BIMx: Notes on Model Data, 3D Model Settings, and Textures
These tips and technical details are intended for optimizing the Archicad model before saving it in BIMx.
When you open a BIMx model in any BIMx app, the model will use the Model Unit defined in Archicad by default.
For a more detailed description plus examples, consult the article on “Archicad export optimization for BIMx” at this link.
Sun Settings for Enhanced BIMx Presentations
As of Archicad 27: If you use Date and Time sun positioning in 3D Projection Settings or Camera Settings, Archicad will save the realistic sun position to the Hyper-model, and BIMx's Sun settings palette will open Date and time by default instead of custom.
See
Using Date and time as default helps you create dynamic presentations in BIMx that display sun and shadow effects reflecting the model’s real appearance at different times of the day.
You can save different camera positions with different time settings in Archicad, and include them in the Hyper-model as BIMx Gallery items. You can also save favorites in BIMx for the same purpose on your device.
Read more: Accurate Sun Positioning in BIMx.
Each Archicad element has an Element ID, defined by default in its Tool Settings dialog box, under the Classification and Properties Panel. Make sure that your Archicad model elements include this Element ID data for best results in BIMx.
Read more here.
Background: When you are working In Teamwork, creating issues, or generating hyperlinks, BIMx can provide smart feedback on selected elements by identifying each element by its ID. If the Archicad model does not include this element ID data, BIMx cannot provide this ID-based feedback.
Change in BIMx 3D format (Archicad 26 and later)
As of Archicad 26, BIMx models use a single, modern 3D model format.
In earlier versions, exporting to BIMx format required generating the 3D model twice - to accommodate two different formats (older and newer). The renewed mobile, web, and desktop apps already use only the new 3D format.
As of Archicad 26: The previous, outdated 3D model format is no longer exported, and all models are exported only with the newer format. Export from Archicad is considerably faster in many cases, and the file size is smaller.
Advantages of the new format are visible in both BIMx Desktop and BIMx Web:
•BIMx model reflects Archicad Location Settings:
–Direct light makes the model more realistic (north-facing sides are darkened). Set Project Location and/or North Angle in Project References > Location Settings to open the 3D model with the desired and realistic light direction in BIMx.
–Automatic rotation of “Skybox” background
•Archicad-defined View Cone is also reflected in BIMx. Define the desired View Cone in 3D Projection Settings. You can set different values for e.g. interior and exterior 3D models included in the same Hyper-model.
•On-the-fly rendering (Ambient Occlusion) is available in all BIMx apps.
BIMx supports the following surface texture formats: jpg, bmp, tif, tga, png, gif.
If a texture would fail to load for any reason, the object that uses it will be drawn with the surface color instead.
As of Archicad 26, when exporting an Archicad model to BIMx, you can set your own texture size limit for a 3D view - for better control over texture quality, model size, and the time needed for export. The previous limit was hard-coded at 1024 x 1024 pixels in Archicad 25 and earlier versions.
The new default is 2048 x 2048 pixels, and you can max this out to 4096 x 4096 pixels for best detail level, or choose a smaller texture size to limit file size and save time.
Use texture mapping and alpha-channel transparent pictures instead of physical models. This solution can be extremely useful if you do need a large number of trees, vehicles, fences and other complex objects in the model.
BIMx supports alpha channel texture effects with 32-bit tif, tga and bmp images. For the alpha channel effects to be detected inside BIMx, you must enable transparency in the Archicad surface/texture properties.
However, transparent objects are not necessary visualized using the correct display order - to do so would put a big dent in your performance.