One of Detailer's important assets is its plug-in import and export capabilities. Using the plug-in API, new 3D file formats can be supported by writing external code modules which are automatically loaded into Detailer when it boots-up. In this fashion, Detailer can support the file formats of additional 3D programs without requiring you to buy or download a new version of the product. Also, new capabilities can be added to existing file format importers and exporters by simply loading new versions of these modules into Detailer's Plug-Ins folder/directory.
It is Fractal Design's intention to release additional file format modules on a regular basis, and to update our existing file format modules if we need to address incompatibilities or add new capabilities. In this way, we hope to make Detailer work with as many 3D modeling and rendering programs as possible.
Please check the Detailer section of the Fractal Design web site (www.fractal.com) regularly. New and updated versions of Detailer's file format modules will be posted there. In addition, on our web site Developers will find documentation for the Detailer-native file format. We will also be posting a developer's kit for the 3D plug-in API in early 1997.
If you are interested in developing a 3D file format module for Detailer, please contact:
Detailer Product Manager
Fractal Design Corporation
PO Box 66959
Scotts Valley, CA 95067-6959
ABOUT BETA PLUG-INS
The beta plug-ins have not undergone the same range of quality assurance testing as have the standard Detailer plug-ins. As "beta" modules, we recommend that you use them with care. Save any open documents before accessing these modules from the Import and Export menus.
Please do not contact Fractal Design Technical Support if you have problems with these beta modules! They're beta.
Check the Detailer page on our web site (www.fractal.com). The final, finished versions of these modules will be posted there when available.
Wavefront OBJ format
This module implements the popular OBJ format originated by Wavefront 3D software which runs on Silicon Graphics workstations. Wavefront is also owned by Silicon Graphics.
The Neutral File Format (NFF)
This module implements the Neutral File Format (NFF) which was designed as a minimal scene description language. The language was designed to test various rendering algorithms and efficiency schemes, and is used to describe the geometry and basic surface
characteristics of objects, the placement of lights, and the viewing frustum for the eye. The NFF file format was initially designed by Eric Haines for use with the SPD (Standard Procedural Database) software, a package designed to create a variety of databases for testing rendering schemes. For more information about SPD see "A Proposal for Standard Graphics Environments," IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, vol. 7, no. 11, NFF format.
3D Studio format
This module implements the Kinetix 3D Studio format for importing and exporting files between Fractal Design Detailer and Kinetix 3D Studio r3 & r4 or 3D Studio Max. Because of the complexity of converting models and maps between these two programs, you should be aware of these issues. In certain circumstances, after importing, you may need to make adjustments to controls in either Detailer or 3D Studio.
NO SUPPORT FOR GIF MAPS
Detailer 1.0 for Macintosh does not support the GIF file format. If you try to import a model that has associated GIF maps, Detailer will alert you that it cannot open the model as is and present the Open File dialog to choose alternate map files. Press Cancel for each GIF map to open the model without them. Or resave the GIF files from another application in one of the supported Detailer image file types and then select these files as alternates when prompted.
FILE TYPE CHANGE REQUIRED FOR WINDOWS FILES
When you transfer 3D Studio files from Windows to Macintosh, you will need to assign the correct file type to the 3DS models so they will be viewable in the Detailer Open File dialog. Using a resource editor, change the file type to 3DSM.
DETAILER BUMP MAPS
- Objects created in 3D Studio for export to Detailer should have a size of approximately 15-30 3DS units (default 3DS units = 1 inch) when saved. If objects are too large when created in 3DS, you will not be able to effectively see the bump map when painting.
- 3D Studio Max interprets bump map height information in reverse to the way Detailer does (Detailer interprets black as high, and white as low). Use the "Negative Polarity" checkbox on the Materials: Objects palette to compensate for this issue, or reverse the map after you import it to 3D Studio.
- 3D Studio r4 and 3D Studio MAX interpret the exported bump map height at the maximum level (999 in MAX and 100 in 3DS r4) regardless of the value set in Detailer. You will need to manually lower the amount of bump in Max or 3DS to look more like your original Detailer map before rendering.
SURFACE NORMALS
In certain cases, objects created in 3D Studio will import into Detailer with the object's normals flipped. Correct this by using Detailer's Invert Normals command ( CTRL+SHIFT+J ).
DETAILER EXPORT TO 3D STUDIO r3/4
- Detailer does not support tiled textures in the same fashion as 3D Studio r3/4. However, you can "zoom" the texture in and out of the object in Detailer. This will automatically tile the texture See the Detailer manual on using the Adjust Mapping controls to accomplish this. Texture zooming will not transfer into the 3DS file during export.
These are texture map equivalents between 3D Studio r3/4 and Detailer:
⌐ Copyright 1996 Fractal Design Corporation, All rights reserved. Ray Dream Designer, and Natural-Media are registered trademarks, and Detailer is a trademark of Fractal Design Corporation. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Fractal Design Detailer is covered by U.S. Patent 5347620. Patent Pending.
