Amatoroj's BAT Thread

[Amatoroj 3]

Hello.

Altough I've been a Simtropolis member for four years, this is the first time that I started a topic in the Forums, for that reason I hope this topic is located in the right place, I also apologize in advance if I have mistakes writing in english, because I'm from Chile and I speak spanish. After this introduction, I will go to the purpose of the topic.

After read a lot of tutorials, finally I decide to dive into the 3D modelling ocean (also because my envy of all the beautiful stuff that I have downloaded from STEX). My first project is a simple and little road side bus stop; after six hours of work I was quite happy with the result, it have nightlights and translucid roof. After read a lot more of "how to made transit enabled lots" I have succeeded in putting my model into a transit enabled lot. As I want to put two bus stop in the same lot, I made two descriptors, one for the building and other to convert my model into a prop. I was somewhat optimistic when everything is going well in the Lot Editor, but in the game, after twelve hours of hard work I realize that the model converted into a prop isn't nightlighted but the model converted into building does.

What I am doing wrong?

Thank you in advance.

  Edited May 24, 2011 by Amatoroj  

[mntoes 271]

You need to go into the descriptor for the prop. Under the tab "advanced" set "light" to "true". Click ok and it should now work.

Hope this helps.

Mntoes

[Amatoroj 3]

Thank you very much Mntoes, that was what I needed. I searched a lot in the Forum but couldn't find a satisfactory answer, and thanks to you I had an answer in less than an hour. Thanks again.

[harishna 847]

Hola, if you planning to continue BATing you can always use this thread to show your work and receive feedback, and if you need help with the language: Yo y otros por aqui hablamos español

Buena suerte!

[Amatoroj 3]

Well, following Harishna's advice, I'll continue to post in this thread my work on BATing.

The next images are from my first BAT attempt, a bus stop inspired by the design of Transantiago mass transit system, implemented in Santiago de Chile. It is not the most beautiful bus stop, and my model maybe is not the best, but I'm happy of how it look in the game altough I don't think that deserves a place in the STEX.

Feedback will be well received.

Amatoroj.

[harishna 847]

Muy interesante, I am glad to see you decided to post your work here, nice looking bus stop by the way, I like the details you added to the model, and for a first attempt looks quite clean. I also applaud that you didn't run to upload it to the STEX, not because it looks bad but because you can still improve it and not everything has to go into the STEX.

It is usually better to show a rendered image rather than a viewport image, unless you want to show something in particular. You can find the preview option by clicking on the little hammer, with a small model like this a HD or zoom6 preview it's usually a good idea. About the model itself I will change the floor texture for something that blends in with the in game textures, I'll say you don't even have to even model it. The green used in the roof texture looks a bit too clean try to tweak your textures in Gimp or PS adding a some grim makes things look more real, the same goes for the the metal and the sign, they look all too clean. Textures are as important as the model. You have to also consider the scale it seems a little bit underscaled remember that things look squashed in game so it is a good practice to scale 133% vertically your model before exporting it. you have to also consider that sims are giants (3m tall)so you may want to exaggerate some details a little bit..About the in game picture I am concerned about the green bar in front of your model, what is it?

Buen trabajo y recuerda cualquier duda nada mas pregunta.

[Amatoroj 3]

Hi Harishna and thanks for the comment.

I'm aware of that all looks very clean and it would seem unrealistic, but in the real life, here in Santiago, the bus stop has an even annoying shiny look, then trying to adjust to reality, I recognize that it looks like a bit unrealistic.

I modeled the floor because, again, here in Santiago, the visual standard protocol, indicates that the bus stop floor has to be greener and one step higher than the sorrounding sidewalk.

About the scale, I must say that I had no idea that the sims are so tall!... and well, I exaggerated the bus stop sign, but even so it looks blurry in the game.

Which is the minumum size for objects to look good in the game?

The green bar that you looked in front of the bus stop, is my first attempt to change transit textures and represent a separate area in which the bus can stop (no conozco la palabra en inglés pero aquí le digo "bahía") With the following image, I hope to clarify the concept.

I will work in the resize of the model and make it more dirty, even I'm now thinking in make a vandalized version for the ghetto area, like this one:

Muchas gracias por los sabios comentarios.

Amatoroj.

[harishna 847]

I think it is easier if you upload your pictures to something like photobucket and then just insert the link. About the green texture from the pictures it seems that the plastic shade is more transparent than green, and even if it is shiny green remember that the sun, dirt and water stains do they work and I am sure they only remain shiny for a few weeks. I understand that you want to remain as close to the real life as possible but since you are modeling this for the game you have to make sure it adapts to it. You can make the floors green but right now the texture is a bit too plain, what are they made of in real life, painted concrete, plastic, ceramic tiles? You also have to make sure that the mullions between the tiles intrude and not extrude as they seem to be right now.

[Ceafus 88 1,794]

You Can also use Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting, to upload pictures.

[Amatoroj 3]

This is the second BAT that I've made

By amatoroj at 2011-05-21

It's an oil tank and as its geometry is simple, I tried to improve my skills on texturing, however I haven't decided how to nightlighting it.

Any ideas?

The image is a rendered preview in zoom 5.

Amatoroj

[harishna 847]

Hola

Nice model you got there. I will suggest you to check the scale and details of real life tankers. Before starting playing with the night-lights I will recommend you to work a bit more in the textures as currently they look too unrealistic.

don't forgot to check this and also here some examples for the details and textures

  Edited May 22, 2011 by harishna  

[Ceafus 88 1,794]

Work On The Textures, And You Will Have A Really Good Model.

[Amatoroj 3]

Here it is, the good oil tank with new clothes.

I must admit that the texturing is what I find most difficult and frustrating of the whole process. I prefer expend my time modeling, but I recognize that texturing is precisely the spice that makes realistic models.

Harishna and Frex_Ceafus, I very much appreciate your interest and advice.

[harishna 847]

Much better you getting there I think you should look more carefully at the top railing dimensions, seem over scaled to me, and if you can model the small circles that you added to the top it would be good. You can also add a bump map to create the illusion of relief between the unions of plates forming the tank.

I think most people (including me) prefer modeling over texturing but without good textures a great BAT is nothing, as with modeling texturing I am not good at either but I think I am improving...

cheers

PS maybe it is time to change you tread title!

[Timmystwin 201]

If you still need help nightlighting, this is how you do it to buildings and props. Well, its how i do it.

https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/topic/35769-timmystwins-bat-thread/page__view__findpost__p__933230

[Ceafus 88 1,794]

Your Model Is Looking Good, You Improved The Textures Alot. Keep Up the Good Work.

[Amatoroj 3]

I had thought that the title no longer correspond to the content of the thread, but I don't know how to change the title name. Or maybe I should start a new topic?

[harishna 847]

No need to start a new topic just edit your first post

[Amatoroj 3]

Some days have passed from my last post, this is because I had various issues with Gmax like the missing of all textures after any modification, among others. That's motivated me to give a try to 3dsMax, and I liked it, but also I felt a little overwhelmed with all the new possibilities. Underused posibilities by now. Anyway this is the progress of my work, now with 3dsMax.

I'll be absent some days to work with 3dsMax and meet the needs of real life.

Harishna, thanks for being available to resolve my doubts.

[Heblem 600]

Looks pretty good for being your second or third? bat!

Sugiero que pongas un poco de suciedad en la parte de abajo, editando la textura, igual los barandales se ven un poco largos en su espacio de separación, recomiendo que estén un poco mas juntos.

Sorry for writing in spanish, is easier for me to explain something which i can't in english.

Saludos!

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Lovely model.

[harishna 847]

Felcitaciones this is a big step forward, I am with Heblem check the railing dimensions and maybe play a bit more with the material that you using on top 3ds max it is much more powerful for this than gmax, so give you some time to familiarize with the different materials, try to make it look more like painted metal, I think right now looks a bit more like concrete.

and have you also thought how you going to resolve the pipes coming from the tank?, are you going to make them go under ground?

again congratulations

[Amatoroj 3]

Heblem: I had also thought about the separation of the top rails. I will consider that. Gracias por el consejo compadre! Ah.. and It's my second BAT.

Aaron Graham: Thank you!

harishna: Certainly the time to come will be to experiment with textures (así que espero seguir contando con tu amable consejo ). The pipes coming from the tank will go overground something like the next image (red arrow) even over the street (blue arrow). For that reason, the stairs was modeled conveniently on the opposite side of the pipe. I will model dirty tanks too, like the rusty one in the image (yellow arrow).

Thanks to all for kind advices and cheering messages.

Amatoroj.

[transantiago 0]

Download for Transantiago Stop and the bus?

PD. VIVA CHILE MIERDA... ;D