Bridge Commander Universe

CaptArcher · Vice Admiral Joined: 05 Mar 2002 Posts: 1765

ok i am woundering if anyt one has a good tut on mkaing glows in max for jsut like models. not glows for bc

Dawn · Cadet 3rd Class Joined: 02 May 2002 Posts: 33

i'm really looking forward to se how this spline cage thingy works for you on the galaxy .. i tried it several times and i think i got the baiscs the first time i tried them (3 circles in a row, cross section, etc.), but the problem is that more "difficult" splines, with more vertexes never get the right or sometimes even any surface after i aplied the surface modifier Rolleyes

... i mean for an object (like a saucer), ya need basically 3 splines, 1 for the front view, 1 for top/bottom, and one for the side ... now even when i count the vertexes for each spline to be of the same amount and welding them together, it just doesn't work .. so loft seems to me to be much better, especially for the galaxy saucer Rolleyes

William T. Riker · Fleet Admiral Joined: 11 Jul 2002 Posts: 11084

Don't use spline on circular or ellipse saucers. Use Loft.

Dawn · Cadet 3rd Class Joined: 02 May 2002 Posts: 33

William T. Riker · Fleet Admiral Joined: 11 Jul 2002 Posts: 11084

Check out the tutorial thread.

Those links really help. That's where I learn how to use Splines.

novawarrior · Cadet 1st Class Joined: 29 Mar 2002 Posts: 84

novawarrior · Cadet 1st Class Joined: 29 Mar 2002 Posts: 84

There are a number of ways to get glows in MAX.

The one I'm most familiar with, is post-production glows.

For this, you need to set the material effects ID for the textures you want to have a glow (there are lots of other ways, but this is one of the easier ones)

Then, you need to find the post-production section (it's on the same menu as normal renders)

First, add a veiwport to the post-production qeue, then, add a 'glow' post-production effect, and mess with it's controls (there are LOTS of controls)

for starters, set the glow to be applied by Effects ID. There are too many options to go into too much detail, but this should at least point you in the right direction.

novawarrior · Cadet 1st Class Joined: 29 Mar 2002 Posts: 84

To create 'organic' rounded shapes, (other than when trying to re-create existing objects though)
FFD modifiers can be very helpful.

Create a box, and set it's number of segments to a relatively high number. Then, apply an FFD modifier, and modify it's control points to make quite a number of 'organic' looking shapes quite easily. To create symmetrical shapes, select multiple control points, and use a non-uniform scale on them.

Another thing you might want to consider, is a free-ware plugin called PolyChop.

It's a polygon reduction tool. It's a little buggy, and on my system causes MAX to crash if you use it on open shapes, or meshes with sub-objects

Also, it takes a bit of effort to get it to reduce the mesh into something which looks good, but it's very effective for getting rid of small polygons which are almost un-noticed when removed.

Actually, the reason I use max over anything else i've been able to get is the modifier stack. It can be a big help, except when you work with individual polygons...

Pegasus · **Posted**: 04-24-2003 12:16 AM

Wow, I just stumbled on this thread, I think it maybe should be made sticky again, could be useful, because i know there are alot of us moddelers out there who could to with a few pointers Smile

.

Brian4120 · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 03:59 AM

is there a free prog (not eval.) that CAN export into .nif cuz im in jr high and i cant afford jack squat! lol

tim_scott_2000 · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 04:54 AM

milkshape not free doesn't cost much and if you go to ef2files.com they have a game plugin to export to nif (although its not labled this way trust me its there)

Pa'taq · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 08:21 PM

does anyone know where i can get a nif converter for 3dsmax5

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 08:36 PM

there is non

Pa'taq · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 08:37 PM

theres got to be somewhere anyone

plEEEEEEEAAASSSSSEEEEEEE

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 08:39 PM

maby soon I just havent heard of it yet.

Nixon_26 · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 08:42 PM

there is no niff converter for max5 only for max 3.1 its easy to save in 3.1 format an ask someone to niff it, this is a tips thread not a advice seeking thread so not many people will look in here to help

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 08:44 PM

I tryed to tell him

Pa'taq · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 08:52 PM

well exuse me sry nixon

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 08:57 PM

well

Nixon_26 · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 09:06 PM

Well i dont know if im crazy but i was tryin to give you a little advice there after answerin your question for ya, if you want a responce put it in a new thread dont put it on one that has no significance otherwise no one will see it. There is no niff converter because it aint easy to make just like it aint easy to convert the other way someone may get round to one but its hard so i wouldnt wait and id ask someone like starforce to niff anythin you want try private messegin him or somit

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 09:12 PM

arg and I just told him not to o well I stand corrected. I will tell him to later.

what a day

tim_scott_2000 · **Posted**: 04-30-2003 11:47 PM

if you want a model converted to nif download another smaller model program like gmax or milkshape which does have a niff converter convert your max model to .3ds and export it to the new program then convert it there or else give it to someone else to convert

Nixon_26 · **Posted**: 05-01-2003 03:29 PM

does gmax have a niff converter it never used to?

Pa'taq · **Posted**: 05-01-2003 07:58 PM

i apologize nixon sry everyone i will find out how to make a new thread

Nixon_26 · **Posted**: 05-01-2003 08:10 PM

sokay mate, i just wanna see what your workin on

Pa'taq · **Posted**: 05-05-2003 11:47 AM

mostly i goof around with textures for nebula's ships ive actually gotten pretty good

USSDurlun · Cadet 4th Class Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 5

Search on google for it... It runs around $3000 I got mine for $150, but I know people at EA who were throwing old copies out.

I know other places, but I dont watn to get banned

vip · **Posted**: 10-22-2003 02:51 AM

what i find wierd and confusing is that max 5 doesnt have a nif exporter but it does have a nif importer.

tim_scott_2000 · **Posted**: 12-29-2003 05:55 AM

ok good link

http://www.huntfor.com/3d/tutorials.htm

**evamonkey** · **meom** BCU Mod Team Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 26

spline modelling is far superior to creating stuff from primitives.

i find that the first step to a really kick ass max model is planning. if its your own design, you better have everything drawn out and detailed in advance. otherwise your looking at a very DIY model. when i design a starship, i work out cross sections of the form before i even hit the computer, that way, with complex forms, you have more accuracy, and as such a sweet model.

now, having said that i can model with impunity, i have ZERO experience with modelling for games.

is there a difinitive resource, an uber file that takes a ship from sketched concept right through to in game model firing phasers. if so, let me know.

also, i ponder as to whether there are any rules to the road. is there any setguidlines somewhere with poly count guidelines, compatable map types( specular, bump etc.) and advanced efects( glow , particle systems.etc)

what im looking for are the rules of the road so to speak and im no free loader. ive written a 5000 word modelling tutorial for max 5. its comprehensive. happy to hand it in if i can be given a place to e mail it to.

its for an assault rifle, not a ship though.

anywho, if a uber file exists, let me know. if not, i throw as much help as i can into making one with anyone who can help. im talking about a file by bc users for bc users.

btw, another tip, when spline modelling you may get crazy results when you use the loft of cross-section surface combos.

99.9999% of the time, this is down to vertex numbers.

so, enable see vertex numbers in the spline sub object mode of your spline cage. check for inaccuracies.

ya see, max lofts from one spline to the other by following vertex numbers. vertex one on spline a connects to vertex 1 spline b, so if these are mis aligned or totally different you get big problems. a good idea is to plan ahead for the complexity of surfaces, and clone each new cross sectional spline element from the last, keeping the numbers in sync.

the tutorial i did is pretty big, with lots of pics and such, and step by step files. so, i cant fire it down the line on my 56 k modem. if theres a call for it, ill find a broadband line and send it, but only if it will be made available to the public, not just random guys asking for it.