AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Autodesk® 3ds Max Design®: Civil View for All #AU2012

Here is my Autodesk University 2012 class on AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Autodesk® 3ds Max Design®: Civil View for All.

CI2543-L Handout Civil View

CI2543-L Presentation Civil View

CI2543-L Civil View For All Dataset

Description

In this hands-on lab, you will learn how to export AutoCAD Civil 3D data into Civil View in Autodesk 3ds 

Max Design software (formerly Dynamite VSP). Step-by-step, you will learn how to create a simple Civil 

3D profile, assembly, and corridor. You will export the Civil 3D software corridor data to a VSP3D file 

format and quickly import the corridor data into Autodesk 3ds Max Design using the Civil View plug-in. 

You will learn how to modify the corridor and create items such as street furniture, vehicles, and trees 

using Civil View. You will also learn how to set up a daylight system and cameras to create still 

renderings and video animations.

Key Learnings

• At the end of this class, you will be able to:
• Create a simple Civil 3D Corridor.
• Export Civil 3D data to use in 3DS Max/Civil View
• Place street furniture such as lights, cameras, guard rails, trees and cars.
• Create a scene with still renderings and video animations.

My Civil View Class

My Civil 3D, Civil View class at #AU2012 went very well. My repeat class is today at 1:00pm pacific time.

Autodesk University 2012 Class in Session!

Here is a photo taken during my AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 3D Studio Max Design®: Civil View for All class at Autodesk University 2012.

AU 2012 Day Two

I had an awesome first day at #AU2012. Today will be just as exciting. My 3D Studio Max and Civil View class starts at 5:00pm pacific time. Wish me luck.

First day of AU2012.

The first day of #AU2012 has been exciting. The Autodesk Fusion 360 class was a blast. Just a few more classes then time to roam the exhibit hall.

Autodesk University 2012 Class Handouts!

I create CDs that resemble vinyl albums with my Autodesk® Civil 3D® 3D Studio Max Design®: Civil View For All class handouts and datasets. They were a hit!

CI6900-L - AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Autodesk® 3ds Max Design®: Civil View for All (Repeat)

A second session of my class has been added to the AU Class Catalog.

CI6900-L - AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Autodesk® 3ds Max Design®: Civil View for All (Repeat)

Autodesk University 2012 Registration is Open!

Autodesk University 2012 Registration is Open!

Visit http://au.autodesk.com to register. I’m teaching a class on exporting Civil 3D corridors and importing the corridors into 3D Studio Max Design and Civil View. A link to my class description is below.

CI2543-L - AutoCAD® Civil 3D® and Autodesk® 3ds Max Design®: Civil View for All

I hope to see everyone in Las Vegas.

Import Sketch Up Models into AutoCAD 2013!

I’ve been looking for a Google Sketch Up import for AutoCAD for a while. I installed AutoCAD 2013 yesterday to try out this plug-in. I’m actually using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013. The free Sketch Up import plug-in I’m using is posted on the Autodesk Exchange App web site. Here is the link directly to the Sketch Up plug-in.

http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/CIV3D/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3asketchupimport%3aen

The plug-in is compatible with the following software.

AutoCAD 2013

AutoCAD Architecture 2013

AutoCAD Mechanical 2013

AutoCAD MEP 2013

Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013

1.    Save the plug-in to a folder.

2.    Install the plug-in.

3.    Once installed, launch AutoCAD 2013.

4.    The Sketch Up plug-in installed a new tab on the Ribbon.

5.    If you have a Sketch Up model ready to import, click “Import SKP File”.

6.    If you need to find Sketch Up model on the internet, click “Get 3D Model”.

a.    The Get 3D Model will redirect you to Google’s 3D Warehouse.

7.    I’ve modeled a number of buildings and other items for Google Earth. I’m going to use one of my own models.

a.    Here’s a link to my Sketch Up models. Models by Vince - Google 3D Warehouse

8.    I downloaded the S. A. Burnette Hall model. It’s a building at a local community college.

10.  Save the file to the project folder.

11.  Tab over the AutoCAD.

12.  Click the “Import SKP File” on the ribbon.

13.  Choose the SKP file.

14.  Place the model a location. I choose 0,0,0.

15.  Rotate the view to see the model in prospective.

16.  Change the visual style from 2D wireframe to Realistic.

17.  Notice the textures were also imported from the Sketch Up model. It seems they lost the alignment. They can be adjusted in the Materials Editor.

Enjoy importing Sketch Up models into AutoCAD 2013. There are an unlimited number of models in Google’s 3D Warehouse.

Autodesk University 2012

I created a wall in 3DS Max and knocked it down using the physics simulation tools.

Autodesk 123D Catch

I finally created a 3D model using Autodesk’s 123D Catch software. It was trial and error at first when taking the photos. There was too much white and reflections on the object and the lens. I was sitting at my desk looking over at a post hanging on the wall. While looking at it, I wondered if it would make for a good 123D Catch background. I asked a co-worked to help with the project.

 

1.   Find a good background to take the photos. This will allow the software to do a better job at stitching the photos.

 

2.     Take a few dozen photos on the upper, strait on and lower areas of a person’s head.

3.       Make sure to overlap the photos as shown in the image below.

 

4.       Copy the photos to the project folder.

5.       Launch the Autodesk 123D Catch Software.

6.       Click Create a new Photo Scene.

7.       Select the photos in the project folder.

8.       Click Compute Photo Scene. (If you need to add additional photos, click Add More Images.)

 

9.       Type your email and a Project Scene Name or leave the name default then click Wait. If the scene is large and are not able to wait, click Email Me. The software will send an email when the process is complete.

10.   If this is your first time using the software, you’ll need to agree to the Terms of Services.

11.   The images are uploaded to Autodesk’s servers to process the model.

 

12.   The scene has finished processing.

13.   Save the scene to the project folder.

14.   Clean up the areas as needed using the toolbar at the top.

15.   The Toolbar contains tools such as:

a.       Rectangular Selection

b.      Lasso Selection

c.       Pan

d.      Dolly

e.      Orbit

f.        Photo Lock

g.       Export Video

h.      Send the Photoscene by email.

i.         Export to Youtube.

j.        Creation Tools

k.       Synchronize Scene with Server.

l.         Generate Mesh

m.    Display Settings

 

16.   The scene can be exported to other software formats such as Autodesk Drawing (dwg),  Autodesk FBX (fbx), RZI (rzi), OBJ (obj), IMP (imp), LAS (las).

17.   I created a YouTube video of the scene.