Forum: Carrara


Subject: Info Required!

Ejaz opened this issue on Sep 23, 2002 ยท 7 posts


Ejaz posted Mon, 23 September 2002 at 9:06 AM

Dear Friend!!! I have heared that by Carrara you can convert the 2D drawings into a 3D model!!!is it true?If it is true then why the peoples are using Rhino 3D or 3D studio max for 3D modelling???which are more difficuilt to use if carrara can do this?Plz clear my mind.


bluetone posted Mon, 23 September 2002 at 10:07 AM

I haven't used either Rhino or 3DMax to say if they are more difficult or not. With Carrara you can import an Adobe Illustrator file (*.ai) into a plane of the vertex modeler to extrude and manipulate. I have done this a few times with client logos, and have found it to be relativly painless. An .ai file can be generated from within PhotoShop as well, by outlining what you want with the pen tool, and then saving the path as an .ai file. This is usually pretty quick and clean. I haven't had much success with importing .dxf files into Carrara. For that matter, if anyone out there has some helpful hints for this I would appreciate it. I use Vectorworks for 2D/3D CAD work, but haven't found the magic bullet for converting into C.


bikermouse posted Tue, 24 September 2002 at 4:48 AM

bluetone, hmmm. I think I did something like this in Raydream way back when. I'll have to experiment in C2 when I get some time. The only CAD program I have is Turbocad 3, but I think I used Corel sucessfully once or twice to import 2d into Raydream. I'll get back to you if I can remember what I did or figure it out for C2. - TJ


ashley3d posted Tue, 24 September 2002 at 5:42 AM

Bluetone is right about importing Adobe Illustrator AI files. In Spline modeling you would simply select a plane that you want the AI file on and do a File Import. TJ is also right, in that CorelDraw will also export to AI. Now down to the question that started all this. Carrara can NOT make models of 2d illustrations. It can only extrude them on planes, like cross-section of a aircraft. You will still have to put a lot of time and effort into creating models --Ashley3D


litst posted Tue, 24 September 2002 at 7:51 AM

Hi Ejaz, The technique that lets you convert 2D pictures to 3D is called photogrametry . Some softwares do this : Photomodeller, Geometra, Canoma ... but not Carrara . Like most softwares, Carrara lets you model objects from scratch . I think you've made a confusion between Carrara and Canoma, both softwares were first edited by Metacreations and their names look alike . You're not the first one ;) I've used photogrametry a bit with Geometra and Photomodeller, there are free versions of those softs . Canoma was very limited . For a lot of reasons, the results are not always realistic, and it's not very easy to use either . Frankly, photogrametry can be very time consuming and boring so my advice is : look but don't touch ;) litst


bikermouse posted Wed, 25 September 2002 at 3:46 AM

check out Photomodeler lite on pcplus website (download page - index p.) It is something like Canoma. Canoma, the last
time I heard was no longer offered for sale.


willf posted Wed, 25 September 2002 at 9:43 PM

Attached Link: http://www.d-vw.com

Computer Arts Special (magazine/CD35) has a free software program called D Sculptor which will turn a series of photographs into a mesh-model object including the textures. It's only for PC though. Looks rather time-consumeing but may be what you'r looking for.