CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Initial Setup - Revision history

Windwalkr at 09:23, 26 February 2013

2013-02-26T09:23:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:23, 26 February 2013
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	[[CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[CCG/Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]		[[CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[CCG/Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]

	===GMax ~~Note:~~===		===GMax===
	~~'''~~GMax~~'''~~ is not an N3V Games or Auran product. Autodesk, the creators of GMax, ended support for the product in 2005. The exporter plugin included in the ~~'''~~Trainz Asset Creation Studio~~'''~~ does not produce current mesh formats that support normal mapping or graphics processor based animations.		GMax is not an N3V Games or Auran product. Autodesk, the creators of GMax, ended support for the product in 2005. The exporter plugin included in the "Trainz Asset Creation Studio" does not produce current mesh formats that support normal mapping or graphics processor based animations.

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	[[Content Creator's Guide]]		[[Content Creator's Guide]]

Windwalkr at 09:23, 26 February 2013

2013-02-26T09:23:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:23, 26 February 2013
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	==3DSMax Initial Setup==		==3DSMax Initial Setup==

	~~===GMax Note:===~~
	'''GMax''' is no longer supported by N3V Games (Auran). The exporter package in '''Trainz Asset Creation Studio''' does not produce the latest mesh versions that support normal mapping or graphics processor based animations. So only references to 3DSMax will be included here.

	~~Also please do not upload animated meshes from GMax to the Trainz DownLoad Station. The old type of animations put unnecessary load on to the CPU which is better directed to other parts of the game.~~

	==Setting Up 3DSMax==		==Setting Up 3DSMax==
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	[[CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[CCG/Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]		[[CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[CCG/Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]

			===GMax Note:===
			'''GMax''' is not an N3V Games or Auran product. Autodesk, the creators of GMax, ended support for the product in 2005. The exporter plugin included in the '''Trainz Asset Creation Studio''' does not produce current mesh formats that support normal mapping or graphics processor based animations.

	==Return to CCG Index==		==Return to CCG Index==
	[[Content Creator's Guide]]		[[Content Creator's Guide]]

Pev at 13:39, 18 June 2011

2011-06-18T13:39:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:39, 18 June 2011
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	Also please do not upload animated meshes from GMax to the Trainz DownLoad Station. The old type of animations put unnecessary load on to the CPU which is better directed to other parts of the game.		Also please do not upload animated meshes from GMax to the Trainz DownLoad Station. The old type of animations put unnecessary load on to the CPU which is better directed to other parts of the game.

	===Setting Up 3DSMax===		==Setting Up 3DSMax==

	You should first set up 3DSMax with default settings. The units are easiest to work with when set to metric; some experience problems with animations in imperial units.		You should first set up 3DSMax with default settings. The units are easiest to work with when set to metric; some experience problems with animations in imperial units.

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	One issue with 3DSMax4 is "saved file corruption", caused by a Microsoft upgrade. Your saved files naturally get larger as you work, but a reasonable files size may be 100k to 400k, depending on the model. Sometimes the next file save becomes corrupted and the file size will jump to 2 or 3mb. While it does not seem to have any effect on the file contents, you will notice this effect by the greatly increased save and load time of the file. Do not merge any object from the corrupted file into a new file, it can corrupt the new file as well, and inflate the size. If you were also using the Increment on Save option, you can then end up with many large files, using up valuable disk space.		One issue with 3DSMax4 is "saved file corruption", caused by a Microsoft upgrade. Your saved files naturally get larger as you work, but a reasonable files size may be 100k to 400k, depending on the model. Sometimes the next file save becomes corrupted and the file size will jump to 2 or 3mb. While it does not seem to have any effect on the file contents, you will notice this effect by the greatly increased save and load time of the file. Do not merge any object from the corrupted file into a new file, it can corrupt the new file as well, and inflate the size. If you were also using the Increment on Save option, you can then end up with many large files, using up valuable disk space.




	[[CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[CCG/Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]		[[CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[CCG/Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]


	==Return to CCG Index==		==Return to CCG Index==
	[[Content Creator's Guide]]		[[Content Creator's Guide]]

Pev at 03:14, 15 June 2011

2011-06-15T03:14:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:14, 15 June 2011
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	[[Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]		[[CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[CCG/Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]


	==Return to CCG Index==		==Return to CCG Index==
	[[Content Creator's Guide]]		[[Content Creator's Guide]]

Pev: Modelling: CCG/3DSMax Initial Setup moved to CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Initial Setup

2011-06-15T02:56:43Z

Modelling: CCG/3DSMax Initial Setup moved to CCG/Modelling: 3DSMax Initial Setup

← Older revision	Revision as of 02:56, 15 June 2011
(No difference)

Pev: Modelling: 3DSMax Initial Setup moved to Modelling: CCG/3DSMax Initial Setup

2011-06-15T02:50:44Z

Modelling: 3DSMax Initial Setup moved to Modelling: CCG/3DSMax Initial Setup

← Older revision	Revision as of 02:50, 15 June 2011
(No difference)

Pev at 13:18, 13 June 2011

2011-06-13T13:18:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:18, 13 June 2011
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	[[Modelling:3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[Modelling:Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]		[[Modelling: 3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[Modelling: Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]


	==Return to CCG Index==		==Return to CCG Index==
	[[Content Creator's Guide]]		[[Content Creator's Guide]]

Pev: Modelling:3DSMax Initial Setup moved to Modelling: 3DSMax Initial Setup

2011-06-13T13:11:49Z

Modelling:3DSMax Initial Setup moved to Modelling: 3DSMax Initial Setup

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:11, 13 June 2011
(No difference)

Pev at 11:49, 13 June 2011

2011-06-13T11:49:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:49, 13 June 2011
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	One issue with 3DSMax4 is "saved file corruption", caused by a Microsoft upgrade. Your saved files naturally get larger as you work, but a reasonable files size may be 100k to 400k, depending on the model. Sometimes the next file save becomes corrupted and the file size will jump to 2 or 3mb. While it does not seem to have any effect on the file contents, you will notice this effect by the greatly increased save and load time of the file. Do not merge any object from the corrupted file into a new file, it can corrupt the new file as well, and inflate the size. If you were also using the Increment on Save option, you can then end up with many large files, using up valuable disk space.		One issue with 3DSMax4 is "saved file corruption", caused by a Microsoft upgrade. Your saved files naturally get larger as you work, but a reasonable files size may be 100k to 400k, depending on the model. Sometimes the next file save becomes corrupted and the file size will jump to 2 or 3mb. While it does not seem to have any effect on the file contents, you will notice this effect by the greatly increased save and load time of the file. Do not merge any object from the corrupted file into a new file, it can corrupt the new file as well, and inflate the size. If you were also using the Increment on Save option, you can then end up with many large files, using up valuable disk space.


			[[Modelling:3DSMax Interface with Trainz\|Previous Page]] . . . [[Modelling:Merging and Exporting\|Next Page]]


	==Return to CCG Index==		==Return to CCG Index==
	[[Content Creator's Guide]]		[[Content Creator's Guide]]

Pev at 11:33, 13 June 2011

2011-06-13T11:33:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:33, 13 June 2011
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	'''1.''' From the Customise .. Preference Settings .. General, set the System Units Scale		'''1.''' From the Customise .. Preference Settings .. General, set the System Units Scale


	'''2.''' From the Customise .. Units Setup, set the Units		'''2.''' From the Customise .. Units Setup, set the Units

	'''3.''' From the Grid and Snap Settings ..Home Grid, set the grid to a very fine value, say 0.01 metres. This allows you to have a fine grid when you zoom in, and allows you to snap objects to the grid points (this option may be turned on or off in 3dsmax/gmax). The grid will not clutter the screen as it only shows a grid density suitable for viewing as you zoom in or out.
			'''3.''' From the Grid and Snap Settings ..Home Grid, set the grid to a very fine value, say 0.01 metres.
			:This allows you to have a fine grid when you zoom in, and allows you to snap objects to the grid points (this option may be turned on or off in 3dsmax/gmax). The grid will not clutter the screen as it only shows a grid density suitable for viewing as you zoom in or out.


	'''4.''' From the Customise .. Preferences .. Files, some boxes may already be ticked, but the following settings are useful:		'''4.''' From the Customise .. Preferences .. Files, some boxes may already be ticked, but the following settings are useful:

	''Increment on save'', after first saving the file with a name of your choice, subsequently using the save button will automatically create a new saved file, incrementing the file number. For a file called bridge, this gives bridge001, bridge002 etc as you Save the file, you do not need to use Save As. Save often, and if you have a problem with the model you can go back a few saved steps and start again. When you have finished the model, you can remove unnecessary older saved files.		:''Increment on save'', after first saving the file with a name of your choice, subsequently using the save button will automatically create a new saved file, incrementing the file number. For a file called bridge, this gives bridge001, bridge002 etc as you Save the file, you do not need to use Save As. Save often, and if you have a problem with the model you can go back a few saved steps and start again. When you have finished the model, you can remove unnecessary older saved files.

	It is very important to check the ''Auto Backup''. If 3DSMax crashes (and it sometimes does, when you are trying to undo too many steps when mapping, or typing a material name in some of the dialogue boxes) you can find three files called Autobak001, 002, 003 in the ''Autobak'' directory.		:It is very important to check the ''Auto Backup''. If 3DSMax crashes (and it sometimes does, when you are trying to undo too many steps when mapping, or typing a material name in some of the dialogue boxes) you can find three files called Autobak001, 002, 003 in the ''Autobak'' directory.

	3DSMax cycles through these numbers and overwrites them. Find the directory, look at the time stamp for the most recent file, open it in 3DSMax and you will only have lost up to 5 minutes of work (whatever time you have set). You may have to "Show All Files" to see the file, when trying to open it from the Autobak directory.		:3DSMax cycles through these numbers and overwrites them. Find the directory, look at the time stamp for the most recent file, open it in 3DSMax and you will only have lost up to 5 minutes of work (whatever time you have set). You may have to "Show All Files" to see the file, when trying to open it from the Autobak directory.


			'''5.''' From the Customise .. Configure Paths .. General you can choose the paths for your files.
			:It is useful to set the Export path to the editing directory in your version of Trainz. It is simple to then navigate to the particular model directory from there, without navigating from the C: directory every time you export a file.

			:An easy way to have consistent 3DSMmax settings is to load a previous model and then select the "new file" option to begin a new model, retaining the settings from the previous loaded file.

	'''5.''' From the Customise .. Configure Paths .. General you can choose the paths for your files. It is useful to set the Export path to the editing directory in your version of Trainz. It is simple to then navigate to the particular model directory from there, without navigating from the C: directory every time you export a file.

	~~An easy way to have consistent 3DSMmax settings is to load a previous model and then select the "new file" option to begin a new model, retaining the settings from the previous loaded file.~~

	One issue with 3DSMax4 is "saved file corruption", caused by a Microsoft upgrade. Your saved files naturally get larger as you work, but a reasonable files size may be 100k to 400k, depending on the model. Sometimes the next file save becomes corrupted and the file size will jump to 2 or 3mb. While it does not seem to have any effect on the file contents, you will notice this effect by the greatly increased save and load time of the file. Do not merge any object from the corrupted file into a new file, it can corrupt the new file as well, and inflate the size. If you were also using the Increment on Save option, you can then end up with many large files, using up valuable disk space.		One issue with 3DSMax4 is "saved file corruption", caused by a Microsoft upgrade. Your saved files naturally get larger as you work, but a reasonable files size may be 100k to 400k, depending on the model. Sometimes the next file save becomes corrupted and the file size will jump to 2 or 3mb. While it does not seem to have any effect on the file contents, you will notice this effect by the greatly increased save and load time of the file. Do not merge any object from the corrupted file into a new file, it can corrupt the new file as well, and inflate the size. If you were also using the Increment on Save option, you can then end up with many large files, using up valuable disk space.
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