3DC Building tutorial

[thegrindre]

I don't know if this will help anybody but this is supposed to be the latest versions as far as I know.
http://amabilis.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/ ... 5410119341

[Hawk]

So long as the texture has a power of 2 (32, 64, 128, etc.), then you'll be OK. You can use a 512 x 512 texture, or one measuring 512 x 1024 or 512 x 64.

Just so I understand this right. A file size that is divisible by 2 is not good enough. It has to have a power of 2.
For instance, a file that is 188 X 860 or 512 X 860 won't work right, even though it textures fine in 3DC?

[Bananarama]

Correct.

2, 4, 8, 16, (<--- not supported in RS) 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, and 2048.

[Hawk]

Thanks Marc.

[CARex]

Paul,

Thanx for the tutorial. I had previously downloaded the 3DC free version just to see how this puppy works, and I’m about as confused as I can be. 3DC is no SU.

I keep telling myself that this venture into RS is a good thing… but the learning curve is pretty steep. Of course, the MSTS learning curve was steep in the beginning… so pressing on regardless.

[KevinWS]

Bob - me too. I keep going back to it in a state of confusion as well......

[CARex]

Kevin,

I’m just taking it ‘a step at a time’. Right now everything is new. RS, 3DC and a dedicated Dell.

[Hawk]

Following along this tutorial by Paul, I tried to make the shadow model. I copied the main model and deleted all unnecessary parts, moved it back into the main model and followed the instructions on setting the material properties for the shadow, but when I got to this screen it was missing the area to fill in the StencilShadow.fx.

Shadow.jpg

What did I miss?

According to the tutorial, that screen should look like this.

6.jpg

[decapod]

Sorry about that - you need to click on one of the blue cubes (or rather the text next to it which may be blank) first before that page appears

[Hawk]

Does that have to be done on each blue cube in the shadow group?

BTW! While I have your attention;
Have you done any more with the Step Maker plug in since the version available in the thread at the 3DC forums dated July -'08?

http://amabilis.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/ ... 1710286541

I like what you've done with it. Very handy. You had mentioned adding more to it like banisters and such. Just curious.

I whipped up a little spread-sheet for it to help with the entries for the number of steps and the base width. Still needs a little work but it helps a little.

[decapod]

Just click on 1 to get the material properties to show. Then continue as described.

I've not done any more to the step maker recently. It's still on the list to add things to do, so if I get a spare few mins in between my flight sim models....

[Hawk]

Thanks Paul. That did the trick.
Now if I can figure out what I'm doing wrong. Looks like maybe I have too many parts in the shadow model.

shadow.jpg

[Hawk]

I think I've found my problem with the shadow model. I'm still stuck in the old TSM days and I delete all unseen faces. Apparently that is a no-no for the shadow model.

[Hawk]

It appears I'm on the right track, but why do my shadows look like they're coming from inside the building?

shadow4.jpg

shadow5.jpg

[longbow]

Hawk, my buildings suffer from this too; you may find a solution here http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=305&t=98744&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30