I've been trying to put a scene together akin to a scene in StarWars. I downloaded 2 models, both DXF, from 3DCafe.com: an Xwing fighter, and Tie-fighter. However, when I imported them in, surprise surprise they had no flippin' texture map, and just looked white all over! Even though they were shown with texture maps! (Grrr I REALLY hate that!!!!) I thought about trying to import them into Poser, export them as OBJ files, then load them into UVMapper to create a texture map. But of course they didn't produce any map when loaded. So basically: how do I convert DXF to OBJ so that they can be used in UVMapper to create a texture map, if possible? BTW: I'm really getting fed up of downloading objects from 3DCafe only to find they have no texture map, even when they are shown with one. It's the only site I know that has such a good selection of 3D objects. It makes it very hard to add texture to the objects and make them more life-like. Also, after installing the 4.05 update I had three "invalid page faults" in the space of 10 minutes, all caused by the "Engine.dll" file. I'd be interested if anyone else has had this. JoeBlack

Joe, DXF has no UV mapping info in it, so it's not possible. If you convert them to .OBJ through whatever means, and load them into UV Mapper, you will be told it has no UV mapping data. In UV Mapper then, just go Edit>New UV Map, and then select whatever you like. You can change it at any time in the same way.

Oh, nevermind, I was playing around with the "Edit map" option in uvmapper, and it created a texture map of the xwing lol Doh! JoeBlack

Attached Link: http://www.theforce.net/scifi3d/

Just incase your unaware of it there is some excellent meshes already on the Vue 4 cd that are not in Vob format of the meshes you seek. Check it out there are there. Or if you can convert 3d studio files to object or even true space format there is excellent ones here also:

Also, I can convert DXF's to obj's if you ever need me to do it, just email it to me and I will send it back to you as an obj., but be forwarned, dxf's by themselves can be large and then even larger after conversion. Sharen

I still have yet to understand the reasoning behind the DXF format. It creates enormous files and can't be textured. MUST be converted to something else that can handle a UV map before it can be used with specifically designed textures.Seems kind of strange.... I take it that AutoCAD has a good procedural thing going on?

Well one thing dxf can be read by almost all programs and other than that there is no advantage. You still have to make your own UV maps or use procedral textures. It's the worst format for complex objects but is the best format for simple ones. There actually smaller that almost any other kind of file but not if they're super complex. Better formats exist for that type of mesh.

Alot of the engineers that I work with love the .dxf file, usually because it does create a great 2D work area, very precise and clear, but when it comes to 3D models, very little to be desired. Also, I don't think you can do 3D solid modeling with it, for complete meshes. You are quiet right MikeJ, AutoCAD works on a different set of coordinates, similar to 3D Vize. Sharen

You can do 3D solid modelling with Autocad, although texturing within Autocad is very limited but it can be done to a limited extent. What I usually do with my models created in Autocad is to assign each object to it's own layer (color coded to keep things clear) then export the 3D model out to the .dxf format and then import into 3D StudioMax where it is very easy to assign UVW mapping to each object within the scene. Also all groups ect.. are left intact. And of course from there export to the .3ds format for import into Vue 4!! :)

Question vibes30, why don't you export out of AutoCAD as a 3ds first before you bring it into 3D studio? Wouldn't it be easier? When we export out in 3DS and import into Bodypaint we get the coordinates for the map right away. Sharen Just curious how others use autocad

I do it both ways actually but sometimes Autocad has a tendancy to mess up some of the faces and create an undo amount of tessalation lines when exporting to the .3ds format. I have just found I have better results at times depending on the model ect.. Also it is very simply once the model is in 3D Studio to adjust the coordinates and pivot point to whatever works best. Just for fun here is the first image I created using Autocad 3D modelling and importing into 3D StudioMax :)

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=143228&Start=1&Sectionid=3&WhatsNew=Yes

I found a way: I tried different options in "Edit map" in uvmapper, trying different map modes("Stacked-by-reversed", "stacked", "side by side", "planar" etc), and when I chose one the texture map appeared (see screenshot). Thanks for the interesting discussion, I guess I have a lot to learn about the variety of 3D formats available. ;) JoeBlack

Hey the way i do it is i export from my modeling prog as a 3ds then import to poser ,then without doing anything i export from poser as obj. Then run the obj through uv mapper then import to poser and save then you can paint the maps and apply them cheers dolly

Just so you know, 90% of the DXF models at 3D Cafe also have versions in their native format, usually 3DS, and if the model is shown with textures in the thumb it'll be this file that contains them. The DXF files are a bit of a throwback - DXF was the first 'universal' format that sprang up - pretty much everything can import a DXF. Nowadays, pretty much everything can import (or at least make a game effort) 3DS files so it's sort of supplanted the DXF format for model sharing. Definately check out the SciFi 3D link above - they're easily the best Star Wars models in the public domain. By the way - does anyone know if the Star Wars Modelling Alliance (SWMA) is ever coming back?