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3D Modelers and File Formats?

Posted by Cliff on from the 1d+2d=3d dept.

TDaxGav asks: "I am in the process of setting up an animation shop, but I'm stuck as to what format should be used for 3D formats (as well as others, but that is a different story), with all the software out there such as 3D studio, Povray, Maya? What would be the best format to use these days for models?" Considering that the iRender project is to be collaborative, it might be good if the formats were cross-platform. It seems to me, though, that this is the wrong question to be asking. The working creed of the iRender project is "if the tools [work], then use it", so rather than asking "which format" maybe the question here should be "which tool"? So which 3D modelers out there would be decent for a project like this?

2 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. No single answer by inkfox · · Score: 3, Insightful
    There's no single answer. The RTF of 3D formats is DXF, however I don't think that's even been extended to support NURBS or complex texturing.

    If most of your people will be using Maya, stick with the Maya format. 3D Studio people need to stick with 3D Studio. Hash, Hash. Any time you move between formats, you're going to lose data; you'll have to find the least common denominator format between two packages and find clever ways of shuttling the other data across.

    If you can reduce the features you need out of the format, saying "Polygons are important, NURBS aren't, not worried about texturing at this state," etc then we can probably give a better answer.

    --
    Says the RIAA: When you EQ, you're stealing bass!
  2. Perplexed by a2800276 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I am in the process of setting up an animation shop

    What's an "animation shop"? Scientific Imaging? Games? Movies? What kind o background do you have? What market do you want to cater to?

    Who are you doing this for? Yourself, a customer, the company you work for? What all is entailed in "setting up a shop"? If you're really setting up a professional shop from top to bottom, don't you feel totally unqualified not even having an idea what file formats you'll need?

    Any clue as to what market, what customers you'll be serving? What file formats are they using, that might be a good place to start.As mentioned above what tools will you be needing, what are the people working at the "shop" familiar with?

    Or is it that the question could be rephrased as: "I've always dreamed of doing computer animation, but I have no idea how, but I'm going to start a company that does stuff?"

    I'm afraid I'm a bit grumpy today, sorry, but the question as asked can't be answered.