Tech

This assumption is simply not true. Over 95% of the form•Z code base is platform independent and we develop and test on all platforms simultaneously (i.e. not “ported”). The platform dependent code is nearly all related to interface. The file translators are over 99% platform independent. Developing for multiple platforms actually makes the code better as the various development and testing tools can identify different areas for improvement in efficiency and stability. We have no plans to drop macOS (or Windows). CUDA and RTX are great technologies for rendering performance, but offer no improvement to the linear double precision nature of modeling operations. We are also disappointed that Nvida is no longer supported on macOS, however the CPU rendering on macOS with V-Ray is very good and handles large models with ease. Performance alone is not the only reason to choose V-Ray as it offers excellent rendering features as well (not all of which are available in RTX rendering).

If you have not already done so, please email support@formz.com for fastest response to these issues and we can properly address the specifics of your environment. Having said that, here are a few things to try/check. Re-install V-Ray and the license server. The original email that you received from Chaosgroup has links to the latest versions. Check that the V-Ray plugins are loading in form•Z. Go Extensions > Extension Manager. You should see a number of plugins with V-Ray in their name (you may need to scroll down the list). Be sure they are enabled (have a check mark). If they do not show in the list, then check the plugins search paths (Search Paths button). "/Applications/formZ 9/Plugins" on macOS and "\Program Files\formZ 9\Plugins" for Windows should be in the list of paths and enabled (check mark). If it is not listed, you can add the path by clicking the '+' button on the left and navigating to the directory and selecting "Open". Then you just need to click OK until form•Z closes itself. Upon the next launch of form•Z you should see the plugins active! More trouble shooting can be found in the V-Ray for formZ manual: http://www.formz.com/products/vray/V-Ray_Documentation/index.htm#t=Trouble_Shooting.htm

AHDD Designer this was a specific response to valthewu. Thank you for your previous feedback. We are aware of these issues and they are on our radar. We are in the process of a number of UI improvements including support for dark mode. Thank you all for letting us know that these are important to you.

Thank you for taking the time to post, however we can only wonder what you motivations are. We can find no communication with our sales or support teams from you so you have no basis for your comment that we are not responsive. Obviously you do not like some aesthetics of the software and you are entitled to your opinion. You are also basing your comments on form•Z free which only has a small percentage of the features found in form•Z pro. Many professionals use form•Z daily for productive modeling so it is clearly not "appalling software" to them. You do point out a few minor aesthetic issues that we are already working on (along with support for dark mode), but frankly we find delivering new technologies like the recent TwinMotion/Unreal interface much more interesting and important to our users.

formZ keeps a list of locations to search for plugins. The plugin is in the proper folder (formZ 9/Plugins/). You can check that this location is in your search paths. Go to Extensions > Extension Manager within form•Z, then click the Search Paths button, and you should see this path in the list. If not for some reason, click the '+' button on the left side. In the next window, locate the Applications/formZ 9/Plugins folder and click Open. Click OK in all of the following prompts until form•Z closes itself down. Upon the next launch of form•Z you should see the Datasmith options in your Export list. If it still does not appear then it is likely a dependency issue with some Microsoft library. A newer version of the 2012 c++ should not cause a problem (as long as some version is installed). Have you installed Twinmotion or Unreal on this machine? The will force install libraries that Twinmotion or Unreal need which may solve the issue. If not please contact us @ support@formz.com so we can open a ticket and investigate further.

We are pleased to announce that formZ 9.1 is now available for pro, jr, free and student editions. This version includes support for macOS Big Sur (macOS 11) and machines that use Apple Silicon. You can install using the download link in the email you previously received with your v9 license codes or choose "Check for Update" from the "Help" menu in form•Z (note that this method may not work if you have a proxy or firewall in use in your network). This version uses your existing v9 registration codes. Note: If you have installed the 9.1 pre-release version, please now install the final release version. Highlights of improvements in v9.1 can be found here: http://www.formz.com/fzsite1219/products/9.x_change_log.pdf Epic Games Collaboration We are excited to announce that we have collaborated with Epic Games to create direct translators from form•Z to Twinmotion and Unreal Engine. form•Z models are converted to match each real-time engine’s unique capabilities. These translators create an seamless representation of form•Z models giving you a unique dynamic way to visualize your 3D content in real-time with your clients and customers. This plugin is available now for form•Z v9.1. More details here: http://www.formz.com/fzsite1219/products/unreal.html

v9.0 is not compatible with Big Sur. We do have a Pre-release version of v9.1, that is compatible with Big Sur. We are still working though a few issues in this version, but it performs well overall! You will find a button for the v9.1 pre-release version on the v9.0 download page (the link is in the email you received with your v9 license codes). Note that v9.1 installs into a discreet folder so v9.0 will remain available in case you encounter any issues with v9.1.

The cause of the hanging in Hugo's file was determined to be an excess of empty animation tracks. The development team is devising a better way to handle these in the future.

If the problem persists without the Reference File then you don't need to include it.

Hugo, Would you be able to send the trouble file to support@formz.com? An 86MB file seems like a very reasonable file size and we would like to investigate the source of the hanging. Please include any Reference Files and image maps involved.

Technology Preview v1.0.1.0 is now available (formZ 9.0.6.1 minimum required) here: http://www.formz.com/fzsite1219/products/unreal.html CHANGES • Double Sided materials option enabled by default. • Datasmith now implemented as two exporter plugins, one specialized for Twinmotion and the other for Unreal engine. Each maintains its own set of export options. FIXES • Improved missing texture search and re-linking. • Renderzone procedural textures are now supported. (Bitmap texture versions will appear as they do in formZ's Shaded viewport modes). • Datasmith exporter sorted alphabetically in exporters list. • Export options now saved in formZ's preferences file. KNOWN ISSUES • Hidden objects are visible when imported into Unreal/Twinmotion. Epic is aware of this and is working on a fix. For now, keep the export option "Visible Objects Only" enabled.

It is installing into the proper location: "/Applications/formZ 9/plugins". It is should not be moved to "/Applications/formZ 9/FormZ 9.0 pro/plugins". If you do this it may get removed or interfere with future updates of form•Z itself. The problem is likely that /Applications/formZ 9/plugins is missing from the plugins search paths on your machine. This path should get added automatically. You can check the plugin paths in Extensions->Extensions Manager->Search Paths. If its missing from the list, you can add it with the "+" at the bottom . If the path is in the list, be sure it has is active (check mark.) We tested this process here on a clean installation and the /Applications/formZ 9/plugins path was properly added to the plugins search paths so we are puzzled as to why it is missing on your machine. Note you that can also reset the plugin search paths by removing the file "formZ Previous9.fpo" from the /Users/<user name>/Library/Preferences/autodessys/formZ 9.0 pro folder (\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\autodessys\formZ 9.0 pro directory on Windows). Note that this will remove any custom paths that you may have added.

Please confirm that you are using v9.0.6.1. Also check that the plugin directory is in the extensions search paths and is active (Extensions->Extensions Manager->Search Paths). The plugin path is "/Applications/formZ 9/plugins" on Macintosh and "\Program Files\formZ 9\plugins" on Windows. It should get added automatically, but if its missing you can add it with the "+" at the bottom of the list. If you are using Windows, there are a few Microsoft redistributables that get installed. On occasion they do not install properly so try running the plugin installer again.

We are actively working on this and have most of the issues resolved. We can report that form•Z is now running well on Big Sur on Intel and arm64 (using Rosetta 2.) We need more time for some in-house testing before we make it available but it hopefully it will be available in a few weeks.

You can get the plugin from here: http://www.formz.com/fzsite1219/products/unreal.html. We are calling this a Technology Preview at this time as the plugin is better than a beta, but not quite complete as a release. Frankly we are hoping to get some feedback as it is used and see what improvements if any need to be made. Epic is also working on improvements in the datasmith API that will allow us to add more functionality including a live link between formZ and Unreal/Twinmotion (hence removing the export/import cycle making this a great tool during the design process). We expect to roll out updates as soon as these improvements are ready and at some point we will move it from a Technology Preview to a release bundled with the shipping form•Z app.