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Xylo Quisling

Registered User

Join date: 1 Feb 2007

Posts: 146

02-15-2007 07:38

Hello people,

I made a chair in Maya. I've read contradictory things about importing anything Maya into SL - some say it's impossible, others say it can be done. Does anyone know - can I get my Maya chair into Second Life?

Thanks,
XYlo

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

02-15-2007 07:47

Search this forum for "Maya to Second Life" by Adrian Eisenberg, and "OBJ Importer" by Jeffrey Gomez.

It can be done, but probably not in the way you're thinking. Your chair in Maya is probably a surface model (mesh model). Second Life doesn't use surface modeling. It uses parametric objects, which are more akin to solids than surfaces. There's no easy transition between the two.

The Maya plugin that Adrian is working on allows Maya to create analogs of the kind of objects Second Life uses, and then the data that describes those objects can be recorded for reproduction in SL. It does allow you to make models in Maya, and bring them into SL, but you have to build the models the same way you would have built them in SL. You can't just use an arbitrary mesh.

Jeffrey's OBJ Importer operates by building a triangular prim in place of every tri in your mesh model. It's good for certain things, but needless to say, the results are incredibly prim heavy. It's not something that's suitable for every day use.

There is no magic HAL 9000 super intelligent software solution that can analyze your mesh model and come up with an effiecient SL-prim version of the same thing. That takes a human.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Xylo Quisling

Registered User

Join date: 1 Feb 2007

Posts: 146

02-15-2007 07:59

It's a pity...but thanks for that very clear answer, Chosen.

Xylo

Johan Durant

Registered User

Join date: 7 Aug 2006

Posts: 1,657

02-15-2007 08:02

From: Chosen Few

Search this forum for "Maya to Second Life" by Adrian Eisenberg

His old name is still what you'd be searching for, but note that he goes by Adrian Linden now.

_____________________

(Aelin 184,194,22)

The Motion Merchant - an animation store specializing in two-person interactions

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

02-15-2007 10:01

From: Johan Durant

His old name is still what you'd be searching for, but note that he goes by Adrian Linden now.

Adrian's a Linden now? I didn't know that. Cool.

Adrian, if you're reading this, congrats buddy.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

adrian Linden

Linden Lab Employee

Join date: 7 Nov 2006

Posts: 4

02-15-2007 17:22

Thanks Chosen!

Sorry that it's been so long without an update to the Maya->SL tool. I've been getting a lot of emails about it, and I'll be making it live soon.

I've been hesitant, since it's still not 110% perfect, but it's to a point where it's useable, and could perhaps benefit the community.

I do have some more recent video of it up at http://www.purplestatic.com/MEL_SL - me using the replicator object to make a utah teapot in world.

Bear with me, guys- updates to come soon.

- Adrian

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Maya and SL

Maya and SL
Xylo Quisling Registered User Join date: 1 Feb 2007 Posts: 146	02-15-2007 07:38 Hello people, I made a chair in Maya. I've read contradictory things about importing anything Maya into SL - some say it's impossible, others say it can be done. Does anyone know - can I get my Maya chair into Second Life? Thanks, XYlo
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	02-15-2007 07:47 Search this forum for "Maya to Second Life" by Adrian Eisenberg, and "OBJ Importer" by Jeffrey Gomez. It can be done, but probably not in the way you're thinking. Your chair in Maya is probably a surface model (mesh model). Second Life doesn't use surface modeling. It uses parametric objects, which are more akin to solids than surfaces. There's no easy transition between the two. The Maya plugin that Adrian is working on allows Maya to create analogs of the kind of objects Second Life uses, and then the data that describes those objects can be recorded for reproduction in SL. It does allow you to make models in Maya, and bring them into SL, but you have to build the models the same way you would have built them in SL. You can't just use an arbitrary mesh. Jeffrey's OBJ Importer operates by building a triangular prim in place of every tri in your mesh model. It's good for certain things, but needless to say, the results are incredibly prim heavy. It's not something that's suitable for every day use. There is no magic HAL 9000 super intelligent software solution that can analyze your mesh model and come up with an effiecient SL-prim version of the same thing. That takes a human. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Xylo Quisling Registered User Join date: 1 Feb 2007 Posts: 146	02-15-2007 07:59 It's a pity...but thanks for that very clear answer, Chosen. Xylo
Johan Durant Registered User Join date: 7 Aug 2006 Posts: 1,657	02-15-2007 08:02 From: Chosen Few Search this forum for "Maya to Second Life" by Adrian Eisenberg His old name is still what you'd be searching for, but note that he goes by Adrian Linden now. _____________________ (Aelin 184,194,22) The Motion Merchant - an animation store specializing in two-person interactions
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	02-15-2007 10:01 From: Johan Durant His old name is still what you'd be searching for, but note that he goes by Adrian Linden now. Adrian's a Linden now? I didn't know that. Cool. Adrian, if you're reading this, congrats buddy. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
adrian Linden Linden Lab Employee Join date: 7 Nov 2006 Posts: 4	02-15-2007 17:22 Thanks Chosen! Sorry that it's been so long without an update to the Maya->SL tool. I've been getting a lot of emails about it, and I'll be making it live soon. I've been hesitant, since it's still not 110% perfect, but it's to a point where it's useable, and could perhaps benefit the community. I do have some more recent video of it up at http://www.purplestatic.com/MEL_SL - me using the replicator object to make a utah teapot in world. Bear with me, guys- updates to come soon. - Adrian