BAT Help - Render Related Issues

[cowkilla 12]

not 100% sure but it seems that those cones or spot lights on the ground plane would be screwing you up. if you are not useing them delete them. see how the pivot point in the top view is not centered on your building, but a bit off to the side? that should be smack dab in the middle of your building.

im just gestimating here now but i think the scripts that make the gmax bat work look for the limits of your scene and render those areas. if you have objects laying around 3d space they get picked up by the script as the limits of your building and you get the problum you have.

[cowkilla 12]

...i know i submited a reply, were did it go?

delete!

[ElBarto92 7]

At closer zooms, my building looks like a black and gray blur, both in game and in the LE.

At Zoom 4:

At Zoom 5:

I can also provide a screenshot from the BAT, if you need it.

Thanks in advance.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Select everything in your scene that is part of your building, but not the camera right or lighting rig, or any helpers (you can hide them in the tab that is second from the right, found on the pane to the right).  The go to file>save selected and save them into a new scene.  Then reset the LODs.  If you have custom LODs, make sure that they are all labeled properly (LOD3, LOD4, LOD5, not LOD05, as the BAT might suggest).

Whenever you have a rendering problem, doing those things will usually fix the problem.

I've had your problem before, and I think it has to do with the lighting rig.  The problem is fixed by doing the things I've said.

Good luck.

[Oth3ll012 3]

Can some one direct me to a Bat batch renderer...any help would be appreciated.

[Oth3ll012 3]

Can some one direct me to a Bat batch renderer...any help would be appreciated.

[Oth3ll012 3]

Can some one direct me to a Bat batch renderer...any help would be appreciated.

[dmscopio 225]

Ok, I am using BatforMax and I got this strange color box after my render. It looks likt this:

It should look something like this:

I got it working earlier, but when I reder it again it just gives me ugly color box.

Anyone got a crack on this?

[dmscopio 225]

Ok, I am using BatforMax and I got this strange color box after my render. It looks likt this:

It should look something like this:

I got it working earlier, but when I reder it again it just gives me ugly color box.

Anyone got a crack on this?

[dmscopio 225]

Ok, I am using BatforMax and I got this strange color box after my render. It looks likt this:

It should look something like this:

I got it working earlier, but when I reder it again it just gives me ugly color box.

Anyone got a crack on this?

[SimFox 802]

DMscopio: hm... I'm confused now... I've already said it, but here it goes again - this problem occurs after the Max file has been saved with *.SC4Model name put in the field in Export tab of BAT. This messes up FSH files IDs (if you open output directory you'll see that there is slight difference in file names and directory name).

To fix this you have to go back to save BEFORE you've put in SC4Model name and do export from there.

And remember: NEVER SAVE AFTER SC4Model NAME HAS BEEN PUT IN!

[SimFox 802]

DMscopio: hm... I'm confused now... I've already said it, but here it goes again - this problem occurs after the Max file has been saved with *.SC4Model name put in the field in Export tab of BAT. This messes up FSH files IDs (if you open output directory you'll see that there is slight difference in file names and directory name).

To fix this you have to go back to save BEFORE you've put in SC4Model name and do export from there.

And remember: NEVER SAVE AFTER SC4Model NAME HAS BEEN PUT IN!

[SimFox 802]

DMscopio: hm... I'm confused now... I've already said it, but here it goes again - this problem occurs after the Max file has been saved with *.SC4Model name put in the field in Export tab of BAT. This messes up FSH files IDs (if you open output directory you'll see that there is slight difference in file names and directory name).

To fix this you have to go back to save BEFORE you've put in SC4Model name and do export from there.

And remember: NEVER SAVE AFTER SC4Model NAME HAS BEEN PUT IN!

[bixel 1,223]

dmscopio: open a new file...then merge in all the data from the other and save over it...export again..should be fine.

[tunta 15]

May be someone said something about this problem but I didn’t find anything in this forum.

When I doing “high quality” export I have a problem with outline of the bat, the part who touch “black zone”, the precision is very bad, very different than the previous version, but inside the Bat it looks like good.

 

In view to ameliorate render, I try to place the Bat in a 100% transparent box like a LOD, the quality is better but now I have some troubles with lights and  colors look like darkest.

 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

The reason that happens is because SC4 doesn't have anti-aliasing, so all of the edges of the in-game objects are going to be jagged.

It looks fine when doing a preview render because the preview render isn't a true export, but just a quick render.  LODs, and other things that are important to the game aren't considered when doing a preview render.  The reason putting it in a box fixed it is because the true edges of the building (as far as the game is concerned) is now the outside edge of your transparent box.  However, if you put that into the game, your BAT would have a black outline where the orange box blended with the black background, and that looks bad.

Ok, on to my problem .  As you can see below, part of the fire escape shows up infront of the wall, even though it's behind it.  The preview renders don't show that happeneing, and I don't think my custom LODs would cause this.

Does anyone know what's up?

[SimFox 802]

well, without seing the model file itself it is hard to say what causes this effect... You say preview looked fine? How did you do the preview? from Xrefed camera?

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Yes, it's from Gmax, so that's the only way to preview.

Soon I'm going to try the usual stuff (save selected and rerender in a new scene, and resetting LODS, etc.), I just haven't had time for it yet, since I can't use the computer when it's rendering and I don't want to render it over night because I sleep right next to the computer, and I won't be able to fall asleep (I'd end up staying up untill it finished rendering, lol).

[Natalya-AF- 6]

Originally posted by: mntoes

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

 

 

quote>

I need that file but I couldn't register on the simcity site.  Long story short, I gave them an email account from www.Mailinator.com so I wouldn't get junk mail, but they never sent to confirmation e-mail.

Can someone rapidshare it or host it somewhere for me?

[ja/att 61]

I have downloaded highway signs off the STEX made by nycsc4 and tinkered with them on the BAT to change their names to fit my own towns. But for some reason during rendering the program goes unresponsive and the file doesn't make it to the PM, but I do get the model file into my plugin folder........

[nofunk 1,933]

ja/att: When rendering something in gmax, you really need to hit 'export' and then walk away from the computer. If you try to do anything else, or click anywhere on the screen, it can lock up the program. Also, gmax can appear to be frozen when in fact it's still rendering. I'm surprised you'd experience that with a simple highway sign (it usually happens with larger models) but I think that's what you're experiencing.

Regarding the Plugin Manager: you have to make absolutely sure that the .sc4model file is in your My Documents\SimCity4\Plugins folder... not in any subfolder! Then in Plugin Manager, if the model doesn't automatically appear, click on the Models icon in the explorer side, and the model file should show in the left pane.

It sounds like you might somehow be interrupting the render process. Next time you try exporting the sign, shut down any big programs you have running, hit 'export' and then leave the PC alone until it's finished. Good luck!

[Hawkeye9 0]

many many questions:

1. How long does it take to render an average building

2. Does the time depend on the size of the building

3. How does the quality of building effect the render time

I Started to render a building that was very small, Looked alot like the building Seen in Phillippbo tutorial. It was only 13% done after a full 40 min. Is this Normal? is there a way to speed up the time it takes? I am just sssooo clue less. Please help.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

The time depends on a lot of different factors, like how many objects you have, how complex those objects are, how large your texture files are, what kinds of modifiers you use, and how big the objects are.  In general, smaller buildings render faster.

The time totally depends on your computer, something that might take one person 20 minutes might take 2 hours on someone elses.  Something that takes 3 hours on one computer might take 10 hours on another.  You'll find out how fast yours is when you render it.  Most people start the render, and then go to bed, and then it's done in the morning.

Sometimes the building's render will lock at 13%.  It only happened to me once or so, a few years ago, so I don't remember what it's about, but the problem is frequently reported in this thread, so you can look around and you should be able to find something about it.

Good luck with your BAT projects!

[gshmails 534]

I know this is not a new problem, and I have searched every key word and read every forum I can, but I cannot fix my render problem.....

I have tried every suggestion here, and I still am getting this render issue. 

Question #1:  Is a model that is rendered this way ruined forever, or can it be recovered?  If so, how? 

Question #2:  Is there a way to fix this in the Reader before making the .desc file?

Question#3:  Is there a fix that is not refitting LODs, Merge files, clearing folders, or any other basic suggestion?

I have many models that are in this state, and would really appreciate some help before I go nuts.  Thanks,

Shmails

[SimFox 802]

gshmails:

This isn't the render issue!, not at all. these is id conflict.

when 3 d model is rendered it becomes 2d picture that later cut into 200x200 pixel slubs from which game reassembles most what you see (apart from some true 3d elements like automata).

Naturally to keep the track of what piece belongs where each of them assigned complex number or ID. what happened in your case is a mix-up or conflict of those IDs. Somehow your models, or slubs cut from 2d picture of it were assigned same IDs as slubs for level7 or 8 R$ building. I mean only the actuall images... the mask is same - from your own model. this way you can see that you were actually successful in exporting it, at least partially you were.

were you using GMAX BAT or BAT4Max?? This problem has several causes and some in MAX are simple enough to avoid - like never save the file AFTER you've put the the *.SC4Model file name into the export box... But sometimes there other mistakes in the scripts that may cause similar problems. At any rate to try to solve it you have to analyze it first and establish (at least broadly) the causes

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Hello everyone,

The BAT - Open Discussion and the BAT - Workshop will be merged together in the future.  As part of the restructuring, this thread will be locked.  All questions should be asked in the all-encompassing BAT Troubleshooting Thread found at: https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=87425&enterthread=y

[littlewhitebutterfly 18]

For three times I have exported a BAT and made it a prop in the PM. When trying to use it in the LE however, it would show absolutely blank. So I opened the Model with Reader: the FSH files look alright, but when I click on any S3D file, I get the following message:

"unexpected S3D format"

I click OK, and get:

"insufficient memory".

Anybody knows what's happening? I have exported many other BATs alright, this one is perhaps a bit bigger but not huge (the Model file is about 1.3 MB

Hope you can help!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Hi, this thread is only here for reference purposes. Post new questions in the active thread which is stickied to the top of this forum, and that I linked to in my last post in this thread.

First though, just try re-exporting it.