Chapter 3. Importing 3D Models

By this time, we should have a scene prepared, and hopefully, it should have a terrain sculpted to accommodate our main 3D model. The main goal of this chapter is to provide a robust foundation to import external 3D models and also have some notion of what is available on Lumion's fantastic library to populate the scene. It is true that this subject initially looks simple and rudimentary, but there are so many things involved that we should consider this chapter as one of the cornerstones of the project.

We have now arrived at a stage in the project where we will start to explore Lumion's potentiality. The previous two chapters have certainly helped us understand the need of a good foundation to achieve a smooth workflow. This means that we can start and finish a project without facing too many issues and by constantly solving problems.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

  • Importing 3D models
  • Adding Lumion content
  • Placing and reallocating 3D models
  • Hotkeys
  • Accurate placing
  • Updating a 3D model with new geometry
  • Replacing 3D models
  • Common problems (troubleshooting)
  • Locking a 3D model

The main topics mentioned here give us a reasonable overview of what is involved in importing 3D models. Although we did our best to check and rectify problems with the 3D model, we might need to reimport or even replace the 3D model. These and other tips and tricks will ensure the best result possible to progress to the next stage.