HowTo/Build a simple animated scenery asset in Blender - Revision history

Thatchapthere: Added warning to tutorial that information is outdated and may not work

2025-02-05T05:15:18Z

Added warning to tutorial that information is outdated and may not work

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:15, 5 February 2025
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	This asset requires two lattices. The main lattice, appropriately called b.r.main, is the parent lattice and is not animated. The second lattice, b.r.beachball will be the parent of the beachball mesh and will be animated.		This asset requires two lattices. The main lattice, appropriately called b.r.main, is the parent lattice and is not animated. The second lattice, b.r.beachball will be the parent of the beachball mesh and will be animated.

			<span style="color:red">
			'''NOTE: This tutorial is somewhat deprecated, as lattices will not work with a more up to date workflow. You can follow this article using empties instead of lattices, or follow [[HowTo/Export Blender FBX Animation\|a more recent tutorial]].'''
			</span>

	=== Create the b.r.main lattice ===		=== Create the b.r.main lattice ===
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	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-b.r.beachball lattice.jpg\|x200px]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-b.r.beachball lattice.jpg\|x200px]]



	== Set up the parent-child relationships ==		== Set up the parent-child relationships ==

Ek.skirl: /* Introduction */

2023-08-14T14:09:24Z

Introduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:09, 14 August 2023
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	This tutorial demonstrates how to animate a simple ball scenery asset to make it bounce one metre and rotate through 360 degrees. The asset has no practical purpose in Trainz other than to demonstrate how animation can be used on scenery objects.		This tutorial demonstrates how to animate a simple ball scenery asset to make it bounce one metre and rotate through 360 degrees. The asset has no practical purpose in Trainz other than to demonstrate how animation can be used on scenery objects.

			Updated and rebuilded tutorial files: [[File:Tutorial_Rebuild_Blender_Jumping_BeachBall.zip\|Tutorial Rebuild Blender Jumping BeachBall]]
			Beside some adjustments the main update was to move, add and amend animation tags to a effects sub container.
			Informations about Blender 3.x fbx export settings as picture one will find in [[Prequel Blender to Trainz\|Prequel for this tutorial series: Blender to Trainz (with the full script)]]

	= Requirements =		= Requirements =

Ek.skirl: Showing height of the pictures set to 200px.

2023-08-12T12:24:43Z

Showing height of the pictures set to 200px.

Tonyhilliam at 23:09, 16 January 2018

2018-01-16T23:09:46Z

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 However, as of trainz-build 4.5, Trainz uses FBX as a mesh import format (which Blender can export).
 = Introduction =
@@ Line 228: / Line 218: @@
 [[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-In Trainz.jpg]]
 [[Category:How-to guides]]

Tonyhilliam: /* Caveat */

2018-01-16T23:03:43Z

Caveat

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:03, 16 January 2018
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	[http://www.blender.org Blender] is not currently supported by N3V as a modeling source for Trainz, however third-party tools exist for this purpose.		[http://www.blender.org Blender] is not currently supported by N3V as a modeling source for Trainz, however third-party tools exist for this purpose.

			However, as of trainz-build 4.5, Trainz uses FBX as a mesh import format (which Blender can export).

			==See Also==
			[[HowTo/Export_from_Blender_using_FBX]]
			[[FBX_file_format]]

			==Return to Index==

			[[HowToGuides\|<< How To Guides]]

			[[Category:How-to guides]]

	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

Mjolnir: /* Requirements */

2016-05-23T05:16:19Z

Requirements

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:16, 23 May 2016
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	= Requirements =		= Requirements =

	To export ~~from~~ Trainz you need the following:		To export an animated scenery asset to Trainz, you need the following:

	:* Trainz (TS09 or later preferred)		:* Trainz (TS09 or later preferred)
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	:* Windows Vista or Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit).		:* Windows Vista or Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit).
	:* Some experience in the use of Blender to create assets for Trainz.		:* Some experience in the use of Blender to create assets for Trainz.


	= Animating meshes in Blender =		= Animating meshes in Blender =

Mjolnir: /* Create the mesh */

2015-07-09T04:48:22Z

Create the mesh

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:48, 9 July 2015
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	*In Blender create a new sphere object and name it Beachball.		*In Blender create a new sphere object and name it Beachball.
	*Create a simple material called "beachball.m.onetex".		*Create a simple material called "beachball.m.onetex".
	Allocate a simple texture and ~~uvmap~~ the sphere to the texture. This example uses a red 1616 pixel TGA file.		Allocate a simple texture and UV map the sphere to the texture. This example uses a red 1616 pixel TGA file.
	*Position the beachball so it just touches the ground.		*Position the beachball so it just touches the ground.

	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-The Beachball.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-The Beachball.jpg]]


	== Create the lattices ==		== Create the lattices ==

Windwalkr at 11:38, 20 February 2013

2013-02-20T11:38:26Z

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	:* Trainz (TS09 or later preferred)		:* Trainz (TS09 or later preferred)
	:* [~~http://online.ts2009.com/mediaWiki/index.php5/~~Downloads TrainzMeshImporter.exe]. This is provided by N3V.		:* [[Downloads\|TrainzMeshImporter.exe]]. This is provided by N3V.
	:* Blender V2.57 or later.		:* Blender V2.57 or later.
	:* [https://bitbucket.org/uschi0815/blender-exporter-for-trainz/downloads/ The Blender Exporter].		:* [https://bitbucket.org/uschi0815/blender-exporter-for-trainz/downloads/ The Blender Exporter].

Uschi0815: /* CONFIG.TXT */

2013-02-20T05:08:19Z

CONFIG.TXT

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:08, 20 February 2013
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	The config.txt for the asset should look something like this:		The config.txt for the asset should look something like this:

			kuid <kuid:xxx:xxx>
			username "AAA Bouncing Beachball"
	kuid <kuid:xxx:xxx>		description "Beachball animation scenery asset"
			trainz-build 3.5
	username "AAA Bouncing Beachball"		kind "scenery"
			category-era "1800s"
	~~kind~~ "scenery"		category-class "XVG"
			category-region "00"
	trainz-build 3.5
			mesh-table
	mesh-table {		{
			default
	~~default~~ {		{
			mesh "beachball.im"
	mesh "beachball.im"		light 1
			auto-create 1
	light 1		anim "beachball.kin"
			animation-loop-speed 1.00
	auto-create 1		}
			}
	anim "beachball.kin"
			thumbnails
	animation-loop-speed 1.00		{
			0
	}		{
			image "$screenshot$.jpg"
	}		width 240
			height 180
	~~category-class "XVG"~~		}
			}
	~~description "Beachball animation scenery asset"~~

	~~thumbnails~~ {

	0 {

	image "$screenshot$.jpg"

	width 240

	height 180

	}

	}


	Note the use of the tags "anim" and "animation-loop-speed". A value of 1 for animation-loop-speed gives normal animation. You can slow or speed up the animation with different values.		Note the use of the tags "anim" and "animation-loop-speed". A value of 1 for animation-loop-speed gives normal animation. You can slow or speed up the animation with different values.


	= Conclusion =		= Conclusion =

Pev at 02:20, 19 August 2012

2012-08-19T02:20:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:20, 19 August 2012
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	[[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-In Trainz.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-In Trainz.jpg]]


			[[Category:How-to guides]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:24, 12 August 2023
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	*Position the beachball so it just touches the ground.		*Position the beachball so it just touches the ground.

	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-The Beachball.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-The Beachball.jpg\|x200px]]

	== Create the lattices ==		== Create the lattices ==
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	*Add a lattice and name it b.r.main. The name is important and it should be in lowercase. You can resize to whatever size suits you.		*Add a lattice and name it b.r.main. The name is important and it should be in lowercase. You can resize to whatever size suits you.

	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-b.r.main lattice.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-b.r.main lattice.jpg\|x200px]]

	=== Create the b.r.beachball lattice ===		=== Create the b.r.beachball lattice ===
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	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-b.r.beachball lattice.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-b.r.beachball lattice.jpg\|x200px]]


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	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Parenting the beachball.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Parenting the beachball.jpg\|x200px]]


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	*Press Ctrl P and then select the Object option. This makes the b.r.beachball lattice a child of b.r.main.		*Press Ctrl P and then select the Object option. This makes the b.r.beachball lattice a child of b.r.main.

	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Parenting the beachball lattice.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Parenting the beachball lattice.jpg\|x200px]]


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	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Outliner window.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Outliner window.jpg\|x200px]]


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	*Arrange the screen layout as you wish but make sure you include a Timeline window. This is my layout for this session that has the Timeline Window at the bottom.		*Arrange the screen layout as you wish but make sure you include a Timeline window. This is my layout for this session that has the Timeline Window at the bottom.

	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Screen layout.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Screen layout.jpg\|x200px]]

	*In the Timeline window, change the End frame to 30 and set the current frame to 1. For Trainz the animation rate is 30 frames per second.		*In the Timeline window, change the End frame to 30 and set the current frame to 1. For Trainz the animation rate is 30 frames per second.
	*Go to the Render window and set the playback rate to 30 fps.		*Go to the Render window and set the playback rate to 30 fps.

	[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Frame rate.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Animation Tute-Frame rate.jpg\|x200px]]


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	[[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-Beachball lattice animation frames.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-Beachball lattice animation frames.jpg\|x200px]]


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	*To export, select '''''File ->Export -> Trainz Mesh and Animation'''''. In the dialog box make sure the Export Animation Data checkbox is checked.		*To export, select '''''File ->Export -> Trainz Mesh and Animation'''''. In the dialog box make sure the Export Animation Data checkbox is checked.

	[[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-Exporting.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-Exporting.jpg\|x200px]]


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	Here is the beachball in Trainz Surveyor bouncing next to another test asset of a simple lighthouse with a flashing cursor.		Here is the beachball in Trainz Surveyor bouncing next to another test asset of a simple lighthouse with a flashing cursor.

	[[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-In Trainz.jpg]]		[[Image:Blender Simple Anim Tute-In Trainz.jpg\|x200px]]