I've been trying to model a padlock, and have run into a problem with surface imperfections. The lock on the left is modelled in Cinema 4D GO, using an extruded spline to form the lock body. Another extruded spline (of the keyhole) is subtracted from it to form the completed lock. Note the crease on the left side of the image running from the edge of the keyhole across the face of the lock: it is not supposed to be there, the face of the lock is completely flat. The lock on the right is modelled in Ray Dream Studio. It is not a boolean, the keyhole is cut out from the lock body shape in the Free Form modeller. There are several creases and odd reflective surfaces apparent. Again, these should not be there as that face is completely flat: all of the normals of all of the polygons should be identical. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm running into a problem with a lack of precision in the OBJ format. In both cases, the areas that show such creases are relatively complex areas of the model, with lots of long, thin triangles trying to match the area between the keyhole and the body of the lock. The OBJ files have only 5 digits of precision. Could it be that the triangles are so thin that their two edges actually collide in places (i.e. their position is the same in those 5 digits of precision), leading Poser to be unable to calculate a proper normal for them? More importanly perhaps, can anyone suggest a fix for this sort of problem?

i'm not sure what you mean about the creases on the tube section did you do a pipe object if you use that with an hermite spline it should be smooth.....the bolean creases are a pain...but if the lock body is an extruded spline try creating two spines the main lock one and the keyhole one then drag the keyhole one onto the body one in the object manager then extrude this it will cut out the keyhole automatic (no need to boolean) only catch is itll go right through.......Steve all the above is for cinema

heyas; when ray dream converts a free form model to a mesh form model (ie: an obj), there 'will be some detail loss.' this is mainly because the freeform modeller lets you use curves. here is my method for 'flawless' ffm to mfm conversion. 1: use cross sections with only STRAIGHT segments. it's a pain, it uses more points, but the mfm is going to change them all to straight segments anyway. better to have control. (note: i use corel draw to make my x-secs. i draw the curve, then add extra nodes all 'round, then convert all to straight lines. if you dont have corel/illustrator, guess you're stuck drawing them by hand.) 2: use only straight lines on your extrusion path and envelopes. 3: after your shape is done, add more cross sections. this is more important with organic shapes and things you will want to morph (or turn into a posable figure). put a cross section on each node of the extrusion path. then select each and 'create multiple' to put a bunch in between each section. these will create cross bars for your polygons. um... maybe i should write a tutorial on it?