Thanks Michael
This shows the difference in the basic import structure from MoI into--well ---Carrara!
For end shading results, in Carrara, I can not pick any difference.

As you say, various apps have varying import capabilities---It makes me so very, very cross!
(Is Lightwave,latest version, capable of doing just "normal" import of .obj files yet?)

Brian

Hi Brian,

> For end shading results, in Carrara, I can not pick any difference.

You'd probably be more likely to see a difference on things that had some tightly curved areas next to larger flat areas - like filleted areas. Those are the kinds of places where the "just average neighboring faces" type smoothing calculation does not work so well compared to getting the accurate smoothing information.

Also you may not be able to see the shading problems until you use a reflective or highly specular type object material.


> (Is Lightwave,latest version, capable of doing just "normal"
> import of .obj files yet?)

Yes, I've heard that there has been some progress on supporting reading in the "vertex normals" smoothing data in LightWave when doing OBJ imports now.

But I've also heard that there are still some bugs to work out, something about them coming in reversed or something like that, it didn't sound like it was quite all worked out yet but at least it has been going forward.

- Michael

Export your object/s from MOI as .lwo and then use the import script to bring the objects into Blender.

Load the script into Blenders text window an press Alt & P to open a file import window to navigate to your saved object on your hard drive.

If you have saved the import script into Blenders scripts folder then you can also load the file using a Python Script window from Blenders window buttons menu.

Finally. Don,t be tempted to "Remove Doubles" in "Edit Mode". It will mess up the normals with bad results for render.

Hope this helps......

Happy Blending!

Thank you to everyone for these answers. I thought the script went into MOI somehow! lol... I will now be able to use it correctly! Appreciate the help.