EXPORT FROM POSER
The File, Export menu includes several options for exporting the current Poser scene so it can be used in other 3D packages. This is a huge benefit when you’re using other packages that don’t work so well with figures. Posed figures can be exported from Poser and reused in other packages.

Exporting 3D Objects
There are several formats for exporting the current Poser scene. Each of these options can be found in the File, Export menu, including the following:

•         RIB. Exports to the Renderman .RIB file format. 

•         3D Studio. Exports geometry objects to 3D Studio Max using the .3DS file format. 

•         QuickDraw 3DMF. Exports to the QuickDraw 3DMF file format. This format is available for Macintosh only.  

•         DXF. Exports geometry objects using the .DXF file format.

•         HAnim. Exports geometry objects using the .HANIM file format. This format is available for Macintosh only.

•         Lightwave. Exports geometry objects to Lightwave using the .LWO file format.  

•         Wavefront OBJ. Exports geometry objects using the .OBJ file format.

•         VRML. Exports geometry objects using the .WRL file format.

•         COLLADA/RWY. Exports geometry objects using the cross-platform Collada file format.

Poser 8 New Feature
The ability to export Poser files to the Collada format is new to Poser 8.

The 3D Studio and Lightwave export options can only output scene files that are fewer than 65,000 polygons. You can check the number of polygons in the current scene using the Scripts, PrintInfo, PrintFigandActorInfo menu.

When one of these options is selected, the first dialog box to appear is the Export Range dialog box, shown in Figure 4-13. This dialog box lets you choose to export only the current frame or multiple frames, and you can choose the frame range.

Following the Export Range dialog box, the Select Objects dialog box, shown in Figure 4-14, appears. This dialog box lets you select which objects get exported. For example, if you don’t want the Ground plane exported, you can just deselect the check box to the left of the Ground object.

The next dialog box to appear is the Export Options dialog box, shown in Figure 4-15. The options available in the Export Options are the same for all the various formats and they include:

•         Export Object Groups for Each Body Part. Causes each designated Poser body part to be exported as a separate group that is recognized in the external 3D application. 

•         Weld Body Part Seams. Causes the vertices along the seam between body parts to be welded together so the individual body parts can’t be moved independently.

•         As a Morph Target. Exports the figure pose as a morph target, allowing several targets to be morphed in between.  

•         Include Body Part Names in Polygon Groups. Names each group according to the Poser body part name that it represents.

•         Use Exact Internal Names Except Spaces. Causes the internal name minus any spaces to be used as the polygon group name.

•         Include Figure Names in Polygon Groups. Adds the figure name to the polygon group name such as Figure1LeftHand.

•         Include Existing Groups in Polygon Groups. Adds the existing group name to the polygon group name.

Finally, a file dialog box appears so you can locate a folder where the exported file can be saved and give it a name