Convert PHY to OBJ

Understanding the phy and obj file formats

PHY files are typically used in physics simulation engines, such as those found in game development environments. These files store physical properties, collision meshes, and other data required for simulating real-world physics interactions. They are not standard 3D model formats and are often proprietary to specific engines.

OBJ files, on the other hand, are a widely-used 3D model format developed by Wavefront Technologies. OBJ files store geometric data such as vertices, faces, normals, and texture coordinates, making them compatible with most 3D modeling and rendering software.

Why convert phy to obj?

Converting a PHY file to OBJ format allows you to use physics-based collision meshes or models in popular 3D applications like Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max. This is useful for editing, rendering, or further processing the geometry outside the original physics engine.

How to convert phy to obj

Direct conversion from PHY to OBJ is not always straightforward, as PHY files are not standardized and may vary between engines (e.g., Source Engine, Havok). The process generally involves extracting the mesh data from the PHY file and exporting it as an OBJ file.

Recommended software and tools

• Crowbar (for Source Engine PHY files): This tool can decompile Source Engine models, including their associated PHY files, and export them to SMD or DMX formats. You can then import these into Blender and export as OBJ.
• Blender: After converting the PHY file to a compatible format (like SMD or DMX), use Blender to import the mesh and then use File → Export → Wavefront (.obj) to save as an OBJ file.
• Noesis: This universal model viewer and converter supports various game formats and may be able to read certain PHY files and export them as OBJ.

Step-by-step conversion process

1. Use Crowbar to decompile the PHY file to SMD or DMX format.
2. Open Blender and install the SMD/DMX import plugin if needed.
3. Import the SMD/DMX file into Blender.
4. Go to File → Export → Wavefront (.obj) to save the model as an OBJ file.

Tips and considerations

• PHY files may only contain collision meshes, not full visual geometry.
• Always check the compatibility of your PHY file with the chosen tool.
• Some manual cleanup may be required after conversion, especially for complex models.