Page 1 of 3
Strange thing happening (Tom maybe you know)
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 1:26 pm
by NicoR44
Strange thing happening,
Tom maybe you know what is happening here
When I export this test model from Rhino as *.3ds and open it in RC it seems that it has turned 90°
One other thing, all my objects meshes seem to be flat shaded ( I think this is because it is a exported Rhino model to *3ds?)
Look at this screen shot:

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 1:32 pm
by Mihai
The rotation is most likely due to differences in coordinate systems, perhaps Rhino considers Z axis as up? In Maxwell Studio, Y is up.
able to import 3ds ???
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 1:33 pm
by arch4d
you are able to import *.3ds files ???
doesn´t work for me, it imports nothing then...
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:09 pm
by tom
Yes, these are problems with the differences of coordinate systems and they will be fixed by the file format improvements.
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:22 pm
by Leonardo
NicoR44,
Is that a chiken??
the .Obj export have a seting that says: "Y up"... 3ds does not
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:28 pm
by JDHill
NicoR44 :: just a FYI - this is a function that the Rhinoll plug-in was taking care of for us. In the SDK, it explains that the different CAD programs use different axes as *up*

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:55 pm
by paxreid
This happens for anything imported that doesn't go through a plug in for me. I have just changed the transformation setting when exporting to get it right until the fix it.
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:35 pm
by Hugh
Mihai Iliuta wrote:The rotation is most likely due to differences in coordinate systems, perhaps Rhino considers Z axis as up? In Maxwell Studio, Y is up.
What? 'Y' is up? Is this delibrate then? I thought is was an oversight in Studio and reported it as a bug! Is it the intention to ignore the 3D convention of Z being up? If so why? whats wrong with it? Does Y provide less resistance to gravity and thus greater performance?
Does this really mean that every object I import from any other 3D program (cause I've never come across one where Z isn't up) will have to be rotated 90 degrees? Oh come on, jeez louise!! Z is up, Z is up,Z is up,Z is up, Join in everybody......
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:41 pm
by NicoR44
That clears it up Thanks Tom and all
Leonardo, yes chickens

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:45 pm
by NicoR44
Ow, one for the bug list:
shouldn't text be always on top?

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:52 pm
by JDHill
Hugh wrote:Oh come on, jeez louise!! Z is up, Z is up,Z is up,Z is up, Join in everybody......
I'm in the Western Hemisphere. Where are you? Which way is up?
~JD
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:53 pm
by Mihai
Hugh, I'm not sure if you're joking a bit or not

but, Z makes much more sense in 3D to be the depth axis, think Z buffer for example, a very old concept. A 2D graph doesn't have X and Z axis does it? It has X and Y. So the third axis naturally should be Z. XSI also uses Y as the vertical axis and I think also Modo.
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 4:07 pm
by tom
Mihai Iliuta wrote:Hugh, I'm not sure if you're joking a bit or not

but, Z makes much more sense in 3D to be the depth axis, think Z buffer for example, a very old concept. A 2D graph doesn't have X and Z axis does it? It has X and Y. So the third axis naturally should be Z. XSI also uses Y as the vertical axis and I think also Modo.
Can't be said better
...also I agree JDHill

This reminded me the old Galactica series. There were spaceship pilots loosing control and going down according to camera space.

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 4:07 pm
by max3d
I totally agree with Mihai. Never understood why so much 3d apps turned the world around. Z is depth by definition and x,y on the two axis of your screen is the most natural way to envision 3d.
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 4:19 pm
by Frances
max3d wrote:I totally agree with Mihai. Never understood why so much 3d apps turned the world around. Z is depth by definition and x,y on the two axis of your screen is the most natural way to envision 3d.
It could have something to do with 2d drafting conventions. The cartesian coordinates in plan view show the Y-coordinate up and X to the right. When 3d came along, Z became the direction to indicate thickness or height.
Hence, everyone who has an AutoCAD background is schooled in the convention that Z represents thickness or height. Likewise, those who have written plug-ins or 3d apps that relate to AutoCAD have carried on the convention.