BAT Help - Render Related Issues

[fosterk 4]

Please use this thread as a help index regarding problems with BAT renders.

If you require help in the subject, make a post here, with details of the problem, and prefferably an image of the problem you are having. Hopefully, someone will reply with information on how to solve your troubles.

[Equinox 1,209]

Here are some threads that might provide you with some good information on the topic (I will edit this post as I find more threads of potential use):

Working with BAT LODs, by RalphaelNinja
Animation Workarounds (a.k.a. Seasonal Props)
Issues with only portions of buildings showing up when rendered...
Computer specs and rendering; general information...
Texturing errors in final-rendered models...
Getting gmax to preview at 1:1 rather than 1:4, 1:3, etc.

[Jeem 17]

I guess this isn't really a rendering question, but scaling in Gmax. I have a building I wanted to fit in a 3x2 lot, but when I added a bunch of balconies, the size became just a little over the limit. Is there a way to scale the entire model down but a couple of percent or two so I can fit it into the lot? Thanks.

[GaryReggae 80]

Yes, group all the elements of the building together then use the 'Scale' tool, the button for this is located next to the 'Rotate' tool.  If you hold the mouse button down on the Scale button, you have various different scale options, the default rescales it on all axes (maintaining the aspect ratio), the others stretch or squash it.

[Jeem 17]

Thanks Gary!

[underworld 129]

Oke, i`ve got a problem!!

Somebody pointed this out to me:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//post-24-1113969101.jpg align=baseline>

 

At zoom 1 to 3 the bat looks oke, in the closer zooms this happens. He mentioned that i should uncheck an option called `anti-alias against background` but i can`t find this option in gmax anywhere. Anybody got a sollution for this??

 

[mntoes 270]

OK.

Things to try:-

 

1) re-fit the building LODs before you render.

 

2) Clear out your plugin folder and leave it blank before you render your building.

 

3) Have you downloaded the texture patch from Sim citys web site yet?

 

here:- http://simcity.ea.com/coolstuff/bat/index.php

 

you will need to log-in to download this.

 

hope that helps

 

mntoes

 

 

[underworld 129]

Thanks for the tips.

[GaryReggae 80]

What on earth has happened here?  This render has totally screwed up!!!

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//screwed_up_render.jpg align=baseline>

[fosterk 4]

Hurrah! The famous Cam-Light-Rig error! Might also be a LOD error, but hey, try both of these.

Re-fit LODs.

Select all the objects in the scene, save selected, and merge into a new blank scene. That should give you a new CamLightRig.

Let me know how it works.

[scififan68 23]

I created a BAT but how can I put it in SC4. Is this the right thread.

[GaryReggae 80]

Thanks FosterK!  That worked although I still have problems with textures not rendering.  In the past I have fixed this by cliking 'reload' for the offending textures but it doesn't seem to work this time.  In the shot below, there are several textures missing, mainly the brick texture.  I reloaded the bitmap and did a preview render and it looked fine so then I exported it but it didn't show

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//TVC_Ingame.jpg align=baseline>

[SimGoober 2,351]

be sure that before you render, the perspective view is active, and the entire model is visable.  Then save, reload, and wait a few seconds.  This will make sure the model is completely loaded; then do the export. Works for me, but then again, maybe I am just lucky...

[Pheonix Rising 2]

First... The 3d model is not mine, it was download from http://www.the3dstudio.com/product_details.aspx?id_product=820 . It renders w/o any problems but when I try to add it in as a prop I get the problem below.

 

Thats the first oddity... the ship model I am working on does not (yet) have this problem and is slightly wider and longer than that in the pic.

 

The next is more a question than a problem and something I have not found an answer to in the forums, at least on all the searches ive tried. Basically.. how do I offset the actual prop from the blue prop box so that the ship is floating in water and not half stuck on land. Trying to move the model around in gmax on gets parts of the ship cut off during rendering 

[fosterk 4]

You should check out Pegasus' Float your boat guide. It should provide answers to the stated questions.

[23821 0]

Every time I try putting this building in the game everything but the top is missing how do I solve this.'); height=25 alt=Insert smilie src=https://community.simtropolis.com/assets/emoticons/42.gif width=15 border=0>

[GaryReggae 80]

23821: I strongly suspect it is a LOD issue. Try resetting the LODs (in the BAT panel under parameters there is a 'Reset LODs' button.

[Hanson784 165]

I am having the same exact problem underworld had. I followed mntoes advice, but it didn't work. For more information I searched through this thread,
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=49974&forumID=37
Those suggestions don't seem to make this problem go away for good.

My buildings will look fine at zooms 1-3 in the Lot Editor, but zooms 4 and 5 reveal the BAT will have multiple, smaller Maxis buildings on top of it which cuts significant portions off as shown in underworld's post above.

This annoying glitch has been plaguing any and all rendered BAT's for the past few months. I have tried creating new files, re-fitting LOD's, deleting LOD's and resetting them again, even clearing out my plug-ins folder during renders; nothing seems to work. I have all necessary fixes, scripts and updates from simcity.com, unless I missed something. The only thing that worked was re-rendering constantly until the problem eventually went away.
Though, this glitch cannot be overlooked on my newest building, which took 6 hours to render on draft quality. The building's footprint is 3*2 and it's 210 meters tall. I have spent nearly a week re-rendering this BAT. What else can I do to make my building render correctly?

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

I have a weird error too. When rendering, it renders Zoom 5, South view and I see what it'll look like. It is fine. However, it then goes to render Zoom 5, East view and it renders exactly the same angle as Zoom 5, South view. It continues rendering this angle until zoom 4, where it renders the south angle all the time, even when rendering east, north and west. This continues through zooms 3, 2 and 1. When in the LE, it shows fine on the south angle, but all the others appear twisted, upside down etc., does anyone know what is causing this and how to fix it.

P.S-It's an off-set render so that one end hangs off the lot. Just if that changes anything...

[gonzalo1234 68]

hello, i have a problem, i build a 900 metters building, but at export shows that error , export failed code 6,the tower have very large pieces, but it only have 20 pieces.

 

where is the cause

 

my computer is a p4 AT 1,5Gh and 512ram

 

thanks

 

that is the tower, on test renders it see good, but to export, gives thatt error

[Hanson784 165]

The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz, I've done further research on our problem and found these threads to be very helpful,
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?mode=viewtopic&topicID=51232&num=30&pageNo=1
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=48643&forumID=37
They give advice and comprehensive information on broken renders. I recommend you read them if broken renders countinue. I will test some possible theories and see if I can fix the problem.

Well, the advice given in those thread's didn't solve my broken renders. I'm unable to render anything with BAT now. Though, the threads are still helpful for giving direction to where this problem is most likey coming from.

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

Thanks, that helps!

[Hanson784 165]

Today must be my lucky day because I was able to solve my broken render errors and was fortunate enough to have the 7 1/2 hour render finish just moments before the power went out.
Anyone who is still following this thread and still having broken renders here

[mcdrye 104]

In gmax I wanted to save time on creating a wire mesh fence so I used a texture and alpha map to give the effect. The problem is that a shadow of the textured object is still being shown rather than several light spots shining through the fence onto the ground.

Does anyone know how to create shadows from an alpha in gmax?

[scififan68 23]

Date: 6/4/2005 3:09:08 PM Author: gonzalo1234

hello, i have a problem, i build a 900 metters building, but at export shows that error , 'export failed code 6',the tower have very large pieces, but it only have 20 pieces.

where is the cause

my computer is a p4 AT 1,5Gh and 512ram

thanks

that is the tower, on test renders it see good, but to export, gives thatt error

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//gygatower12.JPG align=baseline>

quote>

English: Don't worry!! I have the ansewer.error code 6 : means not enough memory , RAM or the model is to big.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Espa

[ardecila 124]

Mcdrye - That depends: Is the shadow being cast in game, or is it being cast by a light onto another part of the same model?

If it is the first one, then there is really nothing you can do about it, short of actually modelling the fence.

If it is the second one, try changing the Shadow Map properties of the light to Raytraced Shadows.

[gonzalo1234 68]

thanks, how i can solve, the tower is big (near 1000mt), but i seen towers much bigger here, have any solution, maybe divide un two or tree parts??

i also try whit a mem optimicer and nothing,

[buddybud 63]

 

i just went through the tutorial to make a box....lol

i created one and rendered it .....but everytime i do it gets all weird at the closest zoom level...i tried textured and untextured and by placing it on different lot sizes....heres a pic...any help would of course be appreciated

 

 

sorry about the wrong forum....i know i suck and all that ....thanxs for the patience and realizing some of us are new...i know it must be frustrating for some of you...lol....there is SO much information here it is quite easy to get lost...thats why i thank all the admins for keeping crazy posters like me in line....i will try to refrain from being to noobish...

 

again any help would be nice.....also can someone tell me what 'reloading LODS' means....again sorry if it is a stupid question... 

[timo 15]

Ok, in gmax, go in the BAT (where you go to export), you should find a parameters menu. In that menu there is a reset LODs button, and a reset camera one...

Try it, there is a big chance it solves your problem... If not I suppose you'll have to come back here!

Don't worry, this is not a stupid question... It's just that if you searched you would have found the answer. Your problem is quite common I think.

Hope your box gets fine!

[buddybud 63]

super $%&^! success....thanx man...ill probably be back with more silly questions....lol....my problem with search is that i always find So many threads....but so few awnsers...thats why im doing the tutorial....but thanx all the same...i will take all critisism as constructive.....atleast till i get banned

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//supernoob.jpg align=baseline>

 

and yes Timo you were right it was the reset lods and reset cameras....though i had to start over......not that it was difficult....so if anyone wants a box...im your man...well ah ..nevermind