1. Install the Lumion plug-in (if required)
1.1: Please follow the instructions in section 1 in the article below to download and install the plug-in for your version of Lumion and Autodesk FormIt (if required):
- Download Link: Download Lumion LiveSync for Autodesk Formit
1.2: Alternatively, use the Cloud-install option in FormIt:
- Open the 'Plugin Manager'
- In the list, find 'Lumion LiveSync' and enable the switch next to it:
- For more information, clicking the blue symbol below the switch will redirect you to the Github page.
2. Method A: LiveSync export
2.1: With Lumion LiveSync for Autodesk FormIt and Lumion 12.0 and newer, you can immediately set up a live, real-time visualization of your Autodesk FormIt 2022.1 model:
If you are using an older version of Lumion, please see Method B or Method C below.
3. Method B: Lumion .DAE file export (Lumion 8.5 and newer)
3.1: If you prefer to export your model via a file and you are using Lumion 8.5 or newer and Autodesk FormIt 2022, you can export a Lumion Collada file (.DAE) using the Lumion LiveSync for Autodesk FormIt Export button in the palette:
However, please note that we recommend exporting the model via LiveSync (Method A) rather than via .DAE format as it is faster and requires fewer resources.
4. Method C: .FBX and .SKP file export (FormIt 2022.0 and older)
4.1: If you are using Lumion 8.3 to 11.5.1, please export the model to .FBX format and use the relevant settings:
File -> Export -> Locally... -> .FBX
4.2: Select these options in the export options window:
4.3 For SketchUp select 'SKP' from the list. The model will be exported in SketchUp 2018 format and can be imported in Lumion 8.3 and newer.
5. Tips & Troubleshooting
5.1: Why can't you see the model after importing and placing it in your Project?
- The Insertion Point for the Imported Model in Lumion corresponds to 0,0,0 in the World Coordinate System in Autodesk FormIt.
- If a model is far away from the Insertion Point in Lumion, you need to move the model closer to 0,0,0 in Autodesk FormIt, before exporting it to Lumion.
-
- Right-click in an empty space in the FormIt scene.
- Choose Reset Axes.
- Alternatively, type 'R Z'.
- Using Custom Coordinates will export the 0,0,0 World Origin instead of the user-set Origin
5.2: Why can't you assign a Lumion material to individual surfaces?
- Lumion will always combine surfaces that use the same material in FormIt. If you want to assign a Lumion material to a specific surface, you must assign a unique material to that surface in FormIt before importing the model.
5.3: How do you update a model in LiveSync when the file name or folder location of the Autodesk FormIt file has changed?
5.4: Why are some materials automatically converted to water and glass in Lumion?
If your Autodesk FormIt material name begins with one of the words in the table below and is followed by a space, it will be converted to special glass or water materials in Lumion when using:
1. .DAE files imported in Lumion 12.0 or newer.
2. LiveSync and .DAE files from Autodesk FormIt when using Lumion 12.0 or newer.
The automatic conversion only takes place when you start the LiveSync function or when you import the .DAE file in Lumion 12.0 or newer.
Language | Water | Glass |
Chinese | 水 | 玻璃 |
English | Water | Glass |
French | Eau | Verre |
German | Wasser | Glas |
Italian | Acqua | Vetro |
Japanese | 水 | ガラス |
Korean | 물 | 유리 |
Polish | Woda | Szkło |
Portuguese | Agua | Vidro |
Russian | вода | стекло |
Spanish | Agua | Vidrio |
Swedish | Vatten | Glas |