C4D to Unreal Engine5 /No smoothing group found

[Capprim]

Hello!

I'm exporting to Unreal Engine 5.4 and using FBX as I have problems opening a direct C4D scene. But I get the following error: No smoothing group information was found in this FBX scene. Please make sure to enable the 'Export Smoothing Groups' option in the FBX Exporter plug-in before exporting the file. Even for tools that don't support smoothing groups, the FBX Exporter will generate appropriate smoothing data at export-time so that correct vertex normals can be inferred while importing.
How can I solve that? I attach a sample. Thanks External wall 6.c4d

[Capprim]

Hi! Just managed to import directly the scene with Datasmith/Cineware! Winbush tutorial hepled a lot! Solved for now!

[Capprim]

Sorry, but Unreal keep crashing when open geometries from C4D! I may have to work with FBX separated geometries for now. Please send me suggestions to first question if possible?

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi Caprim,

The Spline had a Angle setting of 0º, please try 1º or 2º(See image).
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Here are two files; please load them or export these via FBX.
CV4_2024_drs_24_MOrw_01.c4d
CV4_2024_drs_24_MOrw_11.c4d
Please let me know if they work with your setup.
Thank you.

https://support.maxon.net/hc/en-us/articles/4411492995730-Cineware-for-Unreal

All the best

[Capprim]

@Dr-Sassi I can't add thickness to the splines with just Extrude. I miss something. Please see attached file of what I'm trying to do. Thanks for your help.
JavierCircleMZ01.c4d

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi Javier,

Thanks for the file.

Going by the file, this was an Illustrator (SVG) import, correct? The fastest way would be to give the Illustrator Stroke a specific thickness and use the Object> Path> Outline Stroke and eventually the Pathfinder to merge all of these. Some little corners needed to be fixed. Then, save as an "ai" file and, after import (Create Vector Object: Off, to avoid the conversions needed later on), use this for the Extrude.

https://stcineversityprod02.blob.core.windows.net/$web/Cineversity_Forum_Support/2024_PROJECTS_DRS/20240718_CV4_28-5_drs_24_ILmp_01.ai.zip

I would like to know how the two files performed with your Unreal project. They were shared to get feedback and avoid bothering you with a guessing routine to solve the problem.

I have your file here, but somehow, I needed to copy the content into a new Project file. Then everything worked fine. However, I see that the Spline outline is not working as I would like it to. I have to file a report.

Here is your file with the Illustrator import as a Cinema 4D project.

CV4_2024_drs_24_ILmp_01.c4d

Since I did not have the SVG file, I used the DXF format to get the Splines in a file that Illustrator could open.

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All the best

[Capprim]

Hello Dr.Sassi! If I export to FBX the first scenes you sent me, gives the same error: No smoothing group information was found in this FBX scene. Please make sure to enable the 'Export Smoothing Groups' option in the FBX Exporter plug-in before exporting the file. Even for tools that don't support smoothing groups, the FBX Exporter will generate appropriate smoothing data at export-time so that correct vertex normals can be inferred while importing.
However, I can import trough Datasmith the C4D scene directly and it gives no error messages. Hope the error this way is corrected.
In other hand, I'm exporting to SVG in single splines as I need every spline independent for texturing. Can I make it inside C4D? Thanks again

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi Javier,

I would always make the object editable for FBX export, and then you get a Phong Tag. Inside of the phong tag, click on the button, Create Normal tag. Then Export. Do this with a cube and nothing else in the scene to see if that works. This is a wild guess, as I have no idea which versions you use. However, if the cube with a Normal Tag fails, that needs to be explored by:
https://www.maxon.net/en/support-center

The Outline can be done on a single slide, but then one by one. Hence, my suggestion: if it is a straight spline, set it to linear. The Bezier is not the best idea for straight lines.
You can also do that in Illustrator: leave the single paths and set the Stroke as Outline.

Cheers

[Capprim]

Good Morning! I prepared a simple cube, and a sphere, but got the same message in Unreal:
-No smoothing group information was found in this FBX scene. Please make sure to enable the 'Export Smoothing Groups' option in the FBX Exporter plug-in before exporting the file. Even for tools that don't support smoothing groups, the FBX Exporter will generate appropriate smoothing data at export-time so that correct vertex normals can be inferred while importing. -
Don't know what is wrong so I'll write support. I'll try the other thing later. Thanks!

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi Javier,

Yes, please check with tech support.

Edit:
I can reproduce it now here (Unreal 5.3.2)
I will write a report
/edit
Fingers crossed it is solved in no time.

When I use the DataSmith import I get no alerts with 5.4.3

Have a great weekend