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Import Alias

by Digital Sculptors·Workflow

Images © Digital Sculptors. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Distributed under the GPL license and compatible as a Blender Extension, with a demo video available for a look at the workflow.

What is Import Alias?

Import Alias handles the transfer of Autodesk Alias data into Blender, converting Alias NURBS surfaces to meshes on import. It can bring in mesh data, NURBS curves as NURBS curves, and Alias subdivision data as subdivision data, with a tolerance setting that controls the deviation between the NURBS and the resulting meshes — lower values produce a finer mesh. The import menu is installed under File > Import, and options for meshes, curves, subdivs, autoflip normals and merge meshes can be toggled per import.

The add-on requires Blender newer than 3.0.0 and an installed copy of Alias 2023.1 or newer, along with an internet connection. A legacy version is available for older Alias releases, and a separate ImportAlias_2027 build is used with Alias 2027.0.1 or newer, which requires product key, version, license type and license path values entered in the add-on preferences.

Some behaviours have limits: the autoflip normals option may not correct all normals, and creases from Alias 2023's adjust crease functionality transfer as constant creases. It will not work with the Alias 2016 Learning Edition. Distributed under the GPL license and listed as a Blender Extension.

Who is Import Alias best for?

Import Alias is best for blender users bringing Autodesk Alias NURBS, curve and subdivision data into Blender as meshes.

How much does Import Alias cost?

Import Alias is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Converts Alias NURBS data to meshes and imports it into Blender
  • Imports mesh data, NURBS curves as NURBS curves, and Alias subdivision data as subdivision data
  • Tolerance setting controls deviation between the NURBS and meshes — lower values give a finer mesh
  • Autoflip normals option attempts to point mesh normals outward; optional merge meshes per collection
  • Import menu installed under File > Import with per-import toggles
  • Separate ImportAlias_2027 build for Alias 2027.0.1 or newer, plus a legacy build for older Alias versions

Tags

#Blender#Alias#Autodesk#NURBS#subdiv#import#mesh conversion#add-on

Frequently asked questions

What Blender versions does Import Alias support?

Import Alias requires a Blender version newer than 3.0.0 and is listed as compatible with Blender 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.6, 3.5, 3.4, 3.3, 3.2, 3.1 and 3.0. Install the downloaded ZIP through Edit > Preferences > Install and choose the file without unzipping it first. For Blender 4.2 and newer, you can also drag and drop the ZIP directly into Blender to install it.

Which Alias version do I need for Import Alias?

Import Alias expects Alias version 2023.1 or newer to be installed, along with a network connection to the internet. For older Alias releases, use the legacy version of the add-on. If Alias 2027.0.1 or newer is installed, use the ImportAlias_2027 add-on instead. Note that the add-on will not work if the Alias 2016 Learning Edition is installed; a previous Learning Edition or a regular version of Alias is required.

How do I set up the ImportAlias_2027 version?

Import Alias 2027 needs several values entered in the add-on preferences. The product key is "966S1" for Alias Autostudio and "736S1" for Alias Surface, the version for Alias 2027 should be "2027.0.0.F", and the license path points to the file named "License" in the bin directory of the Alias install location. ImportAlias 2027 will fail if the license information is not correct; contact Autodesk Alias Support if you are unsure about these values.

How are creases handled on import?

Import Alias brings Alias subdivision data in as subdivision data, though creases are currently not supported. The adjust crease functionality introduced in Autodesk Alias 2023 is not compatible with general subdivision algorithms, so those creases transfer as constant creases. To make them appear sharp, switch on the mesh Auto-smooth option, which will turn off GPU acceleration for the subdivision in that case.

Is Import Alias free?

Import Alias is listed as free in this catalog and is distributed under the GPL license as a Blender Extension. For current licensing details and any seat or edition options, check the developer's page from Digital Sculptors. Beyond the add-on itself, using it requires an installed copy of Alias 2023.1 or newer and a network connection to the internet.

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