3D Studio Max BAT Version 2 Released !!

[Vlakhaas 13]

Thank you Ralph ... you are doing a great job here for us that are not so technically inclined. From what I saw with the time of a render this will turn the BAT World up side down. A model with over 1,000,000 poly's including the time taken with the BAT dummy and the other READER work took around 10 minutes from start to finish ... in BAT we are looking at 36 hours. .... THAT IS AMAZING.

 

[RalphaelNinja 244]

Date:6/21/2004 7:07:24 AM
Author:frogface

seeing its on a 1x1 box and a lot of details are lost how are the bump maps on a bigger object?

 

p.s i really wish i had 3dsmax now lol

quote>

With the details on a 1x1 is coming through so clearly, that it would be no doubt on the details on a larger object.

Just thought I share one last test.... a sphere with bump mapping and reflection (two items that were missing from the BAT.)

Vlakhaas: yes the time to render is about 2-3 times faster. Even on some of my comparison renders, gMax takes about 1-2 minutes whereas 3dsmax5 takes about 30 secs on my Hyperthreaded P4-3ghz.

At this point in time, my mind is racing ahead on all the possibilities

Ralphael

[frogface 352]

that is awesome looking! just imagine with gmax we'de actually have to model those grooves as polys!

i wonder i think i may have a demo version of 3ds max 4 will that work with this ?

 

oh the possiblilites...

[Vlakhaas 13]

Trust me ... my eyes are glued to this thread and I am glad it got moved out of the Mars Forum ... it was purely by chance that I stumbled on it.

[budman01 2]

That is so great! And it works perfect with me. Thank you very, very much!

@frogface
If you're looking for a test version, you can download a 30-day-trial at discreet. Its 3dsMax6. Maybe you could check, if it works with it?

[CycleDogg 130]

Someone tried it in 6 and had some trouble with the LODs I think, but I don't know the details.

Great job Raphael.  It's great to see all the excitement!

[CycleDogg 130]

Also, I tested nitelites without adding a spotlight in the LOD rendering (gmax) and the nightlighting worked fine in the game, so it looks like you can skip step 9 of the instructions.

[+Guest]

Wow, this is looking awesome guys! Keep up the great work! I almost like the 3DSMax render better, it looks softer than the Gmax/BAT one.

[mikeyb66 30]

Just wanted to stay that I have downloaded this new tool and I LOVE IT. I have had 3DS Max 5 for quite a few months now and not really made much use it of it. Now I have a use for it. I must say the process is quite fiddly but I'm sure that I'll be able to speed it up the more i use it. Thanks for everyone that has contributed to making this.

[xannepan 513]

I will certainly try this, once I get back from vacation. I hope it work in 3dsmax 6 by then Maybe finally we can do some realistic neon lights and light cones. Imageinge that... neon light properties to add to our buildings

However, I read someone mentioning that buildings appear 'smoother'... but this is exactly what we DON't want I would say. In remember that in the beginning days of BAT, thiose who were lucky enough to test it also reported of rendering being smoother than the original SC4 buildings. This was eventually solved because for buildings to blend in properly they need to have the 'gritty' look.

Anyway.. I'm sure the rendering works fine.. What puzzles me is how it is possible that rendering is much faster.

[budman01 2]

OK, I can confirm correct function under 3dsMax6.

I tested it with the buildingmill.ms for 3dsMax5 from Ralphael. I just tried a small pyramid with textur, without nightlightning.

One thing that didn't work with me, was the button 'Render BAT' in 3dsMax. I can push it, but nothing happens. If I push again (so that it looks like it'd be 'unpressed'), the render starts immediately and does what he had to do.

Everything else works fine, but I have to test with the antialiasing, but I have to build a better model for this.

Great job guys. You've done, from what many BATters dream! Thanks a lot!

[couchpotato 8]

RalphaelNinja
where can I find your CPAAtrue.zip file?  I've hunted everywhere and done searches.  CycleDogg tells me I need this file. 

Thanks

 

That's not very helpful since I went through the Mod files twice and searched each and every forum thread for CPAAtrue.zip with zero results on everyone of them. 

 

 

Scary that a no-talent like me has 3ds Max6 and most of the Digimation plugins. 

 

 

[RalphaelNinja 244]

it was attached to one of my posts somewhere.....

anyways, the modd section has been updated to include the latest updates.

Ralphael

[sclarke27 12]

works for me under 3dsmax 6 also. just started the first rendering, and it already looks faster and better. im so excited i could crap myself
nice work!!!!!

[CycleDogg 130]

It's great to hear that it's working in 6!

 

Speaking of those who have contributed to this . . . I should probably mention (and probably should have mentioned sooner) that Couchpotato has been an important inspiration and contributor to this project.  Without her, there would be no 3dsmax bat.

[tim_de_great 15]

Wow, this is great guys! I have 3ds max 5 and I can't wait to try this. I didn't ever bother with the BAT because it took to long to render. By the way, does opacity work aswell for this?

[mikeyb66 30]

Just wantto say that if you need any testing done on 3DS Max 5 then i'm willing to help. Keep up the good work.

[budman01 2]

Something went wrong...

... or better, what am I doing wrong? I tried seven times, but it will not work for me with this model. Yesterday all three models were done perfectly. To high? ???

Any ideas anybody?

The pics in the reader look ok, but in LE...

[RalphaelNinja 244]

Date: 6/22/2004 4:21:07 PM
Author: budman01
Something went wrong...

... or better, what am I doing wrong? I tried seven times, but it will not work for me with this model. Yesterday all three models were done perfectly. To high? ???

Any ideas anybody?

The pics in the reader look ok, but in LE...

quote>

Its a ID clash with an existing ID. MAke sure you have the Texture Problem Fix patch for the gMax Bat. Create a new LOD model file and try again.

Ralphael

[RalphaelNinja 244]

Showing what is possible with 3dsMax. The following pics are Raytraced lights, bump mapped and reflective exteriors....

 

Yes those are actually desks with computer monitors, intrays and tiny photo frames on the desk.

 

Ralphael

[budman01 2]

Awesome, what you're doing with the new possibilities!

But my problem is still around, sorry. I tried, what you said, I made everything new (merge model in 3ds, new lods, different filenames) but it's still the same. Is there a possibility to check that, maybe be searching some IDs in the reader?

Or can I do anything else? The texture pack from maxis is installed.

Thanks in advance

[RalphaelNinja 244]

Date: 6/22/2004 7:37:11 PM
Author: budman01
Awesome, what you're doing with the new possibilities!

But my problem is still around, sorry. I tried, what you said, I made everything new (merge model in 3ds, new lods, different filenames) but it's still the same. Is there a possibility to check that, maybe be searching some IDs in the reader?

Or can I do anything else? The texture pack from maxis is installed.

Thanks in advance

quote>

Builderman has sent me an ID conflict scanner which will be posted up soon - a day or two (once we figure out a runtime error). Try clearing out all modds, models, plugins to see if this is still occuring. It may be a rednering error as someone else had solved it by re-sizing the model by 110%.

Ralphael

[budman01 2]

Thats good news. I will wait patiently for the scanner.

The other things, I'll try tomorrow morning. It's 02:06AM here, I'll better go to bed, tomorrow with a clear mind - hopefully things go better

Thanks for now, I'll get back soon

[mikeyb66 30]

Ok as much as I love this i do have one query, is this still in development as on the few tests I have done the quality isn't coming out quite as good. The textures are looking slightly blurry and not so crisp as the gmax version.

[RalphaelNinja 244]

Date: 6/23/2004 8:16:16 AM
Author: mikeyb66
Ok as much as I love this i do have one query, is this still in development as on the few tests I have done the quality isn't coming out quite as good. The textures are looking slightly blurry and not so crisp as the gmax version.

quote>

Be sure to get the latest download as it includes the CPAATrueUpdate.zip which sets the aliasfiltersize to 1 (which is the same as gMax) for 3DS Max 4

or

sets the antialiasing to true for 3DS Max 5/6 which allows you select the AA method in the Render Scene/Max Default Scanline A-Buffer (choose Catmull-rom).

Ralphael

[budman01 2]

Date: 6/22/2004 7:55:37 PM
Author: RalphaelNinja

Builderman has sent me an ID conflict scanner which will be posted up soon - a day or two (once we figure out a runtime error). Try clearing out all modds, models, plugins to see if this is still occuring. It may be a rednering error as someone else had solved it by re-sizing the model by 110%.


Ralphael

quote>

Sorry, but the problem is still there I took out all mods, plugins etc., but it stillshows the same four-color-test...

Do you have any more ideas? Or should I just wait for the scanner?

Thanks Bud

[RalphaelNinja 244]

Date: 6/23/2004 12:36:09 PM
Author: budman01

Date: 6/22/2004 7:55:37 PM
Author: RalphaelNinja

Builderman has sent me an ID conflict scanner which will be posted up soon - a day or two (once we figure out a runtime error). Try clearing out all modds, models, plugins to see if this is still occuring. It may be a rednering error as someone else had solved it by re-sizing the model by 110%.


Ralphael

quote>

Sorry, but the problem is still there I took out all mods, plugins etc., but it stillshows the same four-color-test...

Do you have any more ideas? Or should I just wait for the scanner?

Thanks Bud

quote>

Unfortunately Builderman's program is reporting conflict on all SC4lots (since they all have the same LD files) and through email I found that he is on holidays.... so it may be a while before we see an updated valid program.

If you have reduced your plugin to nothing, then there is no need to check for conflicts

If you had had success before, then clear out everything, start from scratch with a completely different LOD name (eg. don't just name TEST3DS to TEST3DS01, try WHYDOESNTTHISWORKNAME) and try generating different size test boxes, rather then sticking with the problem model. When those test boxes are working fine, then import/merge the original problem model (using the same test BOX LODS).

Good luck...

Ralphael

[budman01 2]

Date: 6/23/2004 3:23:41 PM
Author: RalphaelNinja

Unfortunately Builderman's program is reporting conflict on all SC4lots (since they all have the same LD files) and through email I found that he is on holidays.... so it may be a while before we see an updated valid program.


If you have reduced your plugin to nothing, then there is no need to check for conflicts


If you had had success before, then clear out everything, start from scratch with a completely different LOD name (eg. don't just name TEST3DS to TEST3DS01, try WHYDOESNTTHISWORKNAME) and try generating different size test boxes, rather then sticking with the problem model. When those test boxes are working fine, then import/merge the original problem model (using the same test BOX LODS).


Good luck...


Ralphael

quote>

Thanks a lot. After a new installation of 3ds everything works fine

We'll see how long

Once again thanks, you're doing a great job!

[couchpotato 8]

budman01
I'm getting the same thing when I render.   Objects render fine when very tiny but show the primary color splotch when large enough to be useful.   Also have the texture patch installed and very few custom lots. 

[RalphaelNinja 244]

Just an update, for those who have been following this 3dsMax BAT thread, ilive has provided us with a batch program (DatCmd) that allows us to delete and reinsert fsh files from an SC4Model file from a command line. This means that for repetive work, setting up a batch file will reduce the time even further.

 

There will be a future update to the 3dsMax Bat scripts to include the following:

- immediate availability of the bat render on startup rather then clicking on runscript. The random window picker/rename works very nicely with 3dsMax on startup.

- executing of the fsh building batch within the scripts, combined with ilive's DatCmd to have a one step render, or separate buttons for each step.

- an advance rollout to allow independant rendering of sides, thus you can save some time by rendering only the front (if that is all that has changed) or have four completely different views of the same building.

- preview button, possibly even all 4 sides in 4 different window

 

In addition, I have also found programs that allows me to export from gMax and import into 3dsMax (materials are lost). These tools will probably be included in the next release of 3dsMax Bat.

 

Here are some pics of my ionizer in 3dsMax:

notice the bump maps

 

A nice Wallpaper....

 

The following is a sample of the power of light includes/excludes. There are two direct lights on the outside of the building, one at a lower intensity then the other.

 

 

Ralphael