3DCoat Applink

Last modified: 18 March 2025
3DCoat.png

LightWave now comes with an AppLink for 3DCoat included as part of the LW ProTools suite of scripts.

LW Pro Tools 3DCoat Applink allows you to transfer data from LightWave to 3DCoat and back. The plugin exists both as a generic Layout plugin, as well as a Modeler plugin:

note

Currently, the Applink has been tested and supports 3DCoat 2023 and 3DCoat 2024

Installation

3DCoat_Applink_Installation.png

Options

3DCoat_2024.png
3DCoat Room

Defines the room in which you want to open the currently selected mesh

These include the following as shown in the Figure above.

  • Paint

  • Vertex Painting

  • Ptex Paint

  • UV

  • Reference Mesh

  • Retopo

  • Voxel Sculpting

  • Alpha

  • Prim

  • Curve as Mesh

  • Auto Retopo

Export to 3DCoat

Exports the currently selected mesh into the chosen room in 3DCoat

Import

Imports the changed mesh as a new mesh in LightWave. Textures are automatically setup with a principled material

Workflow

Upon first start, you are prompted for your 3DCoat install folder as well as the 3DCoat exchange folder (which is usually in your documents/3d-coat folder. This is not a folder that you create, but a folder that is set up by 3dCoat so be sure to select the right folder. It's called Exchange.

Once setup, the paths are stored in the configuration. The configuration file can be found in your LightWave config folder and can be removed should you want to re-setup the paths.

note

The Object you want to export to 3DCoat has to be saved first

Once you are finished with modifications in 3DCoat, select “Open In Original App” under the 3DCoat file menu.

In LightWave you can then hit the Import from 3DCoat button and the new mesh will be loaded. The original object is not overwritten or replaced.