Dicon
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Posts posted by Dicon
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Well, I have given up on 3D World and bought on-line ( not delivered electronicaly yet ) The Ultimate Unwrap 3D Pro.
On your recomendation.
It looks promising and if it does do what it says " on the box" it will be the tool of choice along with my trusty Blitz Basic to get started on my folio.
Thanks all.
Dicon
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Well I'm hoping someone will post a solution to this or point out where we are going wrong as 3DWS has not been supported for a while now as Leadwerks is a one man company and he moved onto the Leadwerks Engine project which has pretty much occupied his time ever since.
To be honest if I have anything more complex than a really simple texture mapping to do I do it in a proper UV mapping tool like Ultimate Unwrap 3D Pro which is why I have probably never noticed this before. It's not expensive and is very powerful although there are plenty of other good UV mapping apps or modelling apps with UV mapping capability around too. The original LithUnwrap is freeware and is still a capable UV mapper once you get used to it, so if your pushed for cash that's always an option. 3DWS is nice for generating CSG models though and putting your levels together.
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I agree with that and can see that in action, but what I think Dicon is referring to and certainly what I'm seeing is that if you apply a texture with a vertical line to a face and then rotate the model 90 degrees on the z axis the line remains vertical rather than moving with the face and becoming horizontal, whether the texture is locked or not. In other words the texture is not being rotated with the face its mapped to.
The help file does state the following:
I made a group of boxes and built them into a medieval house. The material was mapped on with "fit". When the mesh was rotated so I could do the other sides, the other images shifted on the boxes, either when grouped or no. The same with the the textures grouped or no. The button to lock is very vauge, but as I have tried every thing I must admit defeat and admit that the last few days a waste of time and money. A pity, it could have been a good bit of kit.
Whether I will buy the new Engine and Blitz max to use it, I don't know. Perhaps I will wait and see what other people think about Leadwerks products.
Thanks for all the help and advice.
Dicon
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Thanks again Pixel Perfect. It WAS a combination of camera depth and large models. If I shrink the model and change the camera and add a bit of fog, that will do it. Thanks
Dicon
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Thanks, I will try that.
< Gets out tattered Blitz Basic Manual >
Dicon
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I have made a model and exported it as a .b3d file, but the model is cut in half, as if it was disapearing through a black screen. If the model is moved towards the viewer, the mesh "comes through" the screen until the shape is revealed. I have tried from new and with other models, some smaller, but the result is the same. It is if it is emerging through a black veil.
Stumped.
I thought about investing in Blitz Max and getting the Engine, but maybe not now.
I am nearly about to go back to Blender and use a decent UV maker. A few more days and I will delete it from my computer.
Dissapointed.
Dicon
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Thanks Pixel Perfect, you have no idea how relived I was to read this. I have been bashing away for over six hours today setting up a medieval town and the non-mapping is not helping. I can "fudge it", by making a lot of textures for each direction, but it is a fudge and does not really make the finished product ( my folio ) look professional. I will keep on with the bitmaps and hope that the people who could fix it have not moved on to better things.
Thanks
Dicon
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I'd open them in Blender or some other 3D Modelling app and rescale them before importing into 3DWS.
With regard to the textures, just a silly question but you are using texture formats that DB Pro supports as if the level file references the texture files and they are in the folder they should be loaded. The .stf format textures provided with 3DWS are a unique format to 3DWS and virtually no other application in the World supports them.
Thanks, but, as I am getting better at 3d World, I will stick with that for a while. The results look good as I have used Blender to create material, lighting and bumpmapping and then apply them onto the meshes in 3D World. But, I am unsure about the "Lock Texture", If I create a long mesh and map a stripe down the length of it, when rotated, the stripe stays the same angle, even though I have pressed the "Lock Texture button". The image of the button shows a faint outline around it which must mean either on or off. I have tried several tests and when rotated the mesh is moved.
I seem to be getting more sure of what's where but these few things are holding me up.
Thanks for all your previous assistance too.
Dicon
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Create a folder called X in the models folder and put your .x files in it. Then use the object catagory on the right hand side (where you set primitives ect. and entities)
Well, that did work. Unfortunately they are extramly small and even up close and with the smallest grid, they cannot be worked on. If I grab the re-sizing mark, the whole mesh moves away off screen by several times its own length.
I can inport 3ds into Dark Basic OK, but non of the materials goes with it. The program is saved into a folder with the mesh and textures and materials used.
As you can see, I really am trying to get started importing meshes into 3D World using either Blender or 3D Studio. With their materials with them. .X would be the best for me, if there is a way to increase the size of the mesh
Thanks
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I am unable to import .x files.
The input file list can input
Cartography Shop .csm
Half Life .map
A6 Map .map
and that's it. I looked at the plugins list and the dll is there, but not being called
Any sugestions on what to do please?
Dicon
Oops!
Sorry that should read A6 Map .wmp
Dicon
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I feel a bit annoyed that I bought 3D World Creator because it exported to Blitz 3D
It does not!
I did a search to find out on Google about the b3D file and found this.
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The B3D file format is an ASCII format for 3D objects, similar in structure to VRML and Open Inventor files. It was designed primarily for use with the OpenGL Performer library for virtual reality applications. It is not related to the Blitz3D engine's .b3d files - the 'B' here doesn't stand for anything, other than "Ben's 3D Format."
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So, yes I can use .x, but the advertising was misleading.
Is there a blitz 3d exporter for this as an add-on?one?
Dicon
Well, it turns out that my Blitz Program was in need of a massive update. Before the update it wouldnt load .b3d and after the upgrade it did.
I think I shall get an "I am an Ungeek" T shirt made.
Dicon
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Belay that order!!
I did download it. I don't know how I missed it. But is saved, ready to be opened tomorrow.
Will let you know how I get on.
Dicon
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I did try to get Gile but they are no longer allowing downloads of the free utility. I think they are perhaps, not with us any more. As in defunct.
There might be some floating around in the retro programs sites. Will look tomorrow. I did download a lightmapper ( free) from
but even with instructions, there were buttons that didn't do what they were supposed to. i.e click on the create button to create a light. What you get is a something completely different.It asks to load in a *.tri.
I gave up on that one, a pity because the screen shots looked good, and if the program worked as it was suposed to do, it would have solved a lot of problems.
Hi Ho... off to bed.
Dicon
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Hi again Dicon, yeah thanks for the feedback that certainly explains things a bit more. To be honest if you're used to more sophistocated 3D modelling tools then 3DWS is probably not for you (as a modelling app that is) I'd probably stick with Blender; although there is no reason if you intend doing some game level design for not sticking with 3DWS for that as it really is a nice level design tool once you get used to it. Most of us end up playing to the strengths of many tools to get the overall job done.
In terms of recommending a light mapping tool... Giles has always had a good reputation although I've never used it personally. It's now freeware and available here: Giles Lightmapper so you might give that a try if you're not happy with 3DWS.
With regard to the Leadwerks demo I'm not sure whats going off there but I wouldn't let that put you off as it's a fantastic engine and the Editor that comes with it is a nice tool. Your timing is unfortunate, as Carl indicated, as the owner of Leadwerks is currently at GDC but give it a few days and email support requesting a fixed version of the demo and I'm sure something will be sorted out.
Good luck!
Thanks for that info, it might have been a little better if there was a message that said "Gone Fishing, back in a few days." sort of thing. Yes, I will stick with it. Will look at Giles now. My poor old drive is filling up. It looks like a Spring clean is in order, moving things onto cds / dvds.
Thanks all, will await the return of Josh as I do want to see the "Sandox" of which I have heard of on the web.
Dicon
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I took your advice Pixel Perfect and downloaded the free Leadwerk Engine Demo. The demo game was impressive, so I went to "Sandbox". The program informed me that my thirty day expiry was up!
Didn't really impress me, and doesn't inspire confidence in the product, especialy when I went to order it from Leadwerks( just to see the price and conditions) to be told that orders were suspended.
Hmm. Will wait.
I can do very well in building in Blender, so, is there a not too expensive lightmapper that a non geek( artist) could use to light map. The Blender light mapper is somewhat Byzantine in it's configeration.
The tutorials are very good but not it seems for Lightmapping.
Many thanks for the prompt replies and advice.
Dicon
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Just some friendly advice Dicon. It might help if you tell us what you are trying to do with 3DWS and what you intend to use it's output with.
From what I can gather from your posts so far:
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You are having problems mapping textures (UV mapping). 3DWS is designed primarily as an easy CSG modeller and level designer and as such is set up to auto UV map textures to objects. Although there are options to alter the UV mapping it is not an application that pretends to have professional and sophistocated UV mapping capability, if this is what you need try designing your gemometry in 3DWS and exporting it to have the textures UV mapped in a more suitable application like Ultimate Unwrap 3D. You can still bring them back in afterwards as models for placement in levels and subsequent light mapping.
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Sounds like you might be trying to load levels from 3DWS in Dark Basic. If thats the case then export them from 3DWS in the DBO format (that's the native Dark Basic format). This format supports the most features of 3DWS and works well in either Dark Basic or DarkGDK.
However, if you want my opinion having worked with both in the past ... save yourself a lot of bother and use another engine such as Leadwerks Engine or Unity. If you think you're having problems with 3DWS these are nothing compared to what awaits you in Dark Basic further down the line!
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Thanks for the advice. Sorry if I sounded so grumpy, it had been a bad day. A bill for £252.30 for a quarter of an hours work connecting up an earth wire. Builders car died so no work today and blah, blah, and other things. I was tired.
[Excuses over ]
I used to work for Level9 and do freelance for other companies here in the U.K but now am trying to get a folio of 3D work done so's I can work at home
I like using Blitz Basic as I am NOT a very good programmer and I got 3D World Studio because it did light mapping and ( I hoped) ease of use seting up scenarios for games. I am getting used to Blender, which is a great bit of kit, and way better than3D World Studio, but has more buttons than a Jumbo Jet.
So I gues you could say, I am thrashing about trying to find the package that suits me. I have one image left over from my past trials, with the 3D Studio, but that package belonged to the company I worked for. And I can't afford the few thousand pounds needed to get it.
The image is at www.jackdaw-crafts.co.uk
Dat's it.
Dicon.
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Sorry guys, but there was no link that I could see. I am new to this war.
I really don't know who Josh is as I have only started using 3d World Creator.
Have YOU tried googling 3DWS and TGC? ( as written )
I think lateraly, normal is not an option!
I know now that you meant 3D World Studio and The Game Creators.
It's like conflicting answers about everything I try. One source on Google says that B3d has nothing to do with Blitz3D, and then in tutorials in another Google section, they are part of a demo program, and in MY Blitz3D it's not recognized and in Dark basic, about half of the demos don't work.
WHAAA!
Off to bed.
Dicon
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I looked at TGC which appears to be a games company and not much help with 3D World and 3DWS is a Dutch Company.
Do you have a link please. I am finding the whole interface very "clunky" especialy when trying to fit the textures onto the meshes. "Rotate" is a nightmare. I will have to load each faces texture in individualy. I only got it because it maps shadows onto surfaces.
Not happy about it. I expected more. I think I have wasted my money.
Dicon
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Use select sub-object mode (press the X key) and select a face, and the controls for the texture for the selected face appear in the far right hand side window.
Many thanks. I don't know how people get to find out these "tweaks"as the documentation is... um.. is there any?
Well, poor anyway. Thanks all!
Dicon
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Great! Thanks for that. I figured out where to put them and so far I have only played around with the textures. I also found out why I couldn't see the shadows on the top left perspective screen when I rendered. It doesn't show up there. I clicked on render in the side window by mistake instead of the perspective window and there were the shadows. Great.
As you are here, ( ahem ) any idea how to fit or change the textures on the meshes. It tiles them all over the surface. It's a big learning curve for me.
Thanks
Dicon
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I feel a bit annoyed that I bought 3D World Creator because it exported to Blitz 3D
It does not!
I did a search to find out on Google about the b3D file and found this.
...............................................................................
The B3D file format is an ASCII format for 3D objects, similar in structure to VRML and Open Inventor files. It was designed primarily for use with the OpenGL Performer library for virtual reality applications. It is not related to the Blitz3D engine's .b3d files - the 'B' here doesn't stand for anything, other than "Ben's 3D Format."
.................................................................................
So, yes I can use .x, but the advertising was misleading.
Is there a blitz 3d exporter for this as an add-on?one?
Dicon
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Can I use my own meshes, textures in 3D World Creator. I have looked all over the program, but don,t know how-to.
Thanks
Dicon
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I am using the new 3D World Studio Version 5.52 and seem unable to get shadows. I have a simple cube with a smaller one on top. I set up the "Sun" in the right place and rendered, but no shadow.
Can you help me please?
I have just purchased it and working my way through the tutorials, but this isn't mentioned.
Dicon
Unable to import .x files
in Game Artwork
Posted
Well Lumooja, I now have Ultimate 3d Pro up and running. It does what it says on the box, so I will have a happy few day ahead now learning about it. It appears I now have all of the kit you have so, with Blender, Ultimate Pro and 3D World Studio I can FINALY get started.
Many thans for all your ( and others ) help and advice.
Dicon