3D Presentation Format

Running 3D Portfolio|Wall or 3rd Party Software Applications

Portfolio|Wall has an extension that is able to tumble 3D models in real time. This extension, entitled Portfolio|Wall Viewer, allows the model to be seen continuously from various vantage points, with the added function of zooming in and out.

Disadvantages

The 3D interface sometimes behaves erratically. See the section on troubleshooting
The Portfolio|Wall 1.5 Viewer interface is fairly limited. It does not have the ability to create or view from specific camera positions. As such, the tumbling provides an aerial perspective; zooming in or out merely increases or decreases the size of the model without changing the viewer's vantage point.
Lighting effects are basic. There are no controls for specific lighting effects.
Annotations can not be made on 3D files. To make annotations for specific views, look under Create thumbnail or annotation images under Portfolio Wall Viewer Help.

3D Project Setup

Produce model in program of choice
Save 3D file in proper file extension format. See supported file formats and/or troubleshooting
Upload file to personal project account
Launch Portfolio|Wall 1.5
Open project tab
Launch 3D file as a 3rd party application [for both Portfolio|Wall 1.5 and other non-native software platforms]

3D Supported File Formats

Since Portfolio Wall 1.5 is an Alias Wavefront product, the 3D function interface works best with Maya, Alias' main modeling software. Thus, working with models in Portfolio Wall is slightly complicated, with the result that some file types perform better than others. Initial testing has established the best pathways for exporting/ converting file types to ensure the best results.

Program

Import/ Open

Export/ Save As

Maya

DXF, IGES, OBJ

MA, MB

3DStudio

DWG, DXF, IGES, OBJ, VRML

DXF

AutoCAD

DWG, DXF

DXF*[Works best if exported through 3DStudio instead of directly through AutoCAD]

FormZ

DWG, DXF, IGES, OBJ, VRML

DXF, IGES, OBJ

Rhino

DWG, DXF, IGES

DXF, IGES, OBJ

Troubleshooting

The DXF files exported from each of these applications seem to work relatively well in Portfolio. If you are working in one of these programs, try the DXF export within it before switching formats or software.
3D files from AutoCAD should be exported as DXF from 3D Studio [import the DWG and export as DXF]. The 3D Studio DXF's seem to work much better than those from AutoCAD.
IGES files open quickly but are typically missing information and color. There may be things that can be done to alleviate this problem and still get these files to work, but from the tests that have been run, the DXF's are a much better option.
The OBJ format from FormZ looks very nice in Portfolio Wall. It is also a smaller file than most DXF's. There does not, however, seem to be any mesh support for the OBJ format, so these may not render from within the Portfolio Wall viewer. This could be an option depending on the complexity and type of your digital model. It is worth a try if you are working in Form-Z. To date, the OBJ files from Rhino are not compatible with Portfolio Wall.
As of this date, there is still an unresolved issue in the viewing of some 3D files on Portfolio Wall. This comes as what appears as some type of clipping plane in the model itself. It will only show the model if it is zoomed in close to the screen, and as it is zoomed away, it disappears. If you load a model and see a blank screen, try to zoom in and see it you can get it to appear. This problem has been seen in DXF files, IGES files and in MAYA A and MAYA B files that were imported as DXF's. The problem seems to come and go depending on unforeseen circumstances. If you experience this issue, and we have not resolved it, try either showing your model zoomed in, or attempt to switch formats and platforms. As of right now, there is no easy fix to this problem.
If the model appears as a solid black entity, turn on the default lighting.