Twinmotion Dynamic Link allows synchronizing instantly the ARCHICAD model with Twinmotion. It also exports the project in FBX if the visualization needs to be done on another computer. You can download a trial version of Twinmotion on www.twinmotion.com

Twinmotion Dynamic Link Features:

• Synchronize an ARCHICAD model in one-click with Twinmotion and visualize it in real-time in Twinmotion.
• Make changes to the model or materials and see these changes immediately in Twinmotion.
• Standard materials, characters, and vegetation are replaced automatically by Twinmotion’s materials, characters, and vegetation.
• BIM data is sent to Twinmotion and can be displayed in BIMmotion.
• Model optimization to reduce the number of polygons.
• Temporary mode and cameras view are managed in Twinmotion and cause changes with each synchronization.

Export Features:

• Export models, materials, and textures to .FBX format.
• Model optimization to reduce the number of polygons.

Installation/Uninstallation

Download and install ARCHICAD Addin from Twinmotion Product Manager. You may need to restart ARCHICAD to activate the Addin.

To uninstall the ARCHICAD Addin, exit ARCHICAD first if you are currently running it.

For Windows, open the “Programs and Features” (Windows 7/8/8.1/10), select Twinmotion Dynamic link for ARCHICAD and press “Uninstall”.

For macOS, drag & drop the Twinmotion Dynamic link to the Recycle bin. The Dynamic link is located at “/Applications/GRAPHISOFT/ARCHICAD 21/Extensions/Import-Export/Twinmotion Dynamic link AC21.bundle”

Synchronization from ARCHICAD to Twinmotion

By clicking on the “Synchronization” button in the Twinmotion menu, you will synchronize the current model with Twinmotion. Each time you click on the “Synchronization”, the current model will be synchronized with Twinmotion.

Synchronization settings

By clicking on “Settings”, you’ll get access to the synchronization options:

In the dropdown list “Merge”, you can choose between:

• By materials (Best performances): objects will be split and recomposed by the material.
• No merge: no geometry will be collapsed.

Send BIM data: This option is only accessible when no merge is applied. If checked, the standard BIM data included in ARCHICAD will be transferred to Twinmotion and will be displayed in the BIM information panel and in BIMmotion.

Under the “Substitution” category, you can check the following options:

• Use Twinmotion’s material: the materials included in the standard library of ARCHICAD will be replaced in Twinmotion by its own materials. If unchecked, the maps used in ARCHICAD will be transferred to Twinmotion.
• Use Twinmotion’s objects: the characters and vegetation included in the standard library of ARCHICAD will be replaced in Twinmotion by its own characters and vegetation.

Under the “Optimizations” category, you can check the following options:

• Exclude object smaller than: You can choose to not synchronize small objects. If all dimensions (Length, Width, and Height) of an object are smaller than the exclude value, this object will be excluded from the synchronization.
• Optimize the geometry: If you check this box, the 3D mesh loses its definition, but have a good impact on the final model performances. It is the best choice to optimize railings for example.

Under the “Defaults” category, you can choose the following options:

• Save as Defaults: save the current settings as defaults for future projects.
• Reset to Factory: reset settings to initial settings.

Export an ARCHICAD project to .FBX format

By clicking on “Save as” to Twinmotion (.fbx), a panel will open to set the parameters for .FBX Export.

In the dropdown list “Merge”, you can choose between:

• By materials (Best performances): objects will be split and recomposed by the material.
• No merge: no geometry will be collapsed.

In the dropdown list “Export” you can choose which objects to export in the .FBX file:

• Selection: Only selected objects will be exported.
• Visible: Only visible objects will be exported.

In the dropdown list “Texture”, you can choose between:

• Embed in file: The maps will be included in the .FBX file.
• Export in folder: the ARCHICAD material’s maps will be saved in a selected file.
• Do not export

Included linked files: Allows you to choose to include all files linked in the ARCHICAD file or not at export.

Under the “Optimizations” category, you can check the following options:

• Exclude object smaller than: You can choose to not synchronize small objects. If all dimensions (Length, Width, and Height) of an object are smaller than the exclude value, this object will be excluded from the synchronization.
• Optimize the geometry: If you check this box, the 3D mesh loses its definition but have a good impact on the final model performances. It is the best choice to optimize railings for example.

Under the “Defaults” category, you can choose the following options:

• Save as Defaults: save the current settings as defaults for future projects.
• Reset to Factory: reset settings to initial settings.