BATs Currently in Progress

[kellydale2003 2,276]

  Not trying to be fishy, just preventing lots of questions being asked

Latest Picture. Should I just create a seperate thread?

[patriots_1228 51]

both look excellent. autovino, that is way too professional

[SimFox 802]

Kellydale2003:

nobody would ask you if you wouldn't bring it up yourself. You're basically begging for people to take interest. And then, I guess, to create an interest when there isn't a really any justification for one, you shroud everything in a mystery. Should you have dozens if not more "ready" Dubai buildings? What have happened to them? I remember you were bragging about them sometimes ago...

Generally if you have something to show do open the thread, it shall go a long way to establish your credibility!

[autoVino 26]

Originally posted by: kellydale2003   Not trying to be fishy, just preventing lots of questions being asked

quote>

 

next question: how about trying to use a different lighting rig?  The large haphazard shadows and harsh lighting are rather distracting from the beauty of the modelling.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Simfox, Please I am not here to start trouble. Some people just asked to see this project.

AutoVino, Sure thing. I was thinking the same

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Originally posted by: kellydale2003 Simfox, Please I am not here to start trouble. Some people just asked to see this project.quote>

That's fine, and after all this forum section (and this thread, too) is intended for people to show their creations. However, if you plan to release something eventually and want to gather some feedback and critique on the way, a separate thread for your own creations would be better. Anyone can answer you there as easily as here, but the odds that someone will see what you're working at and help you are probably better.

[WillG_75 19]

My latest building, the "Exxon Building", based off of the Chevron Building in SF. I doubt I will release it though, since it doesn't have lighting and stuff, just more for personal use.

Here's a link to the picture, since it's too large for the forums

http://img33.picoodle.com/data/img33/3/8/31/f_exxonwip5m_984a0ff.jpg

[kellydale2003 2,276]

WillG_75, People still release their BATs without lighting. I'm sure someone in Simtropolis will gladly help you with that

If you release, its one more great BAT than we had before.

[WillG_75 19]

Oh, I didn't know people did that, although I know most people like lighting with their buildings. I can make good lighting and all,but it just takes up way too much time, more time than I have.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Theres such a thing as called Simtropolis Tools

Simtropolis tools is a Script runned in 3DS Max to make somethings easier. Such as Random lighting, Texture Randomizer, etc. It takes like 2 secs to do the lighting with Simtropolis tools

[WillG_75 19]

Yeah I know about those, but much of the time those don't look that realistic. I was referring to actual lighting rigs inside the buildings, for each room. Spa has mastered that type of lighting, I am not real bad at it, it just takes me so long to set all those lights up to where I like them. I can easily spend 3-4 days on a small office building trying to add those rigs. I guess I try too hard to be a perfectionist...lol.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

oh haha. If you don't want to do it, I'm sure someone will like to

[kellydale2003 2,276]

[WillG_75 19]

Originally posted by: kellydale2003 oh haha. If you don't want to do it, I'm sure someone will like to quote>

I'm sure I could find someone to do it, lol. It's not high on my list though as I never use the night mode.

I have a quick question for someone that may know this. I have been modeling my buildings in 3ds max and importing into Gmax to texture it. Is it possible to texture it in 3ds max and import it into gmax with the textures still there? I mainly use 3ds max for the framerate improvement, and it is real laggy in gmax during the finishing stages of my buildings. If possible, I would like to do it all in 3ds max, import to gmax and immediately import into sc4. But if it's not possible, I understand.

[SimFox 802]

It is possible. 3ds keeps the UVW coordinates - the key of any texturing. But why would you want to do it in a first place? I mean moving it to GMAX for rendering?

Building like your Exxon should be (if modeled properly) be lagging even in GMAX. If it does and does so badly that means there is something about your technique that may be at fault.

But it is all beside the point. I would encourage you to do the entire process in MAX. There is nothing that you can do in GMAX that couldn't be done in MAX. I would also encourage you to take a look at other 3d modeling resources out there to improve your techniques, as modeling for SC4 isn't any different than modeling for about anything else. Just remember that you don't need to stick to low poly count (particularly if you do it all in MAX)

[WillG_75 19]

Well, that's the thing, I can't get the building exported from 3ds max. Something is wrong with the script. I've tried all of the known fixes and even some of your more recent scripts, but I still get errors, so my only option is to import it into gmax. Believe me, if I could just use 3ds max, I would

I don't know how I could put any less poly's into the Exxon building. It's around 30,000 poly's, which I have heard is pretty good for a building if it's size. It may be my computer system contributing to the lag. I think my processor is slowly dying, as a render that used to take me 15 minutes now takes an hour.

But anyway, if you could explain more about the UVW coordinates, I went into 3ds max, checked the XYZ to UVW, applied a texture and exported, but the texture didn't go along with it.

[SimFox 802]

WillG_75:

what is your version of MAX?

[WillG_75 19]

I have 3ds Max 8 Service Pack 1

[srsedate 118]

Hey guys, I have a quick question.  I'm planning to start my modeling in 3DS Max 9, and I was wondering what the differences are?  I know there are quite a few, but also if I'm going to do this, you mentioned a script that allows me to export straight from Max?  Where is it, and how would I install/use it?

Also, I usually model my nightlights by hand.  Every single window, which can be both good and bad, bad being that it takes a while.  Good being that everything is how you want it.  Anyways, this method has gotten me pretty far in high-quality BATing, but I would like to know how this randomize textures thing works.

This is how far I've gotten with hand-made night lights:



I did the same thing to the other side.  The reason one wall looks darker than the others is because of the way I re-made it for the nightlights.  I'm going to do the same for the other walls.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Daddyo117272, Its here. Read the read me, it requires a few programs.

Great Bat btw.

EDIT: Oh the whole lag thing, You can hide objects while BATting. When going back to Gmax, well, I can always group a building and make a new scene then use BAT4Max.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

A work in progress. Only Ray traced glass, no textures on anything yet.

Camlight rig... I know.

EDIT: something went wrong with the last pic, so I removed it. It was a rooftop view.

[bixel 1,223]

Oooh nice roof

[WillG_75 19]

That's some great detail on the roof kellydale2003. I really like all the AC units and piping, looks incredible

Here's a WIP shot of the building I am working on now, the Pittman building, ironically based off of a building in Pittsburgh PA. The big enclosure on the roof is going to have a logo on it and will also hide some of the AC units and stuff. I'd hate to be the maintenance man having to use that tiny ladder out of the 20-something story window. Romur has it that they are going to add an interior alternate for getting up there

[kellydale2003 2,276]

[WIP] All Unnamed. Except the square one [2nd pic: 3rd from the left (Canwest Plaza)

[srsedate 118]

The BAT4Max only works on 3DSMax 4-6. I have 9, so where can I go to get a more recent version?

[mightygoose 92]

bat4max works with all versions of max, i have 9 and i have no trouble...(well i say that)(it still works though)

[nofunk 1,933]

Originally posted by: daddyo117272 The BAT4Max only works on 3DSMax 4-6. I have 9, so where can I go to get a more recent version?quote>

 

I am using max 8 and it works just fine. I'm sure it works with 9 as well.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

WIP (40 Mins Into Project) WTC 3

[kellydale2003 2,276]

WTC 4 Started.




EDIT: I know I killed the lighting. + I added a new pic

[SimFox 802]

BatForMax v2 (the one available in Download Section) works with all versions of MAX until Max2008. With Max2009/Max2009 Design it works only with Scanline renderer.

However there is one thing that should be taken into account. NightWindows feature could not be/should not be used in Max versions 8 and newer as it will crash the export. Apart from that all the basics work. There are also some peculiarities with regard of Mental Ray 3,5 and newer. But that is more specific topic...

I have and still am working on new edition of BAT4Max. Some parts of it are already available - updatev2.01 ( that deals away with need to edit 3dsMax.ini) and a preview script.

Next (may be already this coming weekend or soon after tool to automate truNite export shall be ready as well - all the basic scripting is done and just some interface should be created for it. But the whole new Bat4Max v3 is still some time away.

V2.01 and Preview Script are available either in Max Think Tank thread on this site, or in my thread on SC4Devotion: https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=2771.0 and https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=5252.0