I tried to export an animation from 3ds Max into Poser via FBX but the orientation is all wrong. Does anyone know how to fix this issue?

Here is a video showing my problem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M123Z766l_c

I would have thought you did the export right with the axis set to Y-Up although with how it appears in Poser it is indicating the wrong configuration. Max Z-Up from memory Daz/Poser Y-Up have you tried it as Z-Up out of Max?

- Johnny G

"Try animation to get things moving"

lpr001@renderosity.com

Yes, I tried both Z-up and Y-up. Both looked wrong.

Here is the FBX file as it appears in Notepad if anyone can make any sense out of it.

http://mailpost.webatu.com/helicopter.html

You can copy and paste it into Notepad and then save it with a .FBX extension to try the import yourself.

Working upright and flying in 3DX but throws it on its ear in Poser 11 Pro

- Johnny G

"Try animation to get things moving"

lpr001@renderosity.com

It is showing all the signs of the axis but you could try this. Save a second copy of your project in Max and remove all the animation to isolate the prop itself. Export the FBX file the same as you have done and see if it is upright. I am wondering if it is not the animation data telling it where to be heading as a starting point.

- Johnny G

"Try animation to get things moving"

lpr001@renderosity.com

I exported again with Animation unchecked. The helicopter is in the right orientation this time. But my goal is to import the animation.

Sorry for the delay freemarlie. I don't think it will be an easy fix. Alembic would be the go but both Daz and SM offers this as a export feature only out to game engines etc. Where MAX you can go import and export same with HitFilm and a few others. Looking at the data I was left wondering what would happen if you changed the Y's to Z's and vice versa what would happen but would be more effort than animating the helicopter in Poser. I managed to change the configuration and reset the pivot to bottom center and have it land the right way up in Poser, but it makes it a starting point so the minute it starts to read the embedded files it will start to turn over.

- Johnny G

"Try animation to get things moving"

lpr001@renderosity.com

That's OK. Don't worry about it. Thanks for the effort to help.

Just curious. I see that the helicopter is a dummy prop so are you looking for the actual motion for a flying helicopter to work in Poser or just testing the workflow to and fro?

- Johnny G

"Try animation to get things moving"

lpr001@renderosity.com

I was going to import a helicopter into Poser and parent that to the dummy and make the dummy invisible.

I never considered doing much animation in Poser. Threw in a couple of walk motions once but seems pretty straight forward and I have seen some excellent work done with the software. I had a render going so while I waited loaded a Bell helicopter and was pleasantly surprised at what could be done in little time. In the Poser library I loaded the pyramid because it gives you a nice directional tip to work with Loaded the helicopter and parented it to the pyramid in the same fashion you had in mind with the dummy import. I went in 500 frames and inserted a key to give the chopper time to get it's blades up to speed for the lift off and mapped out the course, used the dials to get a good movement on it and then went back and animated the main and tail rotors. Good part about a helicopter is the take offs are never that smooth LOL

- Johnny G

"Try animation to get things moving"

lpr001@renderosity.com