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aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:23 am
by imagesbyj
Is there a way to make sure that your SU model will export into Studio with the x and z axis' (red and green in SU) aligned the same?
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:40 am
by JDHill
They should not be the same, since the two apps use different coordinate systems - the plugin's job is to export your model such that up in SU is up in Studio. Is there a particular reason why you ask?
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 4:52 pm
by imagesbyj
Well lets say I export a model to Studio, work with it for a while, adjust my cameras, materials, etc.... then i decide i would like to import a new object that i was missing.
It is hard to move that object around when you have adjust both the x and the z axis because you are moving it on a diagonal line. If the axis's were aligned with Studio's grid, I could move objects with more ease.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:23 pm
by JDHill
Which type of object are you trying to import? Is it an .obj, .dxf, or?
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:46 pm
by imagesbyj
When I need to import an object (and I dont know if this is the correct way or not) I just export it from SU as an MXM and import the entire mxm... i ignore all parts of the import except the object.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:51 pm
by imagesbyj
But even things as simple as moving a camera around my model is difficult to do if the grid is not aligned correctly. Do you understand my problem? If i want to move the camera lets say to the west... It would be nice to just adjust the x axis position, instead of the x and the z.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:43 am
by JDHill
No, I must not be understanding the problem yet. Here, it works fine if I do multiple exports and then import them separately into Studio. Maybe you could post a screenshot of what you're dealing with; there seems to be something else going on here that I can't infer from your description of the scenario.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 4:28 pm
by imagesbyj
I am not sure how to make post an image on this forum. But all i am wondering is if there is a way to rotate the scene so that it 'snaps' to the grid in studio.
If my model is a big cube. I would like the sides of that cube to match the directions (exactly) of the grid (x and z axis) in studio. Upon importing from SU, they do not. I will try to post an example.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 4:50 pm
by imagesbyj
Here you can see the problem i am dealing with. The model is not aligned with the grid

Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:19 pm
by brodie_geers
Just to be clear then, you're saying that when the SU scene is exported the Z axis (up/down) is correct but the X and Y axis have rotated? I've never noticed that, but then I try not to move stuff around in studio very much.
-Brodie
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:48 pm
by imagesbyj
Well actually the Y is the up/down, and the x and z are horizontal, but yes you are correct.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:03 pm
by JDHill
Ah, I think I understand what you're asking now. If the cube was its own model in SU, positioned at 0/0/0, and not rotated at all, then it would come in more like you want it to, but from the looks of it, none of these things is true, and consequently, it is exported with an offset/rotation defined by how it is situated in your SU model. One way you may deal with this in Studio would be:
- 1. import the cube
2. open object Parameters > Coordinates
3. select the cube
4. click the 'Center' button
5. enable main menu > Edit > Rotate
6. use the rotate gizmo to align the pivot's axes as you wish
All objects have their own pivots, and you can change them using the steps above. Let me know if that helps to answer your question.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:43 pm
by imagesbyj
This does help answer my question, thank you very much.
One side question though, in your step 6. Is there anyway to be sure that the object you are rotating is exactly lined up with on the grid lines? Like in SU, you can free rotate an object, but when it crosses one of the axis's, it snaps to it to let you know you are on it.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 12:27 am
by JDHill
No, there's really not - a mesh is a 'dumb' object which has no inherent origin or axes. It would be the same in SU if you imported a misaligned cube mesh via .3ds or similar - you'd be able to align it by selecting box-corner vertices and snapping to SU's axes, but SU itself would not be able infer the alignment automatically.
Re: aligning SU axis' with Maxwell Studio axis'?
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 12:28 am
by imagesbyj
Ok well thanks for your help and patience!
