Surface - Displaying OBJ files

The "Display OBJ Files" button allows you to display imported .obj format models.

Important! To import OBJ files, you will need an external 3D design program (such as Blender 3D, Maya, 3Dstudio Max, Cinema4D) and some experience in 3D modeling!

If you have the appropriate program and basic knowledge and want to import an external model, keep the following in mind:

Colours

A model can have up to 4 materials (in Piper: colours). If you want more, you need to import the model in multiple parts. Details on this are provided below. To define colours, name the model materials in the respective program as fix_1, fix_2, dekor_1, and dekor_2. This is crucial because otherwise, Piper won't be able to apply colours.

• fix_1 and fix_2: These colours will be defined in the front editor. The OBJ should be set to fix 1 colour in Piper, and the respective parts will take the predefined colors from the modeling program. For fix_2 colour, create a polygon above the OBJ in the list. Sometimes, fix_2 might not show up in the object designer but will work correctly outside. They cannot be set to supplementary colours!
  
  
• dekor_1 and dekor_2: These will be the supplementary colors. No need to adjust them in the front editor; just select the desired colours in the cabinet database. You can test if the materials are correctly set in the external program by choosing supplementary colours.
  
  

Texture coordinates (UV)

Although not usually necessary for models created in Piper, UV coordinates must be correct for imported models. Incorrect UVs can cause POV-RAY to fail to render the object (and thus the scene). If you don’t need a specific image or pattern on the surface, a basic projection (like box, cylinder) will suffice.

If you want to make the OBJ model scalable, simply press the indicated icon (green dashed line cube) on the surfaces panel, and the program will automatically set the bounding box size.

Be very careful when dealing with furniture made up of multiple parts. For example, you can place them in the same .frt file in Piper, but make sure to place them in a different front variant slot. Always calculate and input only the largest bounding size into the system. If you have a smaller component, enter the large component's bounding size for it as well, and check the dynamic box, so that when you resize it, the small part won't stretch differently.

OBJ models can only be scaled uniformly (uniform scale), as they do not account for Piper's directional points.

Handling in the Cabinet editor

In the cabinet editor, create a neutral base element, then change its type to fixed pattern. Next, find the .frt file where you saved your model. If there are multiple parts, you’ll need multiple base elements or create multiple pieces of furniture and assemble them using the attach function. This is useful if you want to add different accessories to a base model (e.g., sink + tap). Use the green box icon to ensure the base element takes the predefined size. Once the model appears, set the colors in the cabinet database.

Other

Different programs handle and display surfaces differently. For instance, a complex curved surface might look good in the external editor but not in Piper. Piper is sensitive to non-flat, overly polygonal surfaces, nodes, and inverted surfaces. Position the model in the coordinate system as illustrated in the editor program. In Piper, the 3rd axis is Z, but in some programs, it's Y. Be mindful of this during export.

Keywords: #obj file display