13.0

19BodyPaint 3D R13 Standalone Quickstart

ENGLISH

6. BodyPaint 3D Exchange Plugin

Before we get started we want to pass on some important fundamentals to you.

By default, BodyPaint 3D saves images in .tiff format, which can also contain layers. When these images are

subsequently loaded and re-saved in foreign applications, these layers may be lost. If you use Photoshop for

editing your images you can also set your BodyPaint 3D default image format to .psd (Photoshop).

The ﬁles BodyPaint 3D requires to communicate with foreign applications (e.g. Maya, 3ds Max, XSI or LightWave

3D) can be found in the BodyPaint 3D program folder under “Exchange Plugins” or on our web site at www.

maxon.net in the Downloads section. Make sure you copy all necessary ﬁles for the applicable software to the

corresponding directory. If using Maya the ﬁles must be loaded and executed in the following order using the

Script Manager: BodyPaintExchangeLoadPlugin.mel; BodyPaintExchangeUI.mel; usersetup.mel. (refer to your

BodyPaint 3D reference manual for additional information).

For Maya, the object exchange, including textures, is done using the corresponding menu command.

(Please refer to the BodyPaint 3D reference documentation (Main menu / Help) for information regarding the

location of the corresponding BodyPaint 3D exchange plugin for your software). Exchanging objects is very

easy. Take an object, send it to BodyPaint 3D using the Send to BodyPaint command (BodyPaint 3D will be

started automatically), paint your object in BodyPaint 3D and send it back to your application using the Send

Scene Back command.

Geometry-, material-, light-, UV- and any available texture data will be exchanged. Your BodyPaint 3D

reference manual provides more information regarding the preparation of ﬁles for use with exchange plugins.

The following information applies to use with Maya: