3DC Building tutorial

[decapod]

In response to requests for a beginners tutorial I started one here:
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=92669

The aim is to eventually export to Rail sim with shadows and night textures etc.

Anyone welcome to join in or comment.

[Hawk]

Thanks Paul. Got it copied and printed.
Maybe my thick head can get wrapped around this.

[Hawk]

I thought I had all the plug ins but apparently I don't because I don't have the button to "Shift Centre on Selection". What plug in do I need for this?

center.jpg

[decapod]

You need to make sure you have 3DC version 7.1.2 (not 7.1.1.2)

The first download on this page is newer but may be missing a couple of files:
http://www31.brinkster.com/decapod/plugins601.htm

This download is larger but does not have the latest railsim exporter plugin:
http://cid-06b528339820717e.skydrive.li ... ins712.zip

I need to do a bit of checking when I get home tonight to make them the same.

4 extra operations should appear in the button list and in the Tools/Options/Operations tab
- Flare Extrude, Double Side, Align points and Shift Centre

[decapod]

Use the second download link - I have just updated the installer so it now contains all the latest plugins, operations and scripts.

[Hawk]

Thanks Paul. I downloaded it. I'll install it shortly.

Yes, I do have V-7.1.2.0

3DC Version.jpg

Edit 1: Looks like it was updated correctly.

Plug-In2.jpg

[Hawk]

Paul - Do you have a tutorial on the best way to export the finished model to RS?

Edit 1: One more question: Do textures (bmp, tga, etc.) have to be square (512 X 512, 1024 X 1024) for 3DC to export to RS?

[Bananarama]

Do textures (bmp, tga, etc.) have to be square (512 X 512, 1024 X 1024) for 3DC to export to RS?

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.

[Hawk]

Thanks Marc.
I guess it's back to the drawing board for me. I don't think all of my textures are like that.

[decapod]

I'll be getting to the export once I've done the shadow and night geometry parts of the model - some time next week at this rate.

[Hawk]

Thanks for the reply Paul.

[sleepyto]

Guess I am the dummy of this outfit but where do you get version 7.1.2. I looked on the main site but could not find it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[sleepyto]

Ignore the last post, even a blind squirrel finds an acron every now and then.

[Hawk]

Ignore the last post, even a blind squirrel finds an acron every now and then.

Ya' just gotta sniff 'em out.

[decapod]

You're definitely not the dummy - it is not the "official" current version.

When Richard gets back from Canada we should see version 7.2 some time in April which may unify things again.
It also has a few radical changes so it may be best to wait for 7.2.1 before upgrading.