I received an e-mail from Artifice on conversion of their models, it says; Thank you for contacting Artifice. We appreciate your interest in the 3D building models from GreatBuildings.com. And we'd be glad to work out a mutually acceptable arrangement. As a starting point, we'd like to propose this scenario. We could grant you permission to convert the GreatBuildings (3DMF) models to Bryce format. Once the conversion is complete, the models would be returned to us (in Bryce format). And then we'd make the models available through pages GreatBuildings.com. You could then link to the GreatBuildings.com pages from your forum! Alternatively, if you'd prefer to license models for distribution at your site, we'd be glad to prepare a quote. But it's likely that substantial licensing fees would be involved. If you're interested in either of these options, or you have something else in mind, please let us know! We'll look forward to hearing from you again. Best wishes, David Owen rights@artifice.com Okay, any comments or concerns.......Agent Smith, your input appreciated.... Zhann

what exactly do you have in mind for the models/site? roch222

Ignore the models site, we can't afford the licensing... We would need someone to convert the models to a Bryce format and then send them to Artifice, they will post them as free downloads to whoever wants them in Byrce format, for us. I guess then they are asking that this forum post a link back to GreatBuildings.com, that would be up to Agent Smith.

I remember seeing something about this before, but I didn't catch it all. How are you converting the .3dmf's? ...If this went through, of course we'd love to link to Great Buildings from this forum, and anywhere else I could get it into. Licensing; I'm sure substantial. Yet, I'm sure if that was a decision that Renderosity moved on it would most likely be more of a compromise than an up-front fee. (guess on my part) AND, if that happened, Renderosity would not want to limit itself to just Bryce users, but make the buildings in a more generic format that MUCH more people, with various programs could use. AND, if that happened, I would hazard a guess that Great Buildings could no longer offer free downloads of these models in the 3dmf format. So, what is it you are using to convert the files? AgentSmith

Okay, licensing aside, there is NO problem having a permanent link in the forum header for Great Buildings. AgentSmith

Hey Agent Smith, how the heck are ya? Well, I don't think they are particular about 'which' format...and we need someone who can convert the 3dmf's for the buildings. That person I guess would upload to GB and then they would be available to us. 'I' am only the one who invited them to come visit the forum and Bryce galleries, I can't import .3dmf's and export them as anything, don't have the software, but I remember someone offering to do this, it was madmax_5, ttops, roch222 or someone offered, you'd need to check the thread...I'll look it up.

Yeah, see if you can find the name of the software, hopefully freeware, lol. I have some big page links to software/freeware, I'll check that also. It's after 4 am here, I have to sleep or die, lol, so I will check back here as soon as I can. AS

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?Form.ShowMessage=1048038

Found the post...Agent Smith, being the wonderful Mod you are, and so organized and savvy, would you take over the negotiations for this project, you speak for this forum and Renderosity offically, and I don't know all the ins and outs of something like this, especially making these models available to all of Renderosity... I only opened up the possiblity of us converting their models, now that they agreed to it I'm not sure where to go from here... Zhann

Actually, they have a shareware version of their software, I'm on my second computer and don't have access to all the software urls from here but I'll look it up... Zhann

In the original post I had suggested using 3D Exploration to convert the 3dmf files to 3ds or obj. If one person was to take on the job of the conversions it would mean converting to the above then converting into Bryce. This would be a lot of work but if more than one person were involved in the conversion and could send the conversions to someone here at renderosity who would in turn send them to Artifice, we might have something that would work. Also if users of other software were to follow the same route everyone would be able to access the Artifice models. Maybe you could have a word with other moderators AgentSmith and see if they would be willing to get involved. And yes if it came to it, I would be willing to do some of the conversions. Catlin

Sorry about the multiple posts, I just got tooooo excited. 8) Catlin

Attached Link: http://www.greatbuildings.com

I've stll got a copy of Fallingwater and the treasury of athens somewhere on my hard drive from great buildings. Design workshop classic is only $79 and saves as DXF which bryce will import. The old Deep Exploration software would also open 3dmf and save to other formats. The Artifice software uses most of the same standard primitives to draw, cyllinders, plains, cubes. They also have line and extrusion tools and some really good allignment and distribution tools that make it easy to generate columned halls, etc.. Artifice needs two things; sales and product. Traffic to their site to swipe free models generally won't do that. Here's what I propose, Renderosity hold a building design contest. It could be open to all model designers. Brycers could participate by importing a cyllinder, plain, and cube set and manipulating these since they can't export bryce primitives. (AgentSmith, Is it possible to reexport scaled dxf objects in Bryce?) Artifice could provide full versions of pro or classic as prizes for 1st 2nd and 3rd. They could also trade DXF files from their own site for any models of entries they like. The winners would agree to turn over the model to Artifice for use and promotion on their website and inclusion in their CDs. Renderosity could promote Artifice and provide a link in the webring. We might also have a contest to render existing artifice models in rendering apps. We would have to get DXF models of two or three of their models, Fallingwater, Gregory Farmhouse, Maybeck Studios, whatever. People could see what can be done in other apps with Artifice software. The winners could get a full version of pro or classic. Both types of contest could generate interest in Artifice software and CDs. The attached link is the homepage of Artifice since it's not included in the thread. Other people can check them out and see what we're all talking about.

Deep Exploration Will Convert The Format and I have quite a few allready converted if you would like Roch222

Let me do some back reading here, so I can at least SOUND like I know what I'm talking about, lol. Does anyone know just how many total buildings they have that can be used/converted? AS

Okie doke. Here's a question I have. If we are going to convert them to .3ds, .obj, etc...why then convert them into an .obp? What is the advantage? I can think of only one... There looks as if there are 274 models. I've got a cable modem, so downloading them isn't that big of a deal for me. I have a friend that is in the film industry (Avid editor), I believe he has a connection that can get these batch converted for us. Then via my cable modem, uploading them back to Great Buildings will be no prob. Or, if they want them on disk and shipped, that is also no sweat. AgentSmith

Well, I'll throw my two cents in here... I discovered the Great Buildings site a couple of months ago and knew only enough that Bryce couldn't read them. Now that I'm on my way to learning more about Bryce, I'd love to have access to these to use. I'm all for the project and will help any way I can but expertise on my end is limited. I do have access to high speed internet and a reasonably powerful computer so I could help with conversions. I'd just need to know what program to get to do that since Bryce is the only 3D-type I've got so far. I'd love to see this succeed so I'll be glad to help any way I can.

I would like a lot to have access to GreatBuildings models. I can't be of no help for the conversions, because of my Old One (Pentium II way too slow), but I have a very fast connection (10Mbits/sec) with absolutely no bandwidth limit, so if I can help on that side, I'd be glad to. Let me know. Stefano

Its easy enough to convert with 3dexploration. .obj is quite universal for everything. I don't see a need to convert it to obp. And with obj, there's grouper that can help a bit. I tried one and it came out just fine.

Are there textures that come with the models? I've only downloaded one to look at. AS

AS, no textures that I know of, your idea of a format that anyone at Renderosity can use, seems to me to be the best. We need to 'keep this simple'...The original idea was to be able to them converted (format aside), so we could import them into Bryce. The link to Great Buildings from our forum will provide Artifice with the possibility that those who come to download a model will also consider their software for purchase, there are always new people to Bryce (and on the other forums), these are the target market for DesignWorkshop (an inexpensive modeler, comparitively speaking) no need for contests etc. We 'asked them', so they're not going to do the conversion out of the goodness of their hearts, someone here would need to do the conversions and then send them back to David Owen at Artifice, his email is in the first post. I guess then, after GreatBuildings.com does the page for download, we get the link to go download, and then it would be posted for ALL of Renderosity to access...does this sound reasonible? I'm on dailup so you know my connection is excruciatingly sssssssssssslllllllllllllllllooooooooowwwwwwww. AS, maybe you should initiate contact with David Owen for the logistics of this undertaking, one voice to represent us all (that sounds so heroic). I'll do whatever I can, just tell me what... Zhann

I'll go ahead and contact David. All that you said is on the bullseye. I'll get in touch with my buddy, see about getting 274 meshes batch rendered, lol. That's actually/probably the easiest way. Defintely the fastest! Ask him about what would be the best all around format to go with. I assume it would be .3ds, .dxf, they are the smallest in Kb. But, if we end up needing to keep say, smaoothing info we'll go with .obj. Thanks for all of your offers of help, stay tuned! AgentSmith

Just my 2 cents. I'd go with .3ds format since there are no textures and it gives fairly small files, also almost all 3D programs can import it.

Yeah, that's about my take on it too. btw, in my post #27; smaoothing = smoothing

.3ds would be my format of choice also, sometimes .dxf gets weird on import...

put me down for .3ds, too. as a side-note... I've been trying to d/l the demo for 3Dexploration to convert these models for my personal use for a while now (crossroads site sez it doesn't read .3dmf,yet) but the required 'country' blank on the form won't let me input anything... and the download won't procede without that info.... hmmmm........

Looks like all their downlaods are like that. You're gonna have to wait for then to get it under control, guess they're having site problems too.

yep... right hemisphere needs to put their left hemisphere to work on that......

This sounds like progress is being made in the right direction. AS do you mean that your friend could do the conversions to 3ds/obj or would that still be our job? My offer still stands to contribute on the conversions if it is down to us. We really need you to be our hero AS, like Zhann said. There are so many voices and ideas flying around here that we need one person to put it all into focus....we will all love you forever AS for your efforts. ;) Cheers Catlin

Oh, no my buddy knows a guy who can do it with one fell swoop, he uses Polytrans. It would just be mass batch processing. Set it up and let it convert automatically. That's the fast part, I just want to make sure it is a solid .3ds in the end, something that won't give Bryce a bad media error. That's the important part. Everything will be taken care of. AS

AS, you are my Hero........ 8) (how do you make a smiley with an embarressed smile) Catlin

Catlin, :}

Zhann, you are my hero........ ;} Thanx Catlin

Oh wow! This is gonna be soooo cool!