complete with textures and materials (perhaps even alpha & 2 sided faces?) and be able to alter and re-work the model without losing any Capture material/texturing that has been added. At least a way to export to Sketchup or 3ds that could re-import with minimal loss would help. (Well, the true "ideal" would be for the process to be as seamless as if you were doing everything within Capture. Maybe expand the cad tools over future versions?)
Anyway, sorry Lars if I'm asking for dumb stuff. Just trying to figure things out and maybe put some ideas in your head...
Cheers.