10 replies to this topic

[ron3fp]

Hi all,

if you are using Cheetah 3D on a Mac you might want to check out the AppLink I have written for it.

It has all the basic functionality with the following limitations:

- (has been resolved with update v1.1 - see later posting) Automatic texture import is not working due to Cheetah 3D API bug (I think this is due to the new node system - once this is resolved from Martin, the developer, I will add it). This means you will have to manually assign diffuse, specular, bump maps. However, I think it is not too much of a constraint.
- (has been resolved with update v1.1 - see later posting) Dropping objects directly from 3D Coat to Cheetah is not implemented as of now, although the code for the creation of the necessary files / directory structure is mostly done but commented out. 3D Coat export file menu option would not appear on my system - I think I will have to further look into this later on.

Let me know if you find any bugs so that I can sort it out - at the end it was done this weekend only, so don't expect too much of testing from my end ;-)

You can find a demonstration video on YouTube

The installation is performed by dropping the script into Cheetah's scripts/tool folder and launch it as shown in the video.
You will have to specifiy the 3D Coat exchange folder location during the initial execution of the plugin.

Best regards,
Ron.

Attached Files

•  3DCAppLink.zip   5.46K   274 downloads

[Andrew Shpagin]

Cool, thanks!

[ron3fp]

Could you please tell me how do I set the 3d coat exchange folder?

Make sure you have at least 3D Coat version 3.5.01 installed. Under OSX you should be able to find the exchange folder under the following path: /Users/YourUsername/3D-CoatV3/Exchange .
Once you have put the Cheetah3D script into the /Applications/Cheetah3D 5.5/scripts/Tool directory, you should have the script available in the application via Tools->Script -> Tool Script -> 3DCAppLink. Once started, you'll have an input textfield on the plugin tab where you can specify the correct path. Once this is completed, the exchange directory path will be persistently saved in ./configuration.txt

Of course you can always edit the script directly and modify tool.addParameterString("ExchangeDir", "/Users/YourUser/3D-CoatV3/Exchange", false); and replace tool.addParameterString("ExchangeDir", exPath , false); with the same line.

Let me know in case you face any difficulties so I can look at it if needed.

Regards,

[ron3fp]

Ron,

Just to say many thanks! I do use Cheetah3D and the AppLink is indeed helpful.

Will you be posting updates in this thread on anywhere else?

Best

Hugo

Glad you like it - of course I will continue to extend the plugin as far as the API allows. I already talked to the Cheetah developer Martin regarding some shortcomings of the API (e.g. to automate the texture assignment). So if not in 5.6, possibly these will be addressed in the next version. Updates will be cross-posted here as well as on the Cheetah3D Forum until I have decided if I put it somewhere centrally.

Regards,
Ron.

[ron3fp]

3D-Coat-AppLink Update v1.1

- Improved material import/export
- Automatic import of textures / materials through workaround solution using native Cheetah3D materials (.c3dmat)
- Direct export from 3D-Coat to Cheetah3D (if you don't want Cheetah3D to be automatically launched on export from 3D-Coat, just set the C3D application path to something invalid during configuration)
- Configuration walkthrough added (automatically run during initial execution of the plugin and manually through toolbar button)
- Import scale parameter added (export scale can be modified through export options within Cheetah, OBJ import is done via script and has therefore be set via this parameter option).

Demonstration videos:

Configuration
Material/Texture Import/Export
3DC Direct Export

- 3D-Coat AppLink v1.1 - Installation Notes

1. Delete the old 3DCAppLink.js file from the Cheetah3D script folder
2. Unzip 3D-Coat-AppLink.zip to directory
/Users/YourUser/Library/Application Support/Cheetah3D/scripts/3D-Coat
3. Create and alias to 3D-Coat.js and copy it to
/Users/YourUser/Library/Application Support/Cheetah3D/scripts/Tool
4. Launch Cheetah3D and select menu option Tools > Script > Tool Script > 3D-Coat.js
5. Follow the configuration dialog.

Best regards,
Ron.

Attached Files

•  3D-Coat-AppLink-v1.1.zip   45.85K   233 downloads

[ron3fp]

Development on 3D-Coat AppLink specification 1.2 has been started. Updates will include the following:

• Drop mesh in 3D-Coat as a curve profile
• Skip 3D-Coat import dialog
• Skip 3D-Coat export dialog
• Options to selectively export color / specular / normalmap from 3D-Coat
• Texture files extension (TGA / BMP / PNG / JPG)
• Export resolution (low-poly / mid-poly)

Best regards,
Ron.

[theitalianjob]

Hi,
I've the last version of cheetah 3d (version 5. but the app link don't' work.
When I call the 3d-coat.js under the scripts/tools/ menu cheetah 3d crashes.

Any idea?

[Anna Nilsen]

So what is the idea with cheetah app link? To crash Cheetah? Or is there any way to make it work? Why advertising such software at all if it just does not work? Don´t get it.

[Kelvin Ng]

Its sad that the AppLink for Cheetah3D has been discontinued...