COLLADA Import and Export
COLLADA is an open, XML based file format (.dae) created by Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. for its PlayStation® 3 platform.
Note COLLADA import is available in Shade3D Professional.
Importing from COLLADA Format
Select File > Import > COLLADA to import a COLLADA format (.dae) file. In the import dialog box that appears the material and UV settings can be changed.
COLLADA Import Settings
- Coordinate Transformation Settings
-
- Scale
- Sets the size of the imported object in Shade3D.
- Coordinates Preview Box
- Shows a preview of the coordinates orientation as specified by the Invert and Swap buttons.
- Invert Buttons (X, Y, Z)
- Inverts the specified axis. Changes will be reflected in the Coordinates Preview box.
- Swap Buttons (X-Y, Y-Z, Z-X)
- Swaps the specified axes. Changes will be reflected in the Coordinates Preview box.
- Reset Button
- Resets the Invert and Swap buttons and returns the orientation of the axes to the default settings.
- COLLADA Import Settings
-
- Use Group Name Checkbox
- The group names will be used for the names of objects. When unchecked, objects' original names are written.
- UV Value Checkbox
- Loads polygon mesh UV values. When loading data with UV values, leave this checkbox on.
- Invert V Value Checkbox
- When checked, inverts the V value information.
- Material File Checkbox
- Loads a material file (.mtl) which is applied as surface attributes.
- Convert From Poser Units
- Used when importing a file in Poser units. Helps prevent reduction of the scale when importing OBJ files exported from Poser.
- Skin Checkbox
- Loads skin animation. Depending on the 3D CG tool used to export the COLLADA file, loading skin animation can cause problems. If that happens, deselect this checkbox.
Exporting to COLLADA Format
Select File > Export > COLLADA to export a COLLADA format (.dae) file.
You can select specific options in the Export dialog box.
COLLADA Export Settings
The Basic Settings are the same as in other export dialog boxes, so only the COLLADA-specific Export Settings are described here.
See also Export Group
- Max Vertices Per Face Pop-up Menu
- Specifies the maximum number of vertices per face. The standard is 4-sided (rectangles), but other options are 3-side (triangles) or unlimited.
Because the exported data will be polygon meshes, choose to export the faces as triangles, quadrangles, or n-gons.
- Texture Folder Text Box
- If images are mapped and can be exported, those images are saved during export.
The name for the folder used to save the textures can be specified here.
If no name is specified in this text box, the texture images will be saved in the same location (folder) as the COLLADA file (.dae). - File Format Pop-up Menu
- Select the format for exported texture maps. The choices are Windows Bitmap (.bmp), PNG, TGA, TIFF, and JPEG. The default is JPEG.
- Round to Nearest Integer Checkbox
- This option automatically solves rounding issues in floating point calculations in your geometry.
- Check Duplicates Checkbox
- Automatically checks for and removes duplicate vertices on faces generated during the export process.
Selecting this option will increase the time it takes to export the model. - Double Sided Faces Checkbox
- Automatically creates double-sided faces in exported geometry. The number of polygons in the model will double, so file size will increase significantly.
- Invert Faces Checkbox
- Select this option when the object is inside-out or when the inside faces are visible but the outside faces are hidden.
If the scene includes some objects that look normal and some that are inside-out, invert the faces of each object individually before exporting. - Bake Matrix Checkbox
- The COLLADA format has a hierarchical structure (nodes) and each node can hold a transformation matrix. When exporting to COLLADA format, some joints' transformation matrices can be exported as COLLADA nodes, but the transformation matrices in parts containing unsupported joints may not export properly. As a result some parts may not be exported to the correct position in COLLADA.
By selecting this option, vertices of transformation matrices will be preprocessed, and joint effects will be ignored. This option is enabled for still objects. - Animation Checkbox
- If there are animation settings in Shade3D that cannot be defined in COLLADA, the COLLADA file may not export properly. If that happens, deselect this checkbox.
- Asset Information Group
- Here the management information of COLLADA files is described.
Objects Converted during Export
All exported objects are exported as a single mesh.
| Shade3D Object | COLLADA | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Closed line object | All exported objects are exported as a single mesh | If the closed line object does not lie on a plane in Shade3D it is subdivided into triangles. The Object Info Hole checkbox is not supported |
| Open line object | ||
| Revolved line object | The Closed checkbox and the Revolve Begin/End parameters in the Object Info window are supported for revolved line objects in Shade3D. | |
| Extruded line object | ||
| Disk | ||
| Revolved disk | The Closed checkbox and the Revolve Begin/End parameters in the Object Info window are supported for revolved disks in Shade3D. | |
| Extruded disk | ||
| Sphere | ||
| Curved surface | ||
| Polygon mesh | Round Edge is supported for polygon meshes. | |
| Meta-mesh | ||
| Boolean Modeling | Boolean rendering is not supported | |
| Link object |
Basically, as the above table shows, each object is exported as a single mesh. Only extruded solids are exported as 3 meshes.
Boolean rendering is not supported.
Surface Attributes Support
The following surface attributes in Shade3D are supported:
- Diffuse color
- Texture mapping
Texture Mapping Support
Texture mapping is supported.
However, if texture maps are applied to multiple layers, only the topmost mapping data is exported.
Caution Only the diffuse color texture map attribute is exported.
Camera and Light Support
Lighting information is not supported.
Camera position information can be exported.
Joints Support
Slider joints, rotator joints, scale joints and uni-scale joints are supported.
Joints not listed above are not converted.
Caution COLLADA Exporter does not support skin settings.