Searching for a better Autodesk FBX Review

[mariustipa]

I wish to model some simple parts in order to show all the plane projection to the students. I intend to use in my classes.

So I draw some simple parts in 3Ds Max then export them to FBX format because the viewer is free.

There is a problem with FBX Review because there is no Parallel Projection available. F3D which can be an alternative but got the same issue of Parallel Projection. At least I cannot find where to set this from.

Try to explain it in the images attached.

Is there another free viewer for this?

[leeminardi]

Try the Orthographic camera option for 3dviewer.

[A娘]

you can try blender , it is free software , with sun light you can get parallel projection

[mariustipa]

Yes indeed. What I forgot to say is that I'm looking for a standalone solution because the online way depends on the producer: today it is tomorrow is not.

And I am making this both for today and tomorrow ...

But yes I am using the online viewer to show assembly design and the components inside.

[mariustipa]

The whole package is destinated not only for my students but for another kids from another schools (age of 14-15). It will be difficult for them to run Blender. Even to install it.

[mariustipa]

More: my dream 🙂 is to find a standalone viewer which can be set automatic to one or another ortographic projection. 

[MartinBeh · Accepted solution]

I have not tried this yet, but according to the github pages, F3D already supports orthographic projection.

Here it says the hotkey is "5" on the numpad, and here it says the command-line option is "--camera-orthographic"

[A娘]

F3D didn't support directional light , so it can't achieve parallel projection

same as fbx review , it will change directional light to omni while F3D remove it

orthographic view has no meaning with projection

[MartinBeh]

Not sure actually. Does "Parallel Projection" mean in this context the projection of the scene into the camera (i.e. perspective or orthographic), or the projection of the scene geometry onto the floor by a light source (infinite light)?

The attached images seem to suggest an orthographic camera, but maybe I am missing something here

[A娘]

if  he means orthographic view , he should has noticed fbx review can change perspective  to top/front/left , of course he may missing it and not explain clearly

[mariustipa]

I mean orthographic view ...

[mariustipa]

Yes indeed orthographic view

[mariustipa]

Hi Martin, yes indeed there is part of solution: hotkeys. I will study this. Kindly regards and thank you!

[mariustipa]

Don't need lights there.

[mariustipa]

So he means that ortographic view it is the same with parallel projection.

[mariustipa]

Yes indeed but I can see that there are available only 3 views in F3D with the proper shortcuts. I need 6 ...

[mariustipa]

It is difficult to rotate - orbit arround one certain axis, it rotates it random ...

[MartinBeh]

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@mariustipa wrote:

It is difficult to rotate - orbit arround one certain axis, it rotates it random ...

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Not sure what is going on, but for me it works perfectly: I start the app, load the FBX, hit "5" to switch to orthographic view and use LMB to rotate. I can hit "1" for front view, "3" for right view, or "7" for top view. See https://f3d.app/docs/user/INTERACTIONS 

Maybe your scene is far from the origin, or has some unusual orientation?

[mariustipa]

it can be achieved in F3D by pressing F6 as one can see here in answers.

No link between lighting mode and parallel projection but it could be one indeed

[leeminardi]

@mariustipa since you are a teacher perhaps we should backtrack and clarify the definition of a few terms.

1. Parallel projection - a projection of a 3D object to a plane in which the projection lines are parallel.
2. Axonometric projection - a parallel projection where the projection lines are perpendicular to the viewing plane.
3. Oblique, cabinte, and cavalier projections -  parallel projections where the projection lines are parallel but NOT perpendicular to the viewing plane. 
4. Orthographic projection - an axonometric projection where the object is oriented such a manner that one of its six principal views(front, top, right, back, bottom, left) are perpendicular to the viewing plane.

A search via wikipedia can  provide some graphical examples of these projections.

It sounds line you want the abiity to dynamically show the tranisition from one orthographic view to another.  Is this correct?