Any chance of being able to load in a low resolution box model that used for sub division surfaces and create a nurbs smoothed object?
One of my programs I use for this is no longer supported and would be nice to be able to just import the base mesh from programs such as Hexagon, Silo, Hash Animation Master or even Blender and have it auto smooth to nurbs.

maybe this can interest you ?
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=6674.82
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=6674.68

Hi pixelplucker, there is nothing built in to MoI for converting from sub-d cage to NURBS but you might try the plug-in that Pilou has the links to above, that may work for you if you have all regular topology (meaning every vertex has only 4 edges coming out from it).

Otherwise, if that does not do the trick for you the main tools for doing that type of conversion are the T-Splines plug-in for Rhino, or the Sub-d NURBS plugin for Modo or Max:

http://www.tsplines.com/subdtonurbs
http://npowersoftware.com/subdtonurbsoverviewmodo.html

- Michael

This is how it works with T-Spline.

Kind of ironic...I would love to find a good solution for the exact opposite. I'd love to be able to convert my clients' various CAD files into smooth sub-d models to use in animation apps.

sneather, at this moment there is no way to convert Nurbs to Poly with correct topology. But if you are not going to bend or deform objects MOI's export is enough for animation.

Yeah, I realize that. I was mostly just dreaming...
But unfortunately, the exports I make are not often quite as good as I need. But it's NOT the fault of MOI. The issue is with the structure and complexity of the CAD files I get from my clients. There are often insurmountable issues with surface geometry, odd tangents, overlapping sheets, etc. Granted, it's not like sub-d would automatically fix any of that. But at least in some cases, it would allow me to go in and smooth out creases or kinks, with proper control over final mesh tolerances.

Programs like 3d Coat and Zbrush have autoretopoloy tools which will get you most of the way there, then you would have to manually retopo some areas to fix up parts of the autoretopo that aren't as good as you like.

There are a lot of people dreaming of exporting nice all quad sub'd meshes from nurbs/CAD packages. If someone develops it they will be on a winner. At the moment those two programs listed above do a pretty good job.

Also take a look at ViaCAD/Shark & FormZ as they have recently released sub'd to nurbs tools.

I'm wondering what the development status is of Max's fabulous MoI plug-in. I'm eagerly awaiting the mentioned "Quality" variation of the algorithm, which hopefully will create a truly seamless result, without slightly visible corners / edges in the smoothed object.

That looks like it will do the trick. One question though, how do you see the scripts loaded at the bottom of the MOI screen?
I'm a little lost at running scripts here.

Thanks.

Hi pixelplucker,

> One question though, how do you see the scripts loaded at the bottom of the MOI screen?

It's a UI customization that you can get from here:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=6507.1

- Michael

Hi Metin

Sorry, I'm very busy at work last months. I'll try to release it this year.
I'm very close. I need some time to optimise it.

Hi Andrei,

At about 2:01 in the very first Nvil to MOI YouTube video, in MoI you select and edge, then another edge, then you hit a shortcut key to select all the connected edges. What is the script which allows you to selected the connected edges? Thx! Your videos are MOST helpful.

The Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3o9EeVpuhA

Hi Chipp,

re:
> What is the script which allows you to selected the connected edges?

Probably the one from here:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=6988.4

- Michael

Thanks, but that expands surfaces, not edges. Is there a script to expand the selection of edges?

script:/*Loop selection*/moi.geometryDatabase.SelectLoop();

There is also a script which will select all the edges of a selected face.. This can be found on the resources page, under pertr's moi page-selection scripts....

chippwalters, looks like I used Loop selection script.

Hi Max,

Amazing smooth result on this quadball-like mesh ... I can't even see the poles when I disable the edges !!!

Any update Max ? Need to re-express my high interest into you work :o)