In the Preferences Dialog you can set important workflow and export parameters.
Export tab
Export mode
From version 2.7.3 the plugin provides two export modes: "3D Window" and "Independent". Both of them have advantages and disadvantages, it depends on the project which one you have to use.
In 3D Window mode plugin exports the geometries exactly as those are in the ArchiCAD 3D window. Plugin reads out scene information from the 3D window which means this window has to be open before the export (in case it is not open the plugin opens it automatically).
Comparison:
Export speed: it depends on the scene. For example scenes with many solid operations are usually exported much faster in 3D Window mode, while simpler scenes can be exported faster in Independent mode.
3D cutting planes and Marque mode: Independent mode doesn't support 3D cutting planes or Marque mode. In case you need these features, please change to 3D Window export mode.
3D Window and Independent mode use different ArchiCAD API functions to read out geometry information from the scene. Sometimes the function used by Independent mode doesn't provide correct UV coordinates. In case you see strange texture effects on your exported scene, please try to switch to 3D Window mode, it can solve the problem.
Use visibility filters
If it is ON the plugin exports only the items which are visible in the ArchiCAD 3D window.
If you often use the filtered 3D view modes of ArchiCAD, turn this check box ON!
Smoothing Angle
With this parameter you have advanced control about how the plugin exports smooth polygons. If the angle between adjacent polygons is smaller or equal to this angle, they will be smoothed.
Clamp Reflectance 0
Maxwell materials with too high Reflectance 0° color value (close to RGB 255,255,255) can make your image noisy and not realistic. You have this option to automatically clamp the high color values.
For white materials RGB 225,225,225 is usually a good choice.
Use first frame as Reference MXS
This setting is only useful in case of animation export. ArchiCAD animation features are limited, usually the geometry doesn't change between the frames only the camera position or the sun settings. It means you can save a lot of memory and export time if you export geometry only for the first frame, and for the other frames you only reference this geometry (via Maxwell Reference MXS). We recommend to keep this flag ON!
FIRE tab
You can set the main render parameters for the FIRE mode.
Time, Sampling Level and Num. Threads are similar parameters what we have in normal render mode. With Quality you can set the actual resolution at which the interactive engine renders (higher value means better quality but slower preview).
Material Preview tab
You can set the main render parameters for the Maxwell material preview.
Time (s)
and
Sampling Level
Texture Folders tab
You can add five custom folders to look for missing texture files (texture files which are not placed in the location they were in when they were used to create MXM material). You can pick the folders using a dialog by clicking on the “...” buttons.