Export Best Practices

Gravity Sketch allows you to export to 4 different file types, each with a set of options. This article will walk you through the various file types and how to use them. When Exporting your data from Gravity Sketch VR, you can choose to export to the OBJ, FBX, GRS and IGES file formats.

Choosing which format to export to depends on your workflow and how you will be using the file once exported.  Learn more about Export Settings here.

In this article, we will break down which file types you should export to depending on your workflow. For each workflow, we will list the file types that can be used as well as the recommended settings for that workflow starting with Mesh Type, what data to export, and what normal setting to use.  We've made it easy for you to export your sketch with Export Presets. 

Get exports right on the first go with Export Presets

Exporting to your favorite tools requires specific export settings for each, so to make things easier we’ve introduced a few common export options with preset configurations. All you need to do is choose the right tool and function, and at the click of a button you’re done. 

For example you’ll see options like “Blender – Modelling” and “VRED” available on the export menu. 

Before we list the various settings to be used, lets quickly take a look at the 4 different formats you can export from Gravity Sketch VR:

The OBJ File Format

The OBJ file format is widely compatible with other polygon modeling software programs. An exported OBJ contains geometry information, color information, and normals information and is a relatively simple file format as it is one of the oldest interchange file formats around.

OBJ files do not contain layer information and when imported, come in as a single object with material groups. It’s important to be aware of this limitation when exporting to OBJ, as editing can be more complicated.

OBJ files can be a good option for relatively simple files, or for creating quick renders and work well with Autodesk Alias, Maya, Blender and Keyshot. They do not work with Solidworks.

The FBX File Format

The FBX file format gives you several unique options and is widely compatible with many workflows and other software programs.

This format is essentially a modernized version of the OBJ format that can contain more information about your model. In addition to containing geometry information, color information, and normals information, the FBX file can also contain layer information, part information, and camera information. This can enable more efficient workflows. For example, complex models can be edited with an ease in other programs. And if you plan on rendering, you can set up the cameras inside Gravity Sketch with viewports, and these same viewports carry over into other programs as cameras. In addition to this, FBX files can also contain NURBS data too in the event you have a mixed file format.

In the advanced settings, you have the option to choose between Mesh, NURBS plus Mesh, and Full Data.

• Mesh will convert everything to mesh geometry.
• NURBS+ will retain any NURBS data, and export that alongside any Mesh data.
• Full Data will export everything in the model but goes one step further. With full data, you will get both the render mesh and the control mesh in the same file, and everything is neatly organized in a set of easy-to-use layers. This is a great option for more advanced workflows where having components of both the render mesh and control mesh could be useful to have.

FBX files work well with Rhino, Blender, Maya and Keyshot. They do not work well with Alias or Solidworks.

The IGES File Format

The IGES file format is primarily used for exporting NURBS Geometry. Since you can create both NURBS curves and NURBS surfaces in Gravity Sketch, using the IGES File format is a good option if you want to continue working in other NURBS-based software applications such as Alias, Maya or Rhino.

It is important to note that any polygon data will be converted into NURBS patches, which can make it tricky to edit later on. NURBS data on the other hand exports like for like. Any strokes or curves created in Gravity Sketch are converted to NURBS curves however and do not have any kind of dimension.

There are no advanced options for the IGES file format as the format itself pretty much packages NURBS data into a well-recognized interchange format.

IGES files work well with Rhino, Maya, Alias, Keyshot and Solidworks. They do not work well with Blender or other poly-modeling software programs.

The GRS File Format

Exporting as a GRS file allows you to take 3D data and models from one Gravity Sketch room to another. This means you can export your geometry as an asset and then import it into a Collab room or another sketch. 

There are no advanced options for exporting the GRS file, so any visible layers will be exported and saved as a GRS file as they appear.

Workflows

The following information indicates what formats to use depending on the workflow and end result.

Exporting for Photorealistic Rendering

For example programs like Keyshot, Blender rendering, VRED and Substance Painter

📁 File types to use:

OBJ - Render Mesh > Mesh Only > Welded vertices for 80% of the time 
(might lose hard edges in some situations. If this is the case use single-sided normals).

FBX - Render Mesh > Mesh Only > Welded vertices for 80% of the time 
(might lose hard edges in some situations. If this is the case use single-sided normals).

FBX is recommended due to the fact that cameras and layers transfer with the FBX format, 
making it easier to add material and render more complex models.

📁File types to use:

FBX (recommended) - 
Render Mesh> Mesh Only> Double-sided OBJ - Render Mesh> Mesh Only > Double sided

📁File Types to Use: 
FBX (Recommended) - Full data

📁File Types to Use: 

FBX (Recommended) - Control Mesh 
If you have a mirrored/ symmetrical model be sure to turn off mirroring prior to exporting. 
This way you can re-mirror and re-subdivide in your software such as Rhino 7.

OBJ - Export two (2) versions - 1 control mesh file, and 1 render mesh file.

📁File Types to Use: 

IGES (Recommended)

📁File Types to Use: 

IGES

📁File Types to Use: 

FBX (Recommended) - Mesh, Welded vertices, and Render.

📁File Types to Use: 

FBX (Recommended) - Mesh, Welded vertices, and Render.