nybt-forum-threads NYBT BAT Thread

[cmdp123789 710]

Ok, Im having some troubles with the bat and I really dont know where to go... and since in here you all guys know a lot about it... well... I have to ask... Im trying to import a model into my bat... but the thing is that when I import it it says application error... and then it crashes... what's going with that??? I mean the model is 3ds... why does it crash??

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Update on Wall Street Plaza's roof-

I'll show a HQ pic of it again later with the textures. Don't mind the black rectangle...that won't be there when I'm finished. I also have to add the window polisher thing since the tracks for it actually don't go into some penthouse or whatever. As soon as I'm done with that, I'll do the night lights and export it(hopefully tonight). I want it to be exporting tonight since I won't have much time to work on it during the week starting tomorrow because I have Driver's Ed. It's going to be soooooooooo boring.... There's really not alot left to do to the model. I tried messing around with GIMP for the glass but couldn't figure out how to do anything with layers. I had to uninstall GIMP(after re-installing it) since my computer suddenly started slowing down alot for some reason...

JTF- Looks great and I hope it can be released soon! When I said mechanical floor texture, I meant that light brown area in the middle of the windows(9 floors up). I figured that's what that area was called...To me I think that spot should be darker and not really match with the spandrels(areas in between the glass windows, I'm sure you knew what they were called, I just found out recently ). Also, about the "tracks" on the roof, unless they are really red in RL I would change that to a silver metal texture or something.

Paul- Looking better and better! I'm glad you are figuring out many things with 3dsmax! Hopefully you can fix the flags.

SimFox- I see 500 Fith Avenue once again! Glad you are taking the time to help PBGV103 with the Lever House. You've been really helpful to NYBT!

Darknono35- The windows look much better! Though its hard to tell since the pics are a little fuzzy, but to me it looks fine. Some points I want to address though-

1. For some reason this corner looks alot wider than the corner on the other side, or is that actually the other part of the building just blending in, in a way, that it looks like the corner is wider? Sorry if I sound vague...I'm not the best at explaining some things.

2. That "X" thing on the roof is out of line. As in, you need to re align it. If you'll notice on the long green angled arrow, you'll see part of this shape is sticking out of the wall at the roof.

cmdp123789- Hmm, I think I've had a similar problem like that before...I can't remember how I solved it. I think I just tried again till it worked. You could try that. By the way, what is the model? Maybe I can figure out why knowing what it is. I think some models you might have to edit in Sketchup(I'm assuming you are using sketchup) before exporting them in 3ds. to perhaps solve the error message then crash.

[PBGV103 729]

Well it's not just the flags. Almost everything disappears from some angle. I have to replace just about everything, which is a mess, but at least I still have the correct dimensions.

[Seraf 1,238]

I see that Simfox got to be our nanny  Just a joke.  It's good to see that talented people like Simfox help those less talented. ... Like me for example

Darknono35 - Building is ok but I think that window panels should be a bit more metallic

I just dropped by with small update from works on Metropolitan Club Building. I made most of the courtyard. It still needs some work but I think it starts to look pretty good. I think I'll be able to start working on penthouse restaurant and beautiful main gate soon

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

I think its an honor to have someone listen to your advice and have it show though something many people can enjoy. What is better is that once the people I help have become proficient, they might return the favor and help others who were once in their position. I know I have "nannyed" JTF quite a bit. Simfox trumps my ability though

Brandon, the glass is still much too dark, but the rest of the model seems to be coming together nicely. Keep up the progress. I'm not sure why GIMP would cause issues like that for you, but it is well worth it to have an editor that has layers (imagine trying to take off an overlay without layers!).

Seraf: Wonderful modeling as usual, just be careful when you texture it. If you leave it as white and gray in max, it will not translate well in game. You will have to add some subtle pink/blue colors to match up with other "white" buildings in game. If you are ever unsure, just try popping a render into a SC4 screen shot in photoshop.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I guess every talented BATer has "nannyed" me a bit... I really need it since I'm not a good BATer.

Todd, the HQ preview render finished before I got back on ST to see your point on the Dark Glass. I'll fix it up soon! I think the problem when I downloaded GIMP was where it was from, the installation kept asking me about installing a buch of unesecary junk about other websites and stuff that had nothing to do with GIMP.

So these are the HQ renders of my work so far on Wall Street Plaza(the glass will change and be less dark next time you see it).

^Most of the entire model from the east.

^Close up at the top from the east. I think I did a crappy job on the window washer thing...I guess it's okay though.

Not much has happened at the base since it was last seen.

Once I darken BRIGHTEN(sorry I confused myself) the glass, I'm going to work on the nightlighting. I probably won't finish this till Wednesday I think. I wanted to sooner but I don't know.But before I start on the lighting soon, anyone think there's something else that needs to be done?

[PBGV103 729]

Wait! He said lighten the glass Brandon. Go read his post again. lol If it's any darker it will be black.

[Evillions 552]

Here's more progress on 88 Rivington Street.  I just started on the roof today and plan on finishing the modeling portion soon.

(The black part on the 4th and 5th floors arn't pushed back, they're like that for some reason.)

[PBGV103 729]

More problems with the lever house. I deleted the flags because I couldn't fix them, but now the new ones won't show up in previews at all! Not only that, but the only modifiers that show up are UVW Mapping and skew. I really need ripple to work to make them look anything like flags. Heres a few pics.

The modifiers:

Orthorgaphic view:

Preview:

P.S. noticed that the roof is partially missing too, and yes I've adjusted the modifiers, I'm not an idiot.  lol  They just don't change, no matter what the settings are and it would take four more screen captures to show the settings.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Originally posted by: PBGV103

Wait! He said lighten the glass Brandon. Go read his post again. lol If it's any darker it will be black.quote>

Whooops! I got confused....I meant to say brighten....sorry ya'll, haven't been "myself" lately. haha

 

Evillions- Hmm...that dark areas on the upper floors might be caused by over lapping Geometry or some odd splines. You might have th do some checking there.

EDIT: Paul, now that I see your pics, that is very strange...of course I don't know a thing about MAX(and still don't know alot about Gmax myself) so SimFox is going to save the day here for you. I wish I could be more helpful with errors like these.

[Evillions 552]

I have nothing overlapping that wall or any messed up splines. I'll check that later, but anyway. I need an some help, since this is a 7 meter width building. Should I add another building to it to make it a 2x1 or keep it?

[cmdp123789 710]

well it was a bank of america.. from midtown... well im learning to bat.. soy it was easier to do it in sketchup... but now I know its less complicated if I just BAT it.... so Im gonna need some time before I can post anything in here... I hope to be part of the team one day... meanwhile... trying to get it all together at BAT

[GuerrilaWarfare 39]

Well I managed the windows quite fine i must say

the real building has about 41 - 42 window panes, I at least got 40, which is fine by my standards.

I'm gonna have to visit this building in real life to get a good view of the entrance, Google street view is blurry and to far 

*sigh*   

That also reminds me you guys can always ask my to get photos for buildings your doing, as long as it's a good reason though.

 

I'm gonna have to start the fountain soon enough, any tips on how to make water ?

I know seraf linked a tutorial somewhere on how to make water, I can't find it, nor do i think it's for Gmax.

[Wrightguy0 40]

I may have missed something, what building is this again?

[GuerrilaWarfare 39]

Originally posted by: Wrightguy0

I may have missed something, what building is this again?quote>

Interchem Building ( 1133 Sixth Avenue )

[PBGV103 729]

Looks good, I still think that if you've put that much effort into it already, why not just make those final modelling tweaks to get it perfect, but it's your model and your decision.

[PBGV103 729]

In other news I was sick of all the problems with the lever house so I decided to go learn how to use trunite and refective materials in 3ds max, unfortunately the forum search here turned up a bunch of bad links...    So then I spent a few minutes starting something new.  Anyone wanna guess what this mystery building is? I think I'll just start posting updates for this one without tell you what the name is.  hahaha 

Edit:  Ok, now everything new that I make in 3ds max, like the objects seen above, is invisible in previews.  Is there some magic setting that I need to change in max?  I'm really getting sick of this stuff... 

[allez l'om 1]

I love all these current projects. I am looking forward to see them into the game.

[GuerrilaWarfare 39]

Well my building is nearing it's end.

I textured the building and added the right side.

All i have left to do is

- Roof

- Windows

- Texturing

- Fountain

- Nightlighting

It sounds long but I've been working a lot on it, so if i had to guess, i'd have it released this Thursday

Can't say for sure though :3

[SimFox 801]

he, he... here is a neat little fountain tool...

but it is only for Max and it is not free... besides it primarily for animation. but it gives a valuable clue how this sort of things could be done - namely with particle systems 

[PBGV103 729]

Wow, thats pretty awesome. Maybe it's something for seraf to invest in xD

I think I fixed the preview issue by converting everything to editable polys, but none of the parametric deformers except for skew work. Also, I'd really like to learn how to make reflections and use 3ds max's material editor, does anyone have any good tutorials they would suggest? Thanks guys.

[Jumpthefence 74]

If you're looking for reading material, you've found a boatload.

I hope you're sitting down.

Replies:

cmdp123789: Were you trying to import an exported Sketchup file? Maybe something of the format .fbx or .3ds (I think these are the accepted file types from Sketchup)? You might want to talk to Sgt Pepper if this is the case. If not, open a thread in the BAT Open Discussion, if not to answer this question, then to answer any questions you have regarding BATing.

Brandon: No, I don't know what a spandrel is... *flips through A Visual Dictionary of Architecture by Francis DK Ching*..."A panellike area in a multistory frame building, between the sill of a window on one level and the head of a window immediately below. Also, spandril." Well, there you have it. [/rant] As for the building...

When I said mechanical floor texture, I meant that light brown area in the middle of the windows(9 floors up).quote>

Well, your shipment of fail for today has arrived. I thought you meant the roof base.

Although I don't plan to change it, and here's why:

[technical stuff begins] The glass panes surrounding this floor (the 8th and 10th floors) are reflective, and the blind wall on the 9th floor is not. Seems simple enough, right? Although, looking up, the glass reflects light sky, while the blind wall remains a flat color. Looking at some angles though, the glass reflects darker colors (such as surrounding buildings and roads), making the blind wall look much brighter by comparison. So I took out a calculator, and did some 3D graphing. And waddayaknow, the blind wall and spandrels should be x-amount lighter than the glass. It's not simple, but if it was, everyone would be BATing. [technical stuff ends]

As for the roof canopy, it really is that color.

As for Wall Street Plaza, I don't know what you did to the glass, but it looks better.

Evillions: The building still looks big by comparison. Are you planning to put it on a lot by itself, or with another building? As NYBT's self-proclaimed townhouse guy, I model townhouses to be 8 meters wide each, with the two right next to each other. Which means you'll either have an empty space (and this is New York; we don't have a lot of those) or you have some more modelling ahead of you. Pick yer poison...

Although if you're good at lotting... *thinks*

Paul: I don't know much about 3DsMax, so I'm not sure what your problem is. Just a question though: Have you tried merging the file? For me, this seems to be the cure-all solution to bad renders. But of course, I'm running gmax, so you may want a second opinion.

GuerrilaWarfare: It's good to have a New Yorker on the team. I think most of us aren't even from New York state or the area of NYC (although Todd's from southern NJ, though he's not officially a member). I'll have to contact you it I ever need more details.

As for water, my suggestion is to take the water texture you want to use (or make your own), and in gmax, add an opacity map that's a mix of about 50% black dots, 50% white (or some other combination. Greys could also be used, if you want partial opacity). Now, make a solid shape that resembles the general path of the water. With the material applied, the shape will become very choppy and un-smoothed, making it look like water droplets leaving a fountainhead. And for anyone else reading this, the same concept can be used for topiary, vegetation, and the sort.

That's just my idea. Check around for more ideas.

Simfox: Nice fountains!

BAT

OMGWTFBBQ? Where's your BAT?

Well, I haven't changed anything, so I don't have a picture for you. Who knows? Maybe I'll be uploading soon if there are no complaints.

Although, I will be getting back to townhouses after this. I started searching the Bowery area (off the Williamsburg Bridge) for good candidates, and I'll finish that tonight.

'Bye.

[Evillions 552]

Man, how does it look so big? I measured it up with Google Earth using the ruler tool. It's about 7.5 meters wide, and I might increase its width by 0.5. Do you have any tips on improving my BAT?

[Jumpthefence 74]

Maybe it's just because you rendered in Hi-Def, it looks different.

Have you already scaled it up 133% in those pictures?

The renders I post don't, so maybe that difference is throwing me off too.

[PBGV103 729]

Finally got the reflection stuff down!  (kinda)  It took a while to figure out max's material editor but it's AMAZING once you do. 

And yes, the glass is slightly green on this building.  Any guesses yet?

[SimFox 801]

PBVG103:

sent me that file you're having so much troubles with! I'm better take a look at it...

I was just looking at Lever house... and, well, my Google Earth had scrawled again (on it's own I swear!) and when it stopped - very shortly, I must add. what did I see there?!

right, the Seagram building! The one and only work of "Genius Renown" Mies van der Rohe (!) in NYC. I just couldn't let it go. Besides I wanted to do a bronze tower for quite a while now. So I though it must be a destiny. Also genius of the architect makes modeling it pure joy. it's structural beauty and harmony without parallel!

[Sgt Pepper 864]

JTF- Ah I see... Well go ahead and release you BAT of that building I say, I have no complaints and really wantz itz...

PBGV103- I think there was this Verizon Building near midtown that looks like that(or my memory of it might be messing with me). But what you're making is on Park Avenue Tower right?

SimFox- Good God............!!!The Seagram Building...woah....Okay SimFox, we really want you on the Team, and seeing that you posted 2 New York Buildings in this thread that you've done incredibly so far, I take it that you want to be on NYBT? So, what do you say? And those fountain videos were spectacular. All that could be accomplished in MAX...it makes we wonder what could be done in SimCity with tools like that....

Okay, so I brightened the glass, but to me it looks too bright and that it wasn't really dark at all when I first had it. I don't see how it looked too black? Everything was perfectly visible for me with out darkness. Maybe it's the brightness on my computer? Or...I don't know...I guess I have bad vision...

LQ Render, so some of the thin mullions might be hard to see. So is the glass now good? Can I do the lighting and render this sucker yet? By the way, I took my first class of Driver's Ed today, 8 hours...of....boring....help....me....

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Oh and GuerrilaWarfare, I forgot to reply to you! Sorry... The model is coming more alive! I'll offer better texture advice as soon as you are completely done with the model though. Looks like there's alot for you to do to finish it by Thursday though.

[Evillions 552]

WOW!! That's a very nice BAT!

[PBGV103 729]

WOW thats beautiful SimFox! I hope it will be on a 4x6 lot

Edit:  Brandon, the new glass texture looks great.  Does this mean it's almost ready to be released?