Which 3D Modelling Software?

[andrewgadd]

Hi all, my first post on this subject!

I wonder if the people at KUJU could tell us what 3D software they are using to build the new version (done a search, but can’t find a reference). I would love to know as I have spent the last two years getting to grips with Gmax and then 3DS Max and imagine that the modellers at KUJU are using 3DS Max too.

Andrew. CME. Bodgit & Scarper Engineering.

[andrewgadd]

I've just found an answer to my question in the F.A.Q. above. (3D Max).

Next question, is there going to be an export tool for .3ds like the one with MSTS v1.2?

Thanks,
Andrew.

[peterholton]

Seeing as how they've said that community addons will be very important to the staying power of their simulator, then I think that some sort of exporter/tool has to be a given, otherwise it's difficult to see how anybody could progress much further than using supplied default scenery and rolling stock?

Peter

[KlausM]

Hi Andrew,

that's the software that the Kuju people use themselves. Since 3d Max, Softimage and Maja are quite expensive products, probably too much for non-commerical content developers, it might be that Kuju will provide other ways to create objects also. But there hasn't been an official statement yet.

Klaus

[andrewgadd]

Hi Guys,

The point I think I'm trying to make is that I have found that there are other 3D programs out there that can export to .3ds and be used by the converter tool supplied with MSTS.
E.g. the model below was made on a freeware 3D program which is VERY easy to use and a VERY small download size. It is also capable of exporting to .3ds and therefore MSTS.
It would be nice if the same could be used in the new Sim.


Andrew

[OTTODAD]

Found this on the Web:

Converting Objects to DXF or 3DS
When you convert to DXF, texturing information will be lost, and all geometry will be converted to triangles, quads, and lines. When you convert to 3DS, all geometry will be reduced to triangles and lines will be lost. These are limitations of the file formats.

Because converting to 3DS and DXF are lossy..........

I don't think that converting KUJU ACE or Bitmap files will be satisfactory unless they can create a converter which will improve textures quality ?

As far as rolling stock is concerned will wheels sit properly on the top of KRS-2006 track rails after conversion ?

O t t o

[andrewtoplis]

Which program is the boiler model created with Andrew?
Andy

[peterholton]

Not sure where you're coming from, Otto.

Which program was this referring to? Conversion to .3ds format from, for example, Gmax, is certainly not lossy, and does not lose texturing information. It does convert models to separate tri's, but that is a "feature" of the format. The .3ds format, although long deprecated, is still considered a standard import/export format for 3d models.

Kuju will not, in my opinion, be wanting to "convert" from any existing formats, especially not those owned by Microsoft! So any converter for any formats used by their simulator will undoubtedly be from native 2d or 3d graphics formats.

That's only my opinion.

Peter

[OTTODAD]

Conversion to .3ds format from, for example, Gmax, is certainly not lossy, and does not lose texturing information.

That seems to be what I have been reading about. The lossiness was mentioned converting from other graphics programs.

Kuju will not, in my opinion, be wanting to "convert" from any existing formats, especially not those owned by Microsoft!

Would that include Microsoft's "Bitmap" format ?

What MSTS trains simmers are hoping will be possible and allegedly supported by KUJU, is being able to convert objects made for MSTS into the graphics format used by KRS-2006.

The ACE graphics format was proprietary to KUJU and I am not sure whether it was acquired by Microsoft with the MSTS code.

O t t o

[ianm42]

When MSTS first came out, all the cheap and free 3D modelling tools were tried. Most could produce .3ds exports, but none of the files produced were accepted by the MSTS conversion tool. It always complained about the hierarchy.

For some time, only 3D Studio Max could be used to create acceptable .3ds files. Then 3D Canvas was modified to create .S files directly. A little later TSM was created, and much later still, a GMax exporter was produced.

As far as I know, no other 3D modelling tool has ever created a .3ds file that the MSTS converter would accept.

[sp762]

That's going to be an issue for all those of us who don't want to shell out thousands of bucks for 3D Max...

[NeutronIC]

TSM has a 3DS export (only available in the commercial $400 version) which works quite well - it was originally developed with that in mind and a transparent call to conv3ds but there were originally issues with the quaternians it produced that manifested particularly with animations if I recall, so the author developed the direct .S export.

Presumably its presence in the commercial version means they got it fixed.

Matt.

[sp762]

I didn't know they had ever released the commercial version!

[NeutronIC]

Yes they did it ages ago, if you want to use TSM to build models for COMMERCIAL purposes then you must purchase their $399 version of TSM, the normal shop-bought one for £25 or whatever is only permitted for use in creating freeware or donationware items.

Matt.

[andrewgadd]

The software used to make the boiler is Anim8or, a great little 3d program with an extremely easy learning curve. Also has the ability too render a model as above.



It does have two drawbacks,
Its UV mapping is worse than . (but if used with LithUnwrap its OK.)
It does not support hierarchies, again no good for stock but I have (just for the hell of it) built quite a lot of scenery.
It’s a nice, simple and quick program that exports in 3ds (the converter has no problems what so ever).

The essence of this thread is to enquire whether the skills that I now have with Max and Anim8or will be of use with the new Sim. Or, will I need to start again with a new 3d program? GROAN.

Andrew.