Bat4Max 2K edition V 4.5

[Delecto 941]

Et voilà!

Yes I did a clean install cause Max2009 is installed on a brand new computer.

[SimFox 804]

Well, same request as to Delecto, screengrabs of all folders down the stream (to the bat particular model in question) from BAT folder.

I've done about 40 exports with this new version. Out of it 2 (1 just a moment ago) were faulty in a similar way - no FSHs insert. But both time I've got message saying that before inserting something FSHs must be created. Both time it was a "re-export" meaning tht model had been already exported and I had it's subfolder in Output folder. Scripts are supposed to delete everything prior to running, but on both times delete was only partial - all FSHs and FSH.TGI files were cleared out but the model own folder and all the subfolders in it were left untouched. And new model folder was created inside of the old one. That's where all the new suff did go.

I don't know what caused those anomalies, but can speculate that this is due to the fact that those subfolders were somehow locked by either Windows or Max (this may happen). Old content delete routine has no any kind of verification subroutine and if faced with such a turn of event would simply think it had performed required function and create the new model folder there where it happened to be. But that is what happend in my case... There is very easy solution that doesn't call for any re-render. it is enough manually move all the content one folder up (after FSHs were created) and then run insert again.

Anyway I'm waiting for those screen grapbs...

[SimFox 804]

Delecto:

could you expand the model folder and show it's entire content? I bet it isn't terribly large...

[Delecto 941]

The Model folder? this one? But this is a really big model, I can't show you all the files. I've checked what's inside and everything looks OK, no subfolders.

[SimFox 804]

well, naturally I was interested in the very end of this list (list of folders). I mean I was wondering if script had created new model folder right there...

[Delecto 941]

Well, the last folder is called "7ab50e44_b8bccc60_30475" and then there is a series of .fsh and .fsh.TGI files, nothing more. And I checked the contents of all folder, nothing unusual inside.

[mcdrye 105]

I am also having the FSH insert problem specifically with v4.5. I'm on Windows 7 32bit, with Max2010 installed in C:/Max2010.

The previous version exported fine. I noticed that the .ini file mentions "OutputFiles" when its actually named "Outputfiles", though I changed it and no difference (So CAPs or lack thereof makes no difference I take it ).

[SimFox 804]

OK, boyz & galz!

The problem is found. I didn't include into archive OR_DAT.dll

I've mistakenly assumed it being a part of FSHTool (on the basis that it has some French text in description).

So to fix this issue it is enough to return that file into ..\BAT\ folder.

I'll update the archive on STEX

[Cockatoo 2,257]

Thanks SimFox!

[Delecto 941]

Thank you SimFox.You've worked all the night, did you?

[mcdrye 105]

Thank You very much SimFox!

[SimFox 804]

Originally posted by: Delecto

Thank you SimFox.You've worked all the night, did you?quote>

well... guilty as charged...

but one must stand by it's "product", right?

Anyway, please let me know if things work now "as advertised"

Also the issue of black background... At the moment I can't test BAT4Max on anything but Max2010... What I'm afraid is that some of the features may not be exposed to MaxScript in older version of the program, or the fact that virtually in every version of Max there are bugs, including how or even whether certain things are actually working (that includes MaxScript - never mind if manual says they should...

[SimFox 804]

As the background goes here is what it should be like in teh current version of LetThereBeLight:

the top is when you don't have any special MAP as a background, bottom when you have MR Physical sky as a background...

May be I should set them so that the resulting background color seen in the preview/render is the same... what would you say??

[Cockatoo 2,257]

Maybe this will help you fix this problem.

All of these renders were generated using the CURRENT version of LTBT. The only difference between them is that some of these renders were generated from scenes originally created when using a previous version of LTBL and some were created when using the current version.

As you can see I'm getting a really strange issue with nite renders when rendering from scenes that were created when using the current LTBT.

Both the current and previous versions give a day BG colour of R:14 G:14 B:14.

I haven't tampered with any settings on any of these renders. I just click the corresponding button on the LTBL rollout and hit preview.

You might be thinking that I've somehow managed to get two LTBL rigs in the same scene for the two renders created from new scenes. I've obviously just merged the geometry from the old scene into the new one and I probably copied over the old rig. Not the case, I made sure that didn't happen and I can be sure that there's only one rig in the scene.

[SimFox 804]

What Max are you using?

Save all the files (with old and current LtbL Rigs created) and post them somewhere for me to download.

It doesn't look like it is the issue of extra lights, more like it is totally screwed gamma thing.

Something is seriously a miss there! No way neither old nor new version of LtbL should create background (solid color one) of that value (RGB 14,14,14)

BTW does anyone else have same issue?

[Cockatoo 2,257]

Here you go.

Made with Max 2008.

[SimFox 804]

Well...

Problem solved.

None has to do anything with LetThereBeLight (sort of)

1. Black(ish) background in a day preview with Max 2008 & 2009 (series)

The real issue here is a fault in internal workings of 3ds Max. The fault that had persisted though Max2008 and Max 2009 Series and was fixed only in Max 2010. Basically it wouldn't compensate for the dimming provided by mr Photographic Exposure Control (which in turn compensates for extreme brightness of the sun). Of course this isn't a simple dimming but rather a complex dynamic range compression, but anywho this is applied to the background color. No matter now many times you'll tick-untick the "process background and environmental maps" no notin' ain't gonna happen. This processing is simply hardwired in!

The best illustration of this is to open file made with Mr Photographic Exposure Control in Max 2008 2009 in Max 2010 - you'll see that "Process Background and environmental Maps" ticked off, although if you go back and open it in say Max2008 it will not be ticked!

In a way this is probably just something that had dropped in teh cracks of the thinking process (about workflow) that has been going on in Autodesk collective head. They simply assumed and even insisted that once people use MrSun based lighting they'll use mrSky as well and they will be actually urged by program to use mr Physical Sky as a background map... And, naturally that one works fine with Photographic Exposure Control.

So the solution is to simply do "as Romans do" eg DO use mr Physical Sky as an environmental map. Not only it works fine with Max2008-2009 and the very logic of Physically correct(ish) lighting that is provided by LetTherBeLight the latter is written to customize it for the purposes of BAT.

2. as for the glow in the Dark issue - and that is exactly that. Well it must be some sort of error that occurred in your max and now is somehow storred in that particular file.

Just for Laughts open you Material edited and behold the glowing balls! Same this affect wireColor - the color on the object just created prior to any material being assigned to them.

Actually this sort of error had already been brought up once. There was a case of something (just selected elements, glowing up in the night scene. That time, if I remember correctly we (to be honest I don't remember who exactly, I just remember the fact) determined that standard material is what at fault here and should be replaced with Arch&Design one. Same here that type of Mats (along with Raytrace ones, as well as all Mental Ray specific materials) are not affected by error.

Anyway, the matter of the fact is that somehow the file (one you've send me and one brought up previously) had got corrupted. Mind you that was way back before this last release - hence a proof that there is nothing specific in a NEW version of LetThereBeLight that produces the effect.

I say that this is a corruption because this effect is not typical, meaning that in normal circumstances, be LtbL present or absent this will NOT happen. And I say it is corruption in a given file, cause I see it when I open the file in Max2010 in my computer as well, and no matter which version of LtbL I run then effect persists. Same happens when I open it with Max2008 on another computer (although both are running Windows7, but i don't see a reason why that would be significant). But once I close this corrupted file and start a new one on either machines and Max versions with new, or old version of LtbL everything is totally fine.

In terms of "what to do" I wouldn't recommend to actually bother to do anything with this file. Just dump it as a radioactive waste it is (pan - glow in the dark, thing). And start a new file. Besides, why would you need to create new file and merge blah, blah when you are using same version of Max? Or even if you had file made with earlier version of Max still what a deal? I never do that...

As a footnote...

Unfortunately the issue with Background color not displaying correctly in the day renders in Max2008 and 2009 isn't the only and, as a matter of fact, worst problem with Usability of those that version. There is far worst one. Namely the extreme sluggishness of keyboard while Mental Ray is rendering. This goes far beyond he simple priority settings in Task Manager. Or that it couldn't be fixed with those. The issue had never been resolved in Max2009 and even Max2010 had been released with it. Autodesk was aware of it and still chose to release package with what could only be described as a flow making it (or, alternatively computer) partially inoperable. Said problem had only be fixed in SP1 update to Max2010 that is available on Autodesk site. BTW if you install Max2010 you'll notice it is now automatically looks for updates during installation process.

[Delecto 941]

OK, export and insertion work well now on my max2009Design. Tip-Top   thanks again!

-I did a little experiment for the background, from top to bottom:

_Day

_Maxis Nite

_Dark Nite

notice everything is fine expect for the day background.

-Now I've set the environement background to RGB / 255-255-255

-Now I've used mr Physical Sky as a MAP environement

OOOOH...

Perhaps it's useful to know.

EDIT: oupsss... too late.

[SimFox 804]

Delecto and other users of Max2008 and Max2009:

I have a new version of LtbL that sets the color of the ground on Physical Sky amp to appear same in the render windows as the solid color would. Should I release it? Or is it pointless now?

[gottago 25]

Hi SimFox,

A question re: the day&nite mod: overall I like it very much and it's a very good idea to tweak the appearance of daylight, it's a great improvement and I like the night very much, no problems there. The one thing that bothers me are the colors of daytime shadows--they're noticeably magenta-purple and call too much attention to themselves. As you had warmed up the sunlit areas, moving more toward yellow rather than Maxis' pink/peach, shadows should go in the other direction, toward cool blues. It also looks like you have somehow increased luminosity/contrast, and this intensifies the shadows and their magenta cast.

Can the shadow parameters be tweaked to a different color formula? I'd like to cool them down quite a bit and wouldn't mind doing some tweaking myself for my own use if you could point out what/where they are. Thanks for this mod and your great work with Max.

[SimFox 804]

well I have adjusted ingame shadows to better match those on the buildings. If you look at the light(white) buildings in taht game you'll notice that shadows are not turquoise (as in real life) but purplish-magenta tinted blue. Keeping this consistency what actual aim. I've as you did notice heighten somewhat contrast, but didn't add any yellow to the mix.

The simple color of the shadows (those cast by models onto the terrain) could be adjusted in Lighting exemplar -file number 0 int eh Modd DAT.

[acheson 8]

hello fox, sorry to disturb you again^^

I meet some problems and can not handle them myself. when export LODs, I still could not find the exported file, however, I can get a LODs .3ds file by "export selected" to somewhere manually, then process it with gmax into a .sc4model file, and then, encounter a problem "export failed! code = 6" when pressing Render BAT button. Did I ingore something important?

below is my batformax.ini configuration

Thanks so much

[Configuration]

TB2InitScript=CPTB2Main.ms

TempPath=D:\3dsMax2010\gamepacks\BAT\Temp\

DestPath=D:\3dsMax2010\gamepacks\BAT\OutputFiles\

;ExportExt=g:\gmax\gamepacks\BAT\

AALevel=1

CamerasandLights=gamepacks\BAT\scenes\CamLightRigs\TB2_CameraLightRig.max

CamerasandLightsFolder=gamepacks\BAT\scenes\CamLightRigs\

TB2Scripts=gamepacks\BAT\scripts\

AlphaSeedFile=gamepacks\BAT\AlphaSeed Do Not Delete.bmp

GroupID=cddd1522

InstanceID=00030000

NightMats=\gamepacks\BAT\Maps\NightWindows\

SC4PluginPath=D:\My Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\

UseNightWindows=False

[Delecto 941]

Originally posted by: SimFox

Delecto and other users of Max2008 and Max2009:

I have a new version of LtbL that sets the color of the ground on Physical Sky amp to appear same in the render windows as the solid color would. Should I release it? Or is it pointless now?quote>

Thank you but, I just upgraded my 2009 to 2010 Design SP1.

[erjolog 75]

OK, first of all, i want to thank you for your effort on bringing this new Bat4Max. Also, great timing as i just recently got max2010.

After breaking my head installing it, i just want to make sure if i installed it alright, and so i leave u a pic of what my screen looks now after installing it:

http://yfrog.com/3mdwdwdwdhj

I´m looking forward to making my new models with a better max2010 quality export.

[Aras 0]

Hi SimFox,

I recently installed Max 2010 and Bat4Max 2K edition V 4.5. My problem is, as you can see below, that the renders are too dark:

I checked the installation and tried reinstalling Bat4Max, but problem is still there...

[SimFox 804]

Archeson:

sorry, my friend... The dreaded error Code6 is an illusive enemy of our community. As far as I know nobody ever provided definitive description of it. From my personal experience I can only say that it seems that it is an indication of an error occurring inside of a given function in the script, as opposed to errors occurring between/transition between functions. Unfortunately given the number of the functions and even the number of the script file , again all containing numerous functions it is very difficult, nay, impossible to say what exactly went wrong in your case. Yet unfortunately it is almost certainly your fault. To test for this theory just make a simple 16x16x16 cube and try to export it. If that works when you could say at least that your installation is alright. In that case it's most likely then that through manipulating your scene somehow you made some needed data unavailable to a some function. Again there are numerous ways to do that.

Generally keep you scene clean and well organized. Don't use groups. And you should be fine...

Erjolog:

from what I can see on the picture you've provided things seem right - all the roll-outs that are supposed to be there are there. Unfortunately that can't be 100% guarantee that things will work (as case of previous community member indicates) nor assures a quality. Remember you get is as good as stuff you put in.

Aras:

all I can say that you managed to install it wrong somehow. I sort of know of an hack way to get it appear right, but doing this would be same like trying to fix bullet wound with painkillers.

The beef of the problem is that your Gamma is not set. Given that this is done by LetTherBeLight on Max load if you really have Max2010, that is... Yet you do use lighting created by LetThereBeLight... That means the script itself is somehow loaded. But clearly not a proper way. Way that is insured by proper installation.

At the moment I can't really speculate what exactly have you done wrong. But you did something... To determine that more info is needed. Info like screenshots of BAT roll-outs, and fully expanded folderview of Max\Scripts\Startup. May be something could be seen there.

[acheson 8]

Thank you Fox!

Now I see it, and I will keep on trying  until code 6 disappears

[Aras 0]

OK,  here are screenshots of BAT roll-outs:

and folderview:

[SimFox 804]

well, everything looks right.... yet. it doesn't pick up the gamma adjustments.

It start to look like Woodb3kmaster's problem. Aras, could you also check the Gamma/LUT settings in preference settings. If everything there looks right (like on those pictures for Max2008 in the first message try to simply save the file you're working in then close mas and open it again and load the saved file....

I know that some of the settings that would be changed through UI would not be picked up by the script renders (for instance preview) until the scene was either saved or render would be run via the Render button on UI.

May be there is also possibility of semi-reversed situation - Max given settings by script, they show in UI but not registering somehow internally. Personally I never run into this situation, but it is all I can think at the moment.

[Aras 0]

I have no idea what's going on with my max, but after I read your post I checked Gamma/LUT settings (everything is set correct). Then when I opened material editor I found that gamma settings now works and all day/night renders looks as they should, so sorry for bothering and thanks for the help.