Hi just found some excellent plant models to use... but.. when I import them into poser and export them as obj files when I render them they develop a diamond dimples effect like the geodesic sphere at epcot. anyone have any ideas? thanks Dave

im not sure i know what i'm talking about, but try going to the render materials window and taking off any highlights...

Is there is a possibility that they aren't welded? If Poser doesn't smooth them, it's because they need to be welded.

Hi here is an example, tried welding vertices when I imported obj, I like this persons creations as they tend to come with their own tex maps, unusual imho for 3ds figures. hope this helps, but thanks anyway Dave

Attached Link: http://www.toucan.co.jp/product/3ds/garden/modelsE.html

Did you by any chance get these from Toucan's? Because if so, he has modified all his meshes and they now render beautifully. Just a couple of days ago I imported them all (in 3ds format) and resaved them all as props. Since they come with maps that means they've already been uvmapped hence no need to turn them into .obj's, only makes the mesh bigger. In case you didn't get them from Toucan's do so right now! :) And if you're interested check out the fish as well, also very great models http://www.toucan.co.jp/product/3ds/3dsFrameSetE.html

HI - I've had this happen with plants too. It seems to be a combination of reversed normals, and sometimes welding also. But try reversing the normals, using the grouping tool before you weld. Welding sometimes make things rounded that are supposed to have sharp edges, so do that after at least trying the normals.

Attached Link: http://www.kurtz-fernhout.com/PlantStudio/help/index.htm

Kalypso, those meshes are delightful and they remind me of Plant Studio meshes that were altered. Maybe going back to Kurtz is a good idea.

EricofSD, I didn't know Plant Studio has become GPL free software! I'm downloading my copy right now :) As for Toucan's site, I don't think they've been ripped off as he's selling the higher res models with hi-res maps on TurboSquid. ronstuff - when I first downloaded them I tried everything you mentioned but no dice. I remember running into a similar problem with meshes made in Imagine, .iob files. Even after making them obj's and trying everything they would still render like this. At some point I went back to Toucan's and he said he had been informed of the problems Poser users were having and was modifying them. After redownloading them I found they worked perfectly. I wish I knew what he had done and if anything can be done to all these .iob files I have.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?Form.ShowMessage=760796

If it isn't normals or welding, then the only other thing that it is likely to be is triangulatioin. Follow this link for an example. Sounds like this is what you are seeing. Poser is very sensitive to vertex rotation order (the sequence in which the vertices are enumerated in the file) By changing the sequence of 4 points (which describe two adjacent triangles) you can alter the location of the one common side, then the renderer does not get confused on the shading.