Need to Animate 3D Tech Drawings

I am working on two projects that both involve breakthroughs in sustainable energy production. Parts of the technology is already in final prototype to actually in service but other parts are still in the early prototype and pre final design stages.

My challenge is to utilize or create obj or other 3D files and be able to assemble, animate movement and show animated flow paths of fuel materials and resultant energy creation. I am looking for some software solutions that can ultimate work with FCPX and motion. My only criteria is nothing that has a 10 year learning curve or cost a gazillion $$.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Richard

Hello, Richard, more or less you can do everything with Apple motion, a few examples of animation would help. Go in my “real 3D” topic and see animations that I published,They were done entirely in the 3D text environment of Apple motion. If you need animate .obj inside Apple Motion there is a plugin:“mObject” by motionVFX.
Pielle

Hi Pielle, Thanks for the quick reply. I have included two short clips. the first we did in Motion & FCPX with a 3d rendering. The second clip is an example of the type of animation we would like to do on our upcoming project. Hope that helps.

Clip URL: vimeo.com/166996555

if the animations to do in 3D are those shown in the second movie, there are no particular problems, you have to learn how to modeling with system fonts in 3D text , or use mObject and import obj model in Motion built with another 3D application like blender, SketchUp or Cheetah3D. In the section “How To “ on this forum there is my tutorial on how to build an iPad Air in 3D Text with system fonts.Now the choice is yours. I think it's better to animate with Motion since you've already used it.In Attachment two very simple Tires truck



Good job Pielle

Hey Richard,

Does it have to be Motion? Are you at all familiar with After Effects? Yes, there are plugins for Motion that do some kind of 3D. It all looks like 3D from the late 90s (sorry everyone).

My suggestion: Element 3D from Video Copilot. It's quick and looks like a high quality rendering from a 3D app. I'm actually using Element 3D on a music video right now where I'm placing in obj sequences.

If you don't have After Effects, I guess you'll have to make do with the 90's 3D look.

Excuse me Davechap, but you usually read the questions? I only responded to the request to animate with motion and FCPX and I also suggested various levels of software for realistic models. If I want work fast and with average quality I stay on Motion but if I need more I work with Blackmagic Fusion of course. But I've not mentioned it for its the learning curve, And believe me the quality offered is fantastic and it's free.

I usually read the questions. And to my point, I haven't seen any good shading with anything that's a plugin for Motion. However, rendering in After Effects would still output an MOV to be used inside of FCPX. So it still fits within the guidelines I think.

mObject does excellent shading.

RRKPL wrote: …My challenge is to utilize or create obj or other 3D files and be able to assemble, animate movement and show animated flow paths of fuel materials and resultant energy creation. I am looking for some software solutions that can ultimate work with FCPX and motion. My only criteria is nothing that has a 10 year learning curve or cost a gazillion $$. ....

underlines by me ...

Answer: none.
From the top... 'solution' at bottom ...

• To create 'real' 3D-files (.obj) , you need designated apps, Cinema4D, Maya, to mention the obvious. = $$$$
• 'flow-paths', in terms of liquids? That is one of the Holy Grails of CGI ...!!
• 'working with FCPX' = easy, 3D-applikations usually deliver some sort of 'video', you can handle as any other clip in FCPX. Render alphas, and you can comb those materials
• working in FCPX? Only mObject, Ben mentioned before .... but that's not for creating objects, just an importer and basic renderer ...
• learning curve? allways steem. Waiting for the 3D-tool-for-the-rest-of-us for two decades.. no hope.

Have a look at BLENDER .... free, offers all you're asking for (e.g. liquids simulation), creates videofiles for use in FCPX/M5 - and has a hell of a learning curve!! The most bizarr assignement of mouse-keys imagineable! LOL

Add 5-6 months learning, and you get the results you're loooking for.

Plan B... no Plan A:
ask some specialized company/3Dexpert to create the sequences ... Blender has a huuuuge community, maybe some solo-fighter makes it for small money.....

Thanks for all the helpful replies! I think for now I'm going to try experimenting with After Effects and Element 3D. I'll be receiving obj files from the client and also have Sketch Up. Also probably give the Ripple After Effects tutorials a try.

3D is not three times more difficult than 2D, it's nine times more difficult. And it takes nine times longer to render.
After Effects is h-u-g-e, far more complex than Motion.
My suggestion is to hire an experienced 3D artist who understands industrial processes. Problem solved. You won't make as much money but your job will be smoother and your client will be happy instead of angry with you and your inability to deliver what they want on a schedule.

Remember that mObject has a free demo, so if you want to try it out with the files from your client, and just see what you can do in Motion 5 before you decide to go the AE route, you can do so without spending anything extra.