Custom LOD/Cameras question

[MarcosMX 216]

I making a test model to experiment with Custom LOD, the render goes fine, but in the LE, zoom 1 (the closest) and zoom 2 don't show up, in other zooms, the building shows up. Does anyone knows what's wrong? or how do I fix it? 

I will try to get a picture as soon as pissible.

Thanks

[tungston 19]

@ MarcosMX

Please don't take offense. Did you make all 3 LOD's? The only time that happened to me, and it was that the zoomed image pixelated, was when I had reduced a scene considerably.

[MarcosMX 216]

yes I did all three LODs. I even named correctly.

[tungston 19]

@ MarcosMX

I knew the that possibility was far fetched, but I had to ask.

I guess more background is needed. Is the scene large, or small? I am guessing you made it simple for experimental reasons.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Are you completely sure?  It needs to be LOD3, LOD4, and LOD5.  It can't be LOD05 (that's the name it suggests when you clone).  I made that mistake once.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong untill I realized the name was wrong.  Did you make LOD3, LOD2 and LOD1 by mistake?  zoom 5 is the closest, not zoom 1.

Have you read the LOD thread stickied here?

edit:  I see that you have.  Whoever comes up with a solution should post it there so that people in the future will be able to find the answer easier.

[jeronij 13]

Originally posted by: MarcosMX I making a test model to experiment with Custom LOD, the render goes fine, but in the LE, zoom 1 (the closest) and zoom 2 don't show up, in other zooms, the building shows up. Does anyone knows what's wrong? or how do I fix it? 
I will try to get a picture as soon as pissible.

Thanks quote>

 

Hi,

this happened to me some times. It is probably a LOD complexity problem. You said you are making tests so maybe you made  a too complex LOD for the closest  zoom level. I would retry making the LODS, making them as simple as posible. ( It is not a good idea to clone your model, convert it into an editable mesh, and name it LOD 5 !!!!)
You can also make different LODs for the different zoom levels. I mean, LOD3 will be seen from far, so it does not need to be as accurated as LOD5, which will be seen from close. In fact, Maxis uses this technique always, because LOD1 and LOD2 are always simple boxes.

I hope you understand what I mean. If not, just PM and I´ll explain it better.

I Hope this helps.

PD: Follow the link for the double deck bridges in my signature. You will find some interesting posts about custom LODding in that thread

[SimFox 801]

I don't believe it has anything to do with complexity of custom LODs. I had similar problem with the LODs created by default - basically normal box. for some odd reason it just didn't show anything but some odd looking lattice at Zoom3 form only 1 view! Other views were fine. I checked in ilive Reader and fair enough FSHs at this particular view/zoom were screwed up. I didn't investigate further cause re-render after some model alteration and resave were fine. Alterations were not done to solve problem, just to further build up model.

[deadwoods 542]

Have you ever noticed that you can create LOD3, LOD4 and LOD5, but not LOD1 or LOD2? You can't create a custom LOD for Zoom1 or Zoom2. The BAT exporter just puts it in a basic box. So it won't matter how complex your LOD's are, it won't affect Z1 or Z2.

EDIT - Whoops, Jeronij has already said this.

[MarcosMX 216]

Thanks for your responses you all.

First of all here is a pic, it shows the original model and the Custom LODs

And I just checked the LODs and there are only 3 and they are LOD3, LOD4, and LOD5

Finally, i noticed, that there is a Thumbnail Camera.

Hope that helps.

[JayStimson 211]

I have this same problem with custom LODs all the time. BAT export is a pretty moody beast. I've had cases were I simply reset the cameras and lights and re-rendered and it came out fine. Other times, as already mentioned, just a simple box LOD won't work. Seems hit or miss fairly often.

One item I have found that I need to be very careful of when cloning, converting to mesh (as jeronij mentioned) is that I have had cases where I had an object "hanging out" and not really connected. Planes and rectangles (zero thickness) not being connnected (not flush against it's adjoining object) can cause "openings" which leaves the rendering machine in a pickle trying to decide what to do to render it correctly.

And lastly, as a question:

To reduce the complexity of the custom LOD ... what do I use to handle multiple vertical cylinders (like the numerous pier pylons on my marina project) which have to have tight LODs to appear correctly in water ? I clone / convert to mesh to make the LODs for these. Are there any other options ? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, this is a great topic since custom LODs are so often required for water based props and buildings.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Just use a box for each column.  Anything more, especially for so many pylons would be way too complex.  I saw yours and they look thin enough for it not to matter that there's only 4 sides the LOD.  I'd even try getting away with three sides.

Marcos, I'm not really sure what to say.  Luckily though, that should only take a little while to render on draft.

[jeronij 13]

Originally posted by: MarcosMX

Thanks for your responses you all.

First of all here is a pic, it shows the original model and the Custom LODs

And I just checked the LODs and there are only 3 and they are LOD3, LOD4, and LOD5

Finally, i noticed, that there is a Thumbnail Camera.

Hope that helps.

quote>

Hi, those are some weird LODs   !!!!

Nah, seriously, let me suggest you to re-LOD your model again. I made a quick geometry to give you some ideas. 

As mentioned in my other post,  try to be as simple as posible, and dont worry about the lights. They can be inside or outside the LODs. It dont have to worry about the lights at all when you create the LODs. Also, fos custom LODs I´d suggest you to cover your model with simple boxes, and then attach them into an editable mesh, and call this mesh LOD5. Clone it twice and name the copies LOD3 and LOD4 and you are done.

This is normally much easier and effective that making a box, (or using the orignal LOD5 box), and extruding it.

Also, I assume you have read all the BAT  Basics tutorials, and you do know the standard ways to deal with LOD problems.... I mean, did you try opening a new file and merging your model and your LODs and rendering them again ?¿. This solves LODding problems some times.

I hope this helps....

JayS, remember that the water models can not be LODded for LOD1 and LOD2, so in the fartest zoom levels, your models will be seen "as in a box"

[MarcosMX 216]

Ok, I think my BAT exporter is not working right. I tried rendering another BAT, but with normal LODs and the problem occured again. Should I reinstall?

Thanks for your response Jeronji, I might always find that usefull.

[JayStimson 211]

Jasoncw: That's a really good idea. I'll try changing the pylons to 4 sided to make the custom LODs. That certainly would reduce the number of surfaces yet still enclose the pylons. Typically, cylinders are 18 sided (at least that's the default value i always get) and that certainly does make for a lot of tiny surfaces to be rendered. I'll do some experimenting and post my results back here.

jeronij: I didn't think you could even make LOD1 and LOD2 and, if you did, they'd be ignored anyway. Is that not true ?

EDIT: Here's a pic showing a simple dock that I couldn't get to render before with cloned LODs. I used jasoncw's suggestion and created square pylons co-located with the cylinder pylons before cloning the whole group to make the LODs. After making the LODs I deleted the square pylons leaving only the original cylinder pylons. It rendered perfectly. Wahoooo !!! thanks jason !!! I suspect this same technique will work on the full marina. I will post results here. Oh yeah, here's the pic.

[MarcosMX 216]

I tried re installing but nothing happened. I have rendered several BATs with normal LODs. And I get the same results. I don't know what to do....

I don't think, this a LOD problem.

[jeronij 13]

Did you download Maxis

[MarcosMX 216]

yes, I think.

But I have never ever had this problem. I mean check out my BATs on the STEX, they worked right.

[jeronij 13]

I am sorry. I have no idea which could be the problem then

EDIT: Re-read the thread. Some of the options mentioned here should help you to solve the problem. If you cant fix it, start your model again, and make some renders from time to time while you build it to see that everything works fine, and dont forget to make a file backup frequently.

[MarcosMX 216]

Thanks Jeronij, already tried that but nothing new.

While reading an old thread about failed renders. They mentioned about a texture download for the BAT from Simcity.com. Do you think that, downloading this will solve my problem.

Thanks again...

[jeronij 13]

Copied from EA site:

"Updated 02/24/04: Texture Fix

A few users have noticed problems with building textures in the game after utilizing the B.A.T. or downloading new lots with B.A.T.-created content. This problem is especially apparent on larger buildings. If you have noticed something like this, please download this very small (31KB) script file. Place the file into your GMAX scripts directory (typically located in C:\\gmax\gamepack\bat\scripts\ where C: is the drive letter containing software applications), overwriting the old version of the file already in that directory.

"

Btw, this is the BAT update I was talking about in my previous post.... .

This can help you to solve the problem.

If it does not, try to open a brand new BAT file and merge your corrupted model, and render it. If this solution does not work either, you are in trouble. This is the most common solution to the corrupted rendering.

Btw, I remember I have a pair of "broken" models, which did never render right, and I did not find other solution to fix them than making them new again !!! 

[MarcosMX 216]

Thanks, already downloaded it. But gotta try it first.

Edit: I can't run the script. I tryed in diffrent ways but the scrip does not runs.

Thanks Jeronij. Gracias...

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Moved from BAT - Workshop Archive.