Importing 3D Objects
You can import four types of 3D files, which you can drag in the Timeline view when creating your animatic project. The supported 3D file formats include: .osb, .3ds, .obj and .fbx. When you import a 3D model, it is automatically added to the Library in the 3D Models folder according to its format. You can then reuse that 3D model easily within your project file.
In addition to importing 3D objects into the 3D Models folder in the Library view, you can also open a folder containing 3D models as a library in the Library view. The models can then be dragged and dropped into the scene directly from the Library and will be copied into the project’s local 3D Models folder so that the model can be referenced in that project file.
- In the Library view, right-click on the 3D Models library folder, and select Import Files.
The browser window opens.
- Locate the 3D file and click Open.
- To consolidate the textures and convert your 3D model to FBX format select the Convert to FBX Format option.
An FBX version of your 3D model is generated which stores the texture within the new FBX file. This will prevent the link between the 3D model and its textures from breaking.
The 3D object is imported into the 3D Models folder of the Library view and labeled according to its format.
- Drag the 3D object into the Stage view.
The 3D object appears in its original size and is located at the zero NS/EW/FB position. The 3D object appears in all three view windows.
- In the Library view, right-click somewhere in the left side of the Library view, under all the existing folders, and select Open Library.
A browser window opens.
- From the browser window, search for the folder that contains the .osb, .3ds, .obj or .fbx files that you wish to import. That folder is considered the “library” that you chose to open.
- An orange book icon will appear in the left side of the Library view with the name of the folder that you selected. Click on it to see the templates contained inside on the right side of the Library view. The template thumbnails may take a moment to generate.
If there were any other readable files in the same folder, such as .tga files used for the 3D objects texture, they may appear in the new library as well.
- From the right side of the Library view, select the 3D model’s thumbnail and drag and drop it into your project, either in the Camera or Timeline view.
A copy of the model will be copied into the appropriate models folder in the root 3D Models folder of the Library view. Although you can store 3D models in the Library view for easy accessibility, the project can only reference models found in the 3D Model folder of the Library view.