OTOY Forums

I am quickly evaluating Octane for purchase. I hope this isn't a ridiculously dum question but is there a "zoom to fit" function in Octane. I am importing objects and quite often the scene is very tightly framed so that in order to see anything I have to zoom out a couple of dozen times with the shift key pressed and risk missing the objects all together as they disappear into infinity. I've played with import units but the initial display after import seems a little random to me. Thanks, Jimmy.

Its not random. everything is highly predictable, you just have to understand it and you are not the first one.
Using one of the exporters when purchasing the application simplifies a lot of things, + enhance your workflow.
You can set everything up regarding camera, motion in host app and it zaps directly over into octane.
Always remember to work in a reallife scale for good manners.
There is plently of documentation for scales when purchased.

also, by default Octane will open your mesh first time loaded with a view close to the 0,0,0 point (the origin) so it's a good pratice to have your model in a proper scale (Octane even thou accepts other systems works in meters) and close to the origin. That's also good practice for your modeling app, 'cause in some of them (ie 3dmax, sketchup) models far away from origin have erratic behavior inside the modeling app and at export to any other app (this has nothing to do with Octane)

Thanks GK and Kubo for your responses, much appreciated.

I am still not sure where I am going wrong.

Some more background.....All my models are models of real products in development coming out of the engineering software Solid Edge (similar to solid works). They are all in real units and range between 300mm to 1200mm accross. They are all centred on the origin. Unfortunately, Solid Edge doesn't have an obj export so I am translating through Simlab which reads native Solid Edge format and then exports to OBJ. I guess I must being missing some important setting I haven't found going through this workflow.

GK, you said, "Using one of the exporters when purchasing the application simplifies a lot of things, + enhance your workflow."

I assume that you are referring to purchasing an exporter for my modelling package (Solid Edge). Besides Simlab which I am trialling, I've only been able to find one other (from third party www.sycode.com/products/obj_export_se/index.htm) but I haven't been able to find anyone who has used it. No trial is available either. Purchasing it just to evaluate Octane is an option but I am reluctant to potentially throw away the cash.

Thanks again for your replies, Jimmy.

Actually what [gk] meant is that when you buy Octane you get access to all the Octane exporters there are (there is one for almost all mayor modeling packages and more coming), they are all free. But I do see that there could be a problem from what you are saying, units. Octane works mainly in meters, so it's recomended that prior to export you setup your modeling app in meters. Otherwise you'll import your model either too big (mm, cm ...) or too small (Km...) and have problem with textures and also locating and zooming on your object.

Ahh I see. The units thing shouldn't be an issue as I have a lot of control over units in SE (I think?). Kubo do you know if there is an Octane exporter available for Solid Edge? I can't find any reference to it. Thanks for your help.

I've checked and there doesn't seem to be one at the moment, althou I don't know if there's one planned or in the works. Usually the plugins are developed by third parties, customers that know their modeling app "language" and can create a plugin/script folowing the guidelines by Refractive team. If you think you are up to the task, or know someone able, contact Refractive software and let them know, I'm sure they'll be interested.

Thanks for looking into that. Unfortunately creating a plug in would be beyond me and my network. Hopefully someone might pick up the ball in the future. I will keep looking for a smooth workflow as I think Octane's realtime render feedback and interface would really suit an occassional user like me. If I have any revelations I will post back for any one listening in. Cheers.