3DC Building tutorial

[Hawk]

Thanks David. I read that thread and I'll give it a go and see what happens.

Edit 1: Tried that. No change. I'm just going to blow this whole shadow deal off. Nobody cares about shadows when they're trying to run the train anyway. Just more unnecessary detail.

[decapod]

Those shadow objects are the bane of many developers. They are never perfect.

The shader seems to shrink the shadow model slightly to compensate for shadow models that are exactly the same size as the main model.
The developers guide say the shadow object should be slightly smaller but in reality it needs to be exactly the same.

Volume shadows are only ever necessary for objects that may cast shadows over the tracks. Otherwise I would stick with keeping the diffuse material value (in 3D canvas) below 50 to ensure the shading of the model looks correct without the volume shadow.
(You will need to increase the intensity of the directional light in the 3DC scene to compensate while modelling)

[Hawk]

Thanks for your input Paul. I'd sort of figured that out myself after reading over at the 3DC forums that even Richard was scratching his head over the shadow issue.
I've tried making the shadow model the same size and a tad smaller than the main, both with the basic same results so I've pretty much decided to go on without shadows since I'm working on houses and other non-rail scenery.

I do have diffuse set at 50 and ambient at 1 and I created 3 additional pilot lights (one in each corner) to compensate.

[selkirkfan]

Hi Paul
Your tutorial is excellent. I have used 3dcanvas for a few years now but have learned a lot by going through your tutorial. One question. I have 3dcanvas pro ver 7.1.2.0 and the plug ins for 7.1.2 but the material manager doesn't show up when I go Tools\Plug-in\material.There is no material manager listed in the plug ins in the tools\option window.The download site for 7.1.2 says that there is a material manager with the plug ins.What am I doing wrong?

[decapod]

The first thing to do is make sure you do have 7.1.2 and not 7.1.1.2 (which is the official version on the main website)

http://www.3d-canvas.com/downloads/3DCanvas7120.zip

Uninstall 3DC first then install this version.
You may also need to re-install the plugins (particularly if you have vista)

Material manager does not come with 7.1.2 by default, you'll need to download my extra plugins:

http://cid-06b528339820717e.skydrive.li ... ins712.zip

[Sly]

Hi Guys

On the subject of shadows: try making them very simple boxes that are larger than your actual model by at least 300 mm.

There is a need to make them quite a bit bigger as they seem to shrink with view distance.
They do need to be closed objects .. same as normal
Boxes (primitives) can be stacked.
Cull backfaces and flip the faces to face inwards....... this will let shadows be cast onto your model.

Only tried this method using 3D max so don't know if there are any extra issues with 3DC

More details in the UKTS thread or can reproduce here if necessary.

Sly

[Hawk]

Paul - With the 7.1.2 install and the 7.1.2 plug-ins, are the following files also necessary;

3DCanvasTrainworksExtras7120.zip
202103551_RSIGS2.zip
51710286541_stepmaker.zip

or are they part of the 7.1.2 install and plug-ins?

If they are required, what is the proper order of installation?

Sly - I did try the idea of flipping the shadow primitive inside out but got the same results.
I did not try making it a little bigger though.

[Sly]

Yep Ed

The just put a cube / Box totally enclosing your model by a good margin and then if you like the result you can trim or add some shape later.

Doing the shadow model externally removes a load of potential problems, and the only drawbacks I have seen so far are..

the need to compensate in your models textures for the reduced brightness
shadows on the floor are a little oversize.

They can still be as complex or simple as you like.. you just don't have to mess about trying to get it to fit inside a structure.
You still get the lit and shade side of a model in the diffuse
Its a case of all inside or all outside ( with some margin)

Sly

[Hawk]

Thanks Sly. I might give that a try.

[selkirkfan]

Hi Paul
I do have 3dcanvas 7.1.2 Also I did download the 712 plugins from your download site. I did a reinstall with 3dc and the plugins and still no material manager.Maybe I am having a seniors moment but all the other extra plugins are showing up but not material manager
I am using winXP pro

[Hawk]

Did you install the Trainworks plug in?
I'm not 100% sure if it's needed or not with the 7.1.2 plug in. Still waiting to hear back on my post.

[selkirkfan]

Hi Hawk
I haven't installed any TrainWorks plugin.There is a TrainWorks option when I click on plugins already. What I did do is go to the 3dcanvas forum in the plugin section and just download the material manager plugin. It now shows up in my 3dcanvas

[Hawk]

Paul - With the 7.1.2 install and the 7.1.2 plug-ins, are the following files also necessary;

3DCanvasTrainworksExtras7120.zip
202103551_RSIGS2.zip
51710286541_stepmaker.zip

or are they part of the 7.1.2 install and plug-ins?

If they are required, what is the proper order of installation?

I finally figured this out. I installed 3DC 7.1.2, then the Trainworks 7.1.2 then the plug ins, then the RSIGS2 plug in. Turns out the Stepmaker was already there, probably installed with the 7.1.2 plug ins.