Topic awaiting preservation: Whoa... eerily quiet in here...

.

Anyone home!? ...home ...home ....home.

Yup, it echoes.

Anyone know how to convert gmax files?

_____________
Is this thing on?

A Work In Progress

[This message has been edited by UnknownComic (edited 12-06-2003).]

what ya trying to convert them to?

Our little 3d forum is kept pretty clean, but there are a few of us here.

Gmax, eh? Discreet's standalone modeler for games.
Last time I checked, there are two ways to export to a non-Gmax format:
1. It's for a certain game and the developers have released a game specific exort pack/plugin.
2. Upgrade Gmax to the developers/SDK(?) version? Maybe it's the commercial version? With this version, you can use most of Max's regular export options and plugs. For example, 3ds format.

Other than that, Gmax will only save a gmax specific file.

Anything usable?

Although I did download the tempest plugin that exports to md3 which in turn can be converted to a couple different formats...

But... I dont know what to do with it all. I feel compelled to learn 3d max but dont know why... Other than 3d lettering and a few globes, I am not sure what else to do. But I have seen some awesome animations that would be nice to be able to create. Maybe an animated cussing santa? LOL... he he he... no, couldnt make that.

Although, learning enough to actually make a game someday would be great...

Anyone know good "make 3d using 2d photoshop" tutorials? I mean I can make tables, huts, simple houses and cubes, but when I see some of the 2d stuff out there ... it sometimes rivals a 3d render.

I sometimes cheat with a 3d render from blender when I want to accentuate a depth thing... but I was thinking that if I was going to take the time to learn a new trick, I might as well learn the better trick making makerer... and 3d max seems to be the winning workhorse.

_____________
Is this thing on?

A Work In Progress

If you can get an md3 model out of GMax, then you should be golden with Milkshape. I believe the cripple on Milkshape is 30 days...?

Actually, a basic 3d prog and Photoshop make an awesome combo. If you do a few simple renders, or "render in passes", then you can composite in PS with tweaks galore with out having to rerender. Very powerful stuff. See Multi-Pass Rendering and Moolti-Pass!.

Game stuff, huh? Like static meshes or character stuff?
If you want to get into character stuff, then you are in for a long ride. Talking about edge-loops, deformation, and lots of other things. Daunting at first, but fun.

LOL... yup... thats all I can do... I made a mace with the built-in tutorial... but oh god was that sad. I had to do it over after I figured the rotation controls a little more.

But, I cant seem to find the texture controls, nor do I have a md3 viewer.

Although I may be able to output, after a conversion, an asc file... for the next 30days at least.. it looks like asc can store animations.

Can md3's store animations?

_____________
Is this thing on?

A Work In Progress

This is what I recommend.
Go get Wings 3D.
Then get Lithunwrap 1.3. A little old and flaky, but it works. There is an updated commercial version for $39.95, and it's worth every penny. See: Ultimate Unwrap 3D.

Once you get the hang of those and are mostly comfortable with your skills, then we'll worry about file formats and what-not.

edit: Yes, md3 stores vert animation. I'm pretty sure you can also name the segments.


[This message has been edited by warjournal (edited 12-07-2003).]

Yea Ultimate UnWarp is the cats meow. It's a great application not only for UV mapping but converting objects. The developers a machine, It updated at least once a month. I bought for a project needing UV Maps in poser, but should work for any program supporting UV mapping.

I use 3d and photoshop all the time, I mostly use Lightwave, Imaging. Multi-pass rendering is a great way to go, Works great in photoshop. I used several additional applications, but have yet to try 3dmax or GMax. But now that Battlefeild 1942's SDK supports GMAX I might give it a try.

J. Stuart J.

[This message has been edited by jstuartj (edited 12-07-2003).]

Thanks!

I have been tinkering around with different things for the last few months... Blender was a neat find... 3D modeller +game engine. I even made a wiggley black widow spider. My first project was a room full of 3D multicolored letters to roam around in, with a pointy ball avatar to roam with. Then, after making a scene with mountainous lava flow, I realized my 2d skills were in need of some enhancement as well. While looking for tutorials I stumbled onto the asylum site... Psycho Graphic Gurus!

Gmax has some pretty decent tutorials... I've already made my first scene... lol. It's pathetic! But, I can see where the concept of using primitives is being approached differently. My initial foray into 3D was with Anim8or, and that was pretty cool, but was all about extruding.

Now? Ha ha... now I need a better processor. few million vertices and my comp just slows way down... too bad ya cant download one of those, eh?

My point? Oops, crap I lost my point...

mmmm, breakfast.

_____________
Is this thing on?

A Work In Progress