Good info...thanks for that! I guess to your formula for choosing output methods I would add that if you're moving files from Revit to Max (and on to Lumion) FBX is preferred as it is the format that Autodesk recommends and has built in to all it's programs. FBX works neatly with Max's file-linking system, but indeed produces gigantic files!

I hadn't known about the origins of the FBX format (coming from Motion Builder); that's really interesting. Especially since Autodesk latched onto it as their preferred exchange file format of choice. I'm just happy we've finally come to a point in the evolution of 3d software where exchanging 3d data between applications is no longer particularly challenging or fraught with terrible limitations (like the 3ds format for instance).

Being able to import/insert a model about a consistent origin point (0,0,0) would be a huge improvement because it would allow the buildings to be exported separately from the site.

Just for info and you are probably aware, and I know its not perfect, but you can achieve that by importing the first building or object, placing it where you need, and then importing any others and then using the in-context command Transform -> Align.

This aligns your objects to the origin of the object you are aligning to.  Although most of us work from a centre world of 0,0,0 that's not always suitable if for example you have your buildings and want to place them at some position in a Lumion world to suit the terrain that is not at 0,0,0.

An alternative is to use a dummy object such as a simple box that can be hidden, placed as the 'world centre' (0,0,0 or other) and then import and align all your objects to that.

An alternative is to use a dummy object such as a simple box that can be hidden, placed as the 'world centre' (0,0,0 or other) and then import and align all your objects to that.

Thanks! I hadn't thought of using a dummy object; it's a great idea that I'll be sure to give a try.

how do you allign the roof texture in lumion... the two pic one is the roof in archicard and the other in lumion.

Material -> Placing tab

sorry, i didnt get that well... i played around with the controls and all the roofs rotate as one item, how do i make them rotate individually?

The materials in Lumion use auto-texturing when the Scale slider is greater than 0. Auto-texturing uses the surface angles to apply the textures, so this won't work in all cases as you can see in this thread.

Have you tried to assign separate materials to the roof sections in your modelling application? This allows you to control the placement of each part individually.

Have you tried to assign separate materials to the roof sections in your modelling application? This allows you to control the placement of each part individually.

i wish i could do that, the project is quite big and i av already done much to just trash it away... suggestion: if you guys could make it possible to use a "reference file" like in artlantis, it would be great, some time when am working on lumion i remember or see that i have, for example, forgoten to diferentiate mat'l of two different items, making me to go back to square 1( which is back to archicad )... anyway i think i will just leave the roof that way for now.

i have been trying to find the thread where they discussed about objects not been shown as you zoom out.. the more objects i add in a projects, the more they disappear, how do i counter that?

[1)]

1) What kind of objects disappear?

2) Which version of Lumion are you using?

still using lumion 1 sp 2 x64,,, objects like people or cars or tree.. some become invincible but when i select the 'move' command, i get to see the small white hotspot for handling, the object being invincible still..
how do you attach a pic? it would have been much easier explaining.

Click on "+ Additional Options..." to attach screenshots.

Please upload a screenshot of the whole screen including the Window bar.

here it is

Thanks.

Trees have quite an impact on performance, so they are only rendered when they are close to the camera. You can however press F9 to render them at their maximum level of detail regardless of the camera distance.

Can you also post a screenshot that shows the other missing objects you mentioned (people and cars)?

someone help with this.. i keep getting this message on my screen when working.