Weird mirroring when importing FBX files

[Direfulmadman]

Howdy.

I have stumpled on a weird issue again.


I put my models in blender and work them over to the right size and separate out the parts etc. I then export as FBX. Tell it to do the .01 in the size thing and off to z mod I go

Now heres where the problem begins.

I import the FBX file to zmod, it imports fine BUT it takes a few parts from the model and randomly mirrors them with no rhyme or reason to why at least to my understanding. I spend a few hours properly mirroring them back to their proper spots and I'm off to the races getting the model in game.

I can import as obj but lately have had issues where that triples my polys and verts for no reason and I was told to use FBX and DAE, well I can't figure out DAE setting so I am trying to use FBX, but this annoying mirror issue is got me stumped. Any assistance is GREATLY appreciated.

[Oleg]

in most of cases, vertices count tripling can be fixed using "optimize vertices" option on import.

the mirroring issue is likely caused by object's local axes, as in some editors like 3dsMax (and probably blender) the hierarchy of elements has a transformation matrix (axes) for every node and beside this node's transformation it is allowed for the node to has its own transformation. Given that you can, for example, move, rotate, mirror and scale an object on some hierarchy level and this will have no effect on children of the hierarchy (if needed). Or, for example, a couple of objects on hierarchy can have identical transformation matrices/axes (on hierarchy structure) to conform some conditions, but one node of the pair might have its own transformation matrix (local axes) flipped/mirrored to mirror an associated object.

ZModeler has one matrix/axis per object in hierarchy.

I would recommend to check in Blender any of problematic objects to find whether it has something special on axes or transformation matrix. In particular, check whether it has left-handed or right-handed axes. If possible, reset local transformation if you have such an option. This is called "reset X-Form" in 3dsMax, may be you have something like this in Blender too.

[Direfulmadman]

Okay I will give this a shot on my next project. I just got a new laptop set up and the day after I opened this topic my old one died. Sorry for late replys


I did notice when I import fbx theres a little box in zmod that says something like convert axis. If I select this on models that do the mirroring thing it fixes it. Well the 5 I tried it did cant say its a 100% fix but its pretty close.

[Oleg]

the axis option on import is applied to entire scene and every object there. It can't be "fixing" some of the objects you get, either all objects are affected or no changes are made depending on axes setup information specified in a .fbx file.

[Direfulmadman]

Okay. Thats something to keep in mind. Thanks!