Using orbx materials library

[tapanojum]

Can someone explain how this import orbx works, step by step? I have yet to make any use of it. DrawFun wrote it's added through "Properties-Data-Orbx properties-Orbx File Path" but the only Orbx file import I can find is under "Object Data Properties". Importing an obj, fbx, or alembic and applying an Orbx file under Object Data results in a "ERROR! Check console for detailed error messages."

So what's the step by step use case here or was this a feature that only worked before blender 2.8?

[J.C]

Can someone explain how this import orbx works, step by step? I have yet to make any use of it. DrawFun wrote it's added through "Properties-Data-Orbx properties-Orbx File Path" but the only Orbx file import I can find is under "Object Data Properties". Importing an obj, fbx, or alembic and applying an Orbx file under Object Data results in a "ERROR! Check console for detailed error messages."

So what's the step by step use case here or was this a feature that only worked before blender 2.8?

This is not for importing obj, fbx, or alembic files but only ORBX files. You can export whole scene or a single object to this format and open it in other plugins or standalone with all materials, textures and cameras used.

[tapanojum]

That's what I'm not understanding, how do I import the orbx file? I can't find any mention of orbx in any menu unless I add geometry to the scene first in order to access object data properties, only there I see a line mentioning orbx.

[grimm]

It works strangely, almost like it's a proxy object. To test I started with the default cube in Blender. I selected the cube and then went to it's Object Data Properties panel. Under the "Orbx properties" I just loaded in a ORBX file, in this case it is a plane with particle system that I had exported to standalone. As you can see the cube is still selected and the overlay outline is still visible, but when you render it will render the plane instead.

[tapanojum]

That's an awesome use, thanks for sharing Grimm.

I'm interested in this " You can export whole scene or a single object to this format and open it in other plugins or standalone with all materials, textures and cameras used."

Because I'm migrating out of Daz Octane to Blender, I have thousands of objects between dozens of scenes to convert to Octane. Doing this one by one in LiveDB is simply masochistic. If I was able to import the entire scene through ORBX as was suggested, then that would be amazing.

[grimm]

ORBX does export the whole scene, but in this case I think that the camera is being ignored. You will need to test to make sure, but as you can see, the objects and textures are preserved.

[J.C]

...
I'm interested in this " You can export whole scene or a single object to this format and open it in other plugins or standalone with all materials, textures and cameras used."
...

Imported ORBX in Blender will be treated as one object. You won't be able to separate it or edit materials. It only can be visible during render time.
Imported ORBX in Standalone will have editable materials and separate objects in object layers.

[tapanojum]

Imported ORBX in Blender will be treated as one object. You won't be able to separate it or edit materials. It only can be visible during render time.
Imported ORBX in Standalone will have editable materials and separate objects in object layers.

How do I import ORBX into Blender?

[linograndiotoy]

About the orbx import feature, it is also available for OctaneBlender now. You can find it in "Properties-Data-Orbx properties-Orbx File Path" in OctaneBlender after 17.4.

How does the ORBX import feature work? I exported an ORBX from Stand Alone. In Blender Octane, I then access the default cube's Data property and set file path to the ORBX I exported from Stand Alone. But nothing happens. The scene does not load. And nothing renders.

Works fine here. Which version are you using? Can we see a render of the ORBX in Standalone?

Thanks!