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OBJ Files and Textures

Textured OBJ meshes usually use multiple linked files:

• Geometry: .obj
• Materials: .mtl
• Textures: .png, .jpg, or similar image files

With the OBJ importer, you only select the .obj file during import. If the referenced .mtl and texture files are already uploaded to the same space, LiquidEarth can use them and the mesh will import with its texture. If the material or texture files are missing, the OBJ will still import, but it will appear without texture.

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Quick Guide

Accessing the Import Wizard

To open the Data Import Wizard, click the icon labeled Import that appears when you hover over the list entry Add Content to [spacename].

Click here to launch the Data Import Wizard

Importing a OBJ file

After opening the Data Import Wizard, select Surfaces in the left sidebar and then click OBJ **in the main area. You can then choose which files to import, either by selecting from files that are already uploaded to your space or by uploading them directly from your device. To complete the import process, select the correct Transformation from the dropdown and click on Import in the bottom-left corner.

Step-by-Step: Import a OBJFile

1. Open the Target Space

   • Load (Load an Existing (Project) Space) or create (Create a New (Project) Space) the space where you want to add your raster data.

2. Open the Import Wizard

   • In the Explorer, hover over the last entry titled “Add Content to ” followed by the name of your space. Three icons will appear. One for uploading files to the space, one for starting the Data Import Wizard and one to create Object3Ds. Click on the one in the middle labeled “Import”.

   • In the Data Import Wizard, select Surfaces in the left sidebar and then click on OBJ in the main area.

Click here to launch the Data Import Wizard

Select Surfaces (1) in the sidebar and then OBJ (2) in the main area.

1. Select the OBJ File

   You now have two options to continue the import process:

   

   a) Choose from workspace

   Clicking this button opens a new window that displays the files uploaded to this space, filtered by file type (in this case .obj). Select one or more files you want to import and click Confirm. The selected files will then appear as a list in the main window.

   

   Filtered view of all valid files uploaded in the current space.

   b) Upload from device

   Clicking here will open your operating system’s file browser. Navigate to the location of the file(s) you want to import and confirm your selection. The selected files will then appear as a list in the main window. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the files directly into the app.

   

   Staging area showing the files that are selected for import. The delete button on the right removes the file from this view.

2. Configure Import Options

   Transformation:

   Before importing, check the transformation settings for the OBJ mesh. Use these settings to adjust the mesh rotation if the model was exported with a different orientation. If the mesh already has the correct placement and scale, leave the default transformation values unchanged.

   

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   LiquidEarth uses a left-handed coordinate system with y-up. Other 3D software might use uses different reference systems. After importing, verify that your data is pointing the right way up and is not mirrored along the x-Axis!

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3. Start the Import

   • Click ****Import

   • A progress bar appears below the Activity Feed while LiquidEarth uploads and/or processes the file.

   • After the import has finished, you will be prompted to recalculate the extent of your space so that the content fits properly.

     

4. Review the Result in the 3D workspace

   • Once finished, the imported object appears in the Explorer and in your 3D workspace.
   • Use Visualization & Basic Interactions to zoom, rotate, and inspect the geometry.
   • Optionally use the Manipulator (Transform Gizmo) to reposition, rotate, or scale the imported volume.

   

   The imported surface in the 3D workspace.