Bat4Max v2.6 HD

[SimFox 802]

Video, you say? Yep that would be great!

As for confusing part, could you list all the things that were confusing for you, I'll take a look into it to see how I could address them in the instructions. Problem, you see people normally limit themselves to very general remarks about problems they have. As such they are not particularly useful for the purpose of actually improving something.

I've spent good deal of time thinking through and writing those instructions. Trying to use language that is precise and is not open to different interpretations. Yet since I'm intimately familiar with the subject it may be so that I omit some steps, or not clear enough for unprepared reader...

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Originally posted by: SimFox
Video, you say? Yep that would be great!

As for confusing part, could you list all the things that were confusing for you, I'll take a look into it to see how I could address them in the instructions. Problem, you see people normally limit themselves to very general remarks about problems they have. As such they are not particularly useful for the purpose of actually improving something.
I've spent good deal of time thinking through and writing those instructions. Trying to use language that is precise and is not open to different interpretations. Yet since I'm intimately familiar with the subject it may be so that I omit some steps, or not clear enough for unprepared reader...quote>

Alright - I'll get to work on the video soon. I am going to wipe-out my memory and recover certain files for my computer. My whole computer was dedicated to xbox 360 downloading, torrenting, etc. But I think I'm done with that now - This will make my processing speed much higher for BATs.

List of confusing things (for me).

 

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1.

Unpack the content of the archive into root folder of you 3ds Max installationquote>

I didn't really know what this mean because I didn't know what a "root folder" was until I actually found it. Something more specific for each 3DS Max (because there all different).

 

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[/indent]

2.

Move content of …\gamepacks\

bat

\scripts\startup folder into …\Scripts\Startup\ folder on your 3dsMax installation folder quote>

I also didn't know what content you were talking about - specifying the files or folders in the download would make it much easier and an example of how and where to find the gamepacks folder. (I found the gamepacks folder by myself, this is how I was able to install it myself).

 

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3. "Use Final Gather in Mental Ray" under "How to use."

Had no idea what was final gather and had to do some research and reading topics from either websites to learn how.

 

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4. You also discuss using layers - A mini tutorial would be great full!

 

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5. And for the mini tutorial on step by step creation for the LOD export all the way to the DAT FSH insert. I did not understand that because I didn't know "why". So maybe a sentance or two could be created after the text "Purpose:". This will make things more clearer and why you need to export the LODs and what FSH files do. I read some text on Simtropolis on what they were for - but I don't think everyone has the luxury to search up hours of meanings and purposes that might not even be there. And the "Get Model" button didnt work for me - So I manually did it myself and also found out that I need to put the ".SC4Model" suffix at the end of the titled model in order for it to render.

 

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6. I'm still in a bit of trouble with TruNite as I am still learning how to nite lite bats without the prefix - And I know there's the forces of night and geometry tutorial (which I still have to read completely). But maybe a proper list of ways to do it and an anchor link to the forces of light tutorial (I hate looking for a certain message sometimes).

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TIPS From kellydale2003:

 

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When I first started using 3DS it was awhile ago - but I wasn't at a place where there was internet access (via countryside). So I wasn't able to go on the net that often. as a result I couldn't limit my time to sit down for a couple of hours to go over tutorials and the read me ONLINE. So maybe just a quick READ ME in the download itself would be apreciative. If I atleast had the read me and a quick step by step - I could've been BATting in 3DS MONTHS agO! But I don't blame you SimFox, Your great we love you

 

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Second, I am a visual person and I learn basically EVERYTHING from YouTube. I mod xbox games, torrents, simple script tutorials, etc. And I suggested this to you already. but a video is greatly needed. And not some cheap video either - I'll make it straight forward, informal, and basic. It's kind of confusing when there are big words in the tutorials. And as a consideration DON'T tone it down: it's great as is - but I will help translate this along the way. So I have to ask you - Make a Bat4Max and Trunite FAQ!

This can help a lot of people ya know! 

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I would be glad to answer any further questions

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Originally posted by: GlobexCo

Everything has been installed correctly. My 3dsmax folder is under C:\games and not C:\ but I don't think that the problem is here. I've got Windows Vista and 3dsMax9. When I open it i see this window

and this is what I can see when I click OK:

Only one view is enabled; when I click on one view, the other 3 are black

Any ideas? quote>

I know this is an old question (and sorry for double posting) - I ran into this problem also. and I am on Vista.

Questions like these could be developed in the bat4max FAQ (although it has nothing to do with b4m). I couldn't find anything specific for this topic in the 3ds max trouble shooting. So here it is

I downloaded this patch and everything is working correctly. 3DS Max 9 is what I'm using now: and is fully compatible with bat4max and LTBL.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=9593622&linkID=9241177

[Seraf 1,238]

I have a problem with ltbl. Before installing ltbl the render of the fountain looks like that:

After installing ltbl and setting "Day" option the render looks like that:

What's going on? How to make it at least similar to the first render? "Water" in fountain is standard material with a few modifications.

[SimFox 802]

Seraf:

You must have there something else besides "LtbL" I'm pretty sure. Look at the double shadow from the fountain itself. this couldn't happened if you would have only LtbL rig in your scene.

as for the possible issues with "old" scenes and, particularly materials in them the only real issue with LtbL is with saturation levels in Max7-9 (it is important to distinguish max9 and max2009) everything else (as far as I know from testing) is a problem of material setup and not the LtbL settings. However, one must never say never!

You can forward your scene to me and I'll take a look at it later this week...

[autoVino 26]

what bothers me the most is the water here. It looks as if there is a water (not physically correct) because of the double shadow. It's as if the water plane produces a shadow and so does the floor of the fountain -- there is also a very minimal hint of reflection off of the water plane. I would check the material on that and try to use mental ray materials (as this is what the ltbl uses).

Also make sure there is one lighting rig instead of two (like SimFox said), because that is also likely based on your renders.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Simfox and Autovino - You both have sharp eyes mang. You see every little detail and incorrect shadow, Now when I examine my BATs I realize how imperfect they once were

Do you both every get a perfect render?

Oh Simfox - Have you considered making a Bat4Max FAQ?

[SimFox 802]

Kelly! I will... right now I don't have much time... and when I do i normally so exhausted that I don't think I could do a proper job at it anyway...

But I should have more time after Friday...

And... actually you were too fast with your praises of my sharp eye in this instance... Now when I look at the fountain (plus in benefit of AutoVinos opinion) I see that there aren't really a double shadows, but rather two sets of same shadow. Meaning that there isn't extra light source. Instead the shadow from the fountain bowl falls on the water surface (which is, of course, physically incorrect) and then falls second time on the bottom of the pond. And given that there is a distance between two it produces such a double shadow effect.

Another thing... generally with MR one shouldn't really use standard materials. This rule, naturally applies only when there is a choice. But this choice is in effect a determinant factor since new materials are introduced with new, re-worked versions of Mental Ray.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Ah - Okay SimFox, Just asking: I just wanna help contribute.

[Seraf 1,238]

I think I must return to the old renderer. I found some tutorials, I'm trying to make this new water but to no avail. Does anybody know how to make that effect like on my first picture but in mental ray?

Big thanks for your help so far.

[SimFox 802]

what is your Max version, Seraf?

You may also have some geometry issues with you model. It may be so that you have some overlapping faces at the fountain rim and, perhaps, statue. See those black spots like things, these may be an indication of this problem. Scanline doesn't have much problem with this as long as both faces are of same material /color, but for mental ray with it's way to calculate illumination this is a problem even then.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Simfox - Another question. In order to simulate enviroment textures for an ortographic camera; I heard you say something about a plane?

So I add the texture to a plane, and what do I do next? I need to hide the plane from the camera? Or do I add it at 0,0,0 and hide it?

My purpose for this is to simulate realistic reflections for skyscrapers.

[SimFox 802]

nope... you can't use environmental MAPPING for orthographic projections (camera or view). If you use SCREEN then it isn't really environmental...

Kelly you have a lot of facts in you head, but the tend to resemble a hive of angry bees all buzzing around instead of getting and fitting nicely together to form a usable pattern. I would strongly recommend a) not to drop terms everywhere if you are not certain about their meanings, b) read Max manual and work through the tutorials included with Max. This would show you links/connection between various bits and pieces of the info you already have.

Speaking about plane... well this isn't really environmental (as mapping goes) and you just can't simulate the texture - that is a nonsense statement. What I was saying is that you can create ground plane and apply a material with bitmap in defuse channel. That plane (and hence the bitmap) will be reflected in the reflective surfaces of your model, provided acceptable view angles.

Generally "texture" is to loose and non-desrcript term, and as such shouldn't really be much used, let along abused as it is in BATing community. This only perpetuates malinformation and limits the the creative"growth".

Another thing, you have to free yourself from the mentality of first BAT tutorials (like one of Phillipbo) they are great to break the ice, but past that... Well I'll just say that taking them as gospel is a main culprit of low and persistently (over years) quality of so many BATs. Remember BATing is NO different than any other modeling.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

kk - Yes I know my horrible English kills me everyday. I speak Spanish, Ojibway, and English. English is supposed to be my secondary language, but it has become the false first hand language for me . But I think you mis-understood me - I'm always thinking of what to say and how to say it. And only type like half a sentance expecting the second person to understand the rest x], but I do my best.

But thanks to the help of xyloxdoria I've accomplished my meaning. Notice the reflections still stay the same?



But thanks, I've been finding resources all over the internet to answer my questions: and I didn't think to check the manual (which I dont physically have on me). But I'll find one on the net

[autoVino 26]

You should have it virtually. There is a very complete manual in the 3ds max help menu. It describes ALL 3ds max tools, how they work/how to use, etc. Mental ray and maxscript are also fully documented-either on the mental images website:

http://www.mentalimages.com/products/mental-ray/documents.html

(this one is mr 3.6) or in their corresponding help files.

...And the reflections look the same :-)

[kellydale2003 2,276]

@autoVino - k thanks

[autoVino 26]

Ya, usually when 3ds max is bought with dvd, it comes with virtual help files and virtual example files explaining all commercial features of the product. Depending on the retailer, it will also come with other products (my 3ds 9 came with combustion and cleaner xl--very nice video compositing software)... new student autodesk package for about $200 USD includes most all of the autodesk software actually, but I do believe that they leave stamps. Autodesk is also offering a lot of its software for free if you can prove that you are a student. It offers a 6-month trial version for 3ds max 2010 for students (these may also leave stamps on renders, but I'm not sure).

[kellydale2003 2,276]

I hate stamps so much! What's the application for that runs with 3ds max after I do a render? It's called "cleanup________". Is that what you have?

[autoVino 26]

cleaner xl? it's a very powerful media converter. It has encodings for most media formats and has advanced settings.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=5562182

autodesk combustion:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=5562397

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Oh Thanks!! I'm doing a render show-off for my Precal class

I'll post my finished video on YouTube - Thanks Autovino; I didn't really ask for it, but thanks again haha.

But yeah - I don't think that's the program - I'll grab a screenie when that app shows up again.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

I didn't use what you suggested for this video Autovino - Are you good with animation?

[Seraf 1,238]

Simfox - I'm using max 2008, sorry for the delay but I left the water problem for later. May I ask you how you do water on this picture?

[SimFox 802]

water is a box sitting, well overlapping, a bigger one of the pool. Water material (similar to that of glass but with smaller IoR (index of Refraction) - namely 1,31 applied to it. In addition it is set to generate caustics. And those (caustics) are turned on in Mental Ray.

[GlobexCo 33]

Any news on the developement of BAT4Max (version 3dsMax 2010)? (I need it... or I'll have to export models from 2010 and do again all the textures and lights in 2008)

EDIT: also, is there a way to recreate SC4 previews in 3dsMax (they're cameras...).

[Ke|is 3,333]

[ - Runtime error: filein: can't open file - "C:/ Archivos de programa/3dsmax8/" ]

I can not solve this problem, unzip the contents into the installation folder 3ds max 8..

I move the content from a Bat4max2_6HD/gamepacks/BAT/scripts/startup Scripts / Startup folder in my installation of 3ds max 8.

I am doing wrong?

I really want to use Bat4max help me please. thank you very much.

[SimFox 802]

Kellismatic:

Unfortunately yes you do...

First of all, your installation of Max is wrong. Instructions call for installation in a place which does not have any empty spaces in the path. Yet yours is installed in "Archivos_de_programa" folder. See it has 2 empty spaces. As a result Bat4Max will not function properly.

But the error message you have on that picture is, actually another thing. Yes the script is in the right folder within your Max installation (but the installation of Max is in the wrong as I've explained already), butt here is some odd mistake with loading it. The only idea I have about it is that you have moved ALL the scripts of Bat4Max .

To be more certain about this situation you would need to show screen captures of your folder structure in your Max installation folder with expanded tree of gamepacks\BAT\scripts and, of course to reinstall Max to the folder with NO empty spaces in the path.

GlobexCo:

I'll try to get them ready this coming weekend...

[Ke|is 3,333]

Hello Simfox.

,,,and reinstalled 3ds max 8,  in "C:/3dsmax8/"  without any space, okay ?

and trying to reinstall again bat4max and I have the same error again....

Here I catch:

sorry for the size, is to be able to see them clearly...

which is the problem?      Thanks

[GlobexCo 33]

Originally posted by: SimFox

GlobexCo:

I'll try to get them ready this coming weekend...quote>

Whoa! Thanks!

I asked it now because I need it in December, but since you're so fast... I finish my models with textures now!

[SimFox 802]

Originally posted by: kelistmac

sorry for the size, is to be able to see them clearly...

which is the problem?      Thanks

quote>

Problem, as virtually always, is a failure to follow instructions...

Those say "Unpack the content of the archive into root folder of your 3ds Max installation"

Instead of that you create new folder named after the archive file. Naturally later on when startup script tries to find the necessary scripts it looks in C:/3dsmax8/gamepacks/BAT/scripts. Yet such folder doesn't exist.

[Ke|is 3,333]

I got it, it works, thanks simfox

...but now I have this problem, I can do about it?