Exercise: Importing and integrating 3D geometries
Click on the icon for a quick preview of the exercise and the final result.

Download an archive that contains the footage as well as the setups used in this exercise.
Put these files in your Flame system: for example under the /usr/tmp directory.

To learn how to load material into the Flame Library, see the exercise:
“Loading an archive”

Images courtesy of: VERSION 2
Images are subject to copyright: please read the disclaimer at the end of this tutorial.

Start in Batch.
1. Drag an Action node to the Batch schematic.
2. Click the NodeSetup tab to the left of the interface to modify some of the Action settings.
Under the Rendering options, keep Z-Buffer ON.
Enable Shading.
Under the Miscellaneous options, change Auto Image to Auto Image OFF.
Turn AutoKey OFF to prevent animating values over time.

1. Swipe left to access the Batch Node Bin.
2. Drag the Library node to the Batch schematic to access the Library.
3. In the Library, select the clip “Phonograph_BG”.
4. Press Load.
5. Connect the image to the Action background tab.
6. Switch to Result view; press F4.

We will import and modify a 3D model that was exported as a Film Box file from 3ds Max.
Note: First download and copy the FBX file to the system; don’t forget to unzip it as well.

1. Press ALT 2 to work with 2 view ports.
Set Action schematic on the left, press ~, and Result on the right, press F4.
2. Double-Click the Import node in the Action tool bin.
3. Choose FBX Click in the file type list.
4. Browse for the file “Comp2_Phonograph_FBX”.
5. Select the file and press Load.

The 3D elements are grouped under a main axis; each component of the phonograph is separated. The handle is animated. There are also three light objects that we will edit later. You can reorganize the nodes in the schematic and put the lights aside if you want.

1. In the Action node bin, double-click on the “Axis” node to add it to the composite.
2. In the Action schematic, drag a connection from “axis1” to “Phonograph_Group1”.
3. Double-click on “Axis1” in the schematic.
4. Position the objects to your liking or enter the following axis values:
Position X 250
Position Y -550
Position Z -850
Rotation X 10°
Rotation Y 230
Rotation Z 0
Prop Scale 50%

We will change the texture of some of the 3D objects, adding the media directly inside the Action Layers.
1. Select in the Media tab and choose the options From Lib and Add Media.
2. Press Add Media.
3. In the Library, select the clip “Texture_dust_cc”.
4. Press Load.
Note: Since Auto Image is OFF in SetupNode, no image is added to the scene by default.
5. Select the geometry node “wood_box1” in the schematic.
6. Select the media layer that contains the texture.
7. In the Action node bin, switch from the Objects tab to the Maps tab.
8. Double-click the Diffuse Map icon in the Action image bin to add it to the scene.
9. Double-Click the Geom node of the wood box.
10. In the Geometry tab, select Imported.
11. Deactivate the Use setting under Submaterials.
12. In the Geometry tab, select UV Map
13. Change the Mapping Type from “None” to “Spherical”
14. Double-click the diffuse object to look at the options.
15. In the Texture menu, change the Repeat Mode from “Repeat Off” to “Tile Repeat”
16. Also connect the Geom “base_Gold1” to the texture branch.
Now the two elements use the same texture.
17. Select the Geom node of “base_Gold1”.
18. In the Geometry tab, select Imported
19. Deactivate the Use setting under Submaterials.

1. Select in the Media tab and click Add Media.
2. In the Library, select the clip “Texture_reflect1”.
3. Press Load.
4. Select the geometry node “phonograph1” in the schematic.
5. Select media layer 2 that contains the texture.
6. Double-click the Reflection Map icon in the Action node bin to add it to the scene.
7. Double-click the “phonograph1” Geom node object in the schematic.
8. In the Geometry tab, select Imported.
9. Deactivate the Use setting under Submaterials.
10. Connect the Geom “turnTable1” to the texture branch in the schematic.
11. Select the Geom node of “turnTable1”.
12. Deactivate the Use setting under Submaterials.

There are imported lights in this scene but we need to adjust them to our current scene.

1. Select the Light “Omni02” in the Action schematic.
2. Under the Light Object tab, change the Intensity value to 60%.
3. Click in the light Colour pot and select a pale tone on the background.
This way the light shader will be of similar colors than the background.
4. Select the Light “Omni03” in the Action schematic.
5. Change the Intensity value to 80%.

We will use a projector to add a shimmering patina to the phonograph.

1. Select in the Media tab and click Add Media.
2. In the Library, select the clip “Texture_projector”.
3. Press Load.
4. In the Action node bin, switch from Maps to Objects.
5. Double-click the Projector icon in the Action node bin to add it to the scene.
(You might need to scroll the nodes in the node bin.)
6. Double-click the Projector in the schematic to access its menu.
7. Change the Projector mode to Spot Blend.
8. Reposition the Projector in the scene to your liking or enter the following projector values:
Position X 400
Position Y -230
Position Z 1500

We will add a shadow to the phonograph and we need to prevent the projector to affect it.

1. Select layer in the Action Media menu and click on Add Media.
2. Swipe left to access the Batch nodes.
3. In the Library, hold CTRL and select the clips “Phonograph_shadow_fill” and “Phonograph_shadow_matte”.
4. Press Load.
5. In the Action node bin, switch from the “Objects” tab to the “Surfaces” tab
6. Double-click the Extended Bicubic icon in the Action node bin.
7. We need to unlight the projector from the shadow image:
Change the Move operator to Lighting in the list, or press L.
8. Hold ALT for the exclude mode, and pull a link between the projector and the image branch.

1. Double-click the ExtBicubic surface.
2. Position the shadow to your liking or enter these Axis values:
Centre X 70
Centre Y -300
Position X 100
Position y -250
Position XZ -600
Rotation X -80
Rotation Z -110
Prop Scale 80%
3. Set the Surface transparency to 50%.
4. Select the Vertices tab and press Subdivide.
5. Blur the image:
Go in the Media tab, and choose the layer with the shadow image.
6. Apply a Xblur of 80, and a YBlur of 60.
Adjust the surface points if needed:
Change the Lighting operator to Move in the list, or press M.
7. Look at the Top and the Side views if you want, press SHIFT 4 and SHIFT 3.

If you want to know more about the interface and the functionalities covered in this exercise, watch the following overview:

To continue practicing with the next exercise, click on the following link: