3D File

Limitations

• Animations/Skeletons are not imported (there is no skeleton system is Smode).
• Files with packed textures don't import the texture (but if the name of the texture correspond to a file in the media directory Smode will automatically make the link).
• Files with multiple layers (UV or others) only import the first layer.
• Material parameters (diffuse, specular, etc) are not imported.

Note that you can check what is inside your 3D file through the file preview. You can have a lot of vertices but be very careful about the number of objects:


So before importing a 3D model, remember those simple rules:
- Apply all your transformations on every 3D object before importing in Smode (Ctrl+A -> Apply all transformations on Blender, "Freeze transform" on Maya)
- Smode can take a lot of polygons but few objects.
- Combine your 3D object to have as less objects possible inside your file. (After selecting many objects, do a Ctrl+J on Blender, or a "Mesh -> Combine" on Maya)

How to reference a 3D File

To import a 3D File simply drag and drop from the media directory to the compo tree and select Reference .
By default the whole model is referenced but you can select the sub-model to reference in the subGeometryToUse . Be careful using this option ! Renaming the model in your 3D editor will break the link so I highly recommend to work with separate files for each object that should move separately.
Once you select your sub model the model position is not changed and is relative to file position. So each time you modify the position in your 3D modeler it will update in Smode (automatically if you checked the option Auto Reload ). To avoid that you can tell Smode to place the 3D model relative to the used sub-geometry transform using the useLocalPlacement option. Then you will have to place manually the model.
Notes:

• The materials and textures are not imported or referenced.
• You can replace an existing GeometryLayer Generator by drag and drop the file on the generator maintaining the ALT key pressed, it will keep all the modifiers, materials, etc.

How to Import a 3D File

Importing a 3D File is now basically the same as referencing. It gives the possibility to the user to automatically generate a tree configuring references by:

• Linking the diffuse and normal textures to material if they are present in the media directory
• Setting Sub Geometry To Use for each branch of the tree
• Create a Light Illuminate 3D renderers Read More and Standard Camera Standard camera with a perspective/orthographic frustum Read More at correct placements (these are not referenced)
• Setting all the references placements of the 3D file with Use Local Placement

There are some options available:

• Import as 3D Group
• Import as Reference : I highly recommend to check this option (else you will need to re-import each time you modify your geometry)

Manipulation tricks for files containing many Meshes

If you got too many mesh in your imported files and you want to put the same material ( 3D Renderer Displays a 3D geometry Read More ) over all of them, you can Group their generators as followed :
First select all the meshes you want to group and do a right click:


Then choose a 3D Renderer Displays a 3D geometry Read More among the list.


And there you go, a single material is applied on the overall geometries. Note that in this status, 3D Modifier Modify a 3D geometry Read More can also be applied on many different meshes altogether:

Tutorial