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Illustrators Corner - Microstock Illustrators Forum => Illustration - General => Topic started by: miskolin on August 07, 2009, 03:59

Title: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: miskolin on August 07, 2009, 03:59
Hello everyone!

A day ago I received a request for additional format for one of mine 3d renders on Dreamstime.
Can someone tell me, how can this be done. I already tried live trace in AI, but just don't know what to do to get good results. I know that Scot from Golden Guys saves his renders also in .ai format, and also gradients are looking relatively good.

I'd be really thankful if someone could told me, what to do to make that kind of file. Do you render first and then make ai from TIFF, or do you make .ai file directly from 3ds max?

Thanks,
miskolin
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: Dennis Holmes on November 21, 2009, 06:50
Did you ask Scot?
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: JerryL5 on November 21, 2009, 07:24
I had a similar request, and had no idea how to do it, but here's a link with some ideas.
I would think an .ai file has to be Illustrator version 8 compatible and contain no bitmaps.
No bitmaps usually means no transparency or special effects since those would be flattened
to bitmaps on export.

Link:
http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/40-useful-adobe-illustrator-3d-tutorials-and-techniques/ (http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/40-useful-adobe-illustrator-3d-tutorials-and-techniques/)
 




-God bless
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on November 21, 2009, 07:29
You need a 3d program that can render out to vector format.
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: Dennis Holmes on November 21, 2009, 20:21
You need a 3d program that can render out to vector format.



Can you recommend one?
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on November 21, 2009, 23:03
Maya renders out to .ai .
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: Artemis on November 21, 2009, 23:27
"Illustrate" plugin for 3ds max can do this. The plugin itsself is pretty expensive ($395) but there's a fully functional 30 days trial on the site.

Here's what it does (couldnt link directly to it because its a Flash site):
Illustrate! is a non-photorealistic renderer.

It allows you to render your 3D scene in a variety of artistic styles. The most common is the cel or toon style where the objects are rendered with a single or limited number of colors and the edges are drawn with a line. This version of Illustrate! is particularly adept at this style of rendering. It includes a lot of advanced features for creating film resolution cel renderings.

Illustrate! also renders illustrations. Most commonly these are technical illustrations with hidden-lines eliminated. Illustrate! supports a huge variety of line styles so you can create complex illustrations.

One amazing feature of Illustrate! is its ability to render these styles out to vector artwork. It currently supports Shockwave Flash, Adobe Illustrator, and Autocad DXF output. This allows you render your 3D scenes for displaying on the Internet or for inclusion with other vector graphics.


Site is here: www.davidgould.com (http://www.davidgould.com)
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: miskolin on January 19, 2010, 15:09
Hello!

It's been a while when I was asking for this, and in the mean time I've totally forgoten about the topic. Thanks for all the input you've made in the mean time. It is definately worth knowing how others do that. I didn't really know Maya can do that... I guess I won't change from 3ds max only because of that ;) perhaps I'll really try the plugin Artemis mentioned.
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: crazychristina on January 19, 2010, 15:52
Blender is an open source (free) 3D application and can render in toon style. It can't output in vector format, but it may be possible to do an acceptable live trace of a toon render in Illustrator.
Title: Re: How to convert 3d render to .ai file?
Post by: Dennis Holmes on July 07, 2010, 10:28
Swift 3d exports as eps. I think either Anime or Manga studio can do it also.
I know it's not direct for 3D max but I'm mac.

Hope this helps.