FSH BAT restoration

[gutterclub 2,729]

A quick question that will either lead to some interesting investigation or will be a massive fail.

Is there anyway, using FSH tools etc, that BAT renders could be inserted into a blank model? For instance the below pic has 4 views at Z5..could they be inserted into a blank model made by LODS of similar size? If they could, could these render pics be shrunk and then inserted into Z4, 3, 2, 1 etc?

If this is possible, then it leads onto further debate..would be morally wrong to bring a model back to life this way, even if it was for personal use only? I guess it would be no different than photoshopping it into a SimCity scene?

[debussyman 1,348]

It is perfectly possible, but really tedious. I did just that a few years ago with the Votivkirche. It kept failing at exporting time so I just rendered in all 4 views at z5 and shrunk them for other zooms. Even photoshopped some nitelights on it. The only issue is at the further zooms, where the angle changes a little, but that is barely noticeable.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Morally wrong... haha, what?

Technically, it is possible, despite being very tricky. It'd probably take some trial and error too. Zoom 1 and part of zoom 2 of the day render from the UN HQ were done using this technique. The export crashed half way through zoom 2 (ffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!) and I didn't want to wait another day. So I exported a simplified version of the model and before inserting anything in Max, replaced the output files with the ones from the previous export + manually created BMP files made from previews of the ones it didn't finish.

First you'd need to have pretty well the exact LOD sizes which you could work out through rendering a box of a certain size and comparing it to the building image until the length, height and width match. Then you could render out from Max as normal with a box or something standing in for the building. Before you insert anything (after export is complete) you'll need to edit Alpha and Bitmap files using the image above, should be pretty easy in Photoshop but will take a while. Just resize the images for other zooms and place them on top of the box. You may need to split the images for zoom 5, the output files will let you know.

Of course there won't be any way to make night lighting though, unless you're really good with Photoshop.

[gutterclub 2,729]

Hmmm, might be worth trying..I was joking when I say morally wrong by the way

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Yes it is possible, I think one way is to uvw unwrap the image in to 3ds max and fix the rendering so it does not change anything to the renders. So you can export Sim Fox unrelease buildings, if you have all four sizes of it. The only worry is the night lighting and you can use a image editing software.

[LivingInThePast 364]

It sounds feasible, but that's a ton of work to go through just for personal use.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

If you can pull it off, I wouldn't have a problem with you uploading them to the STEX for public download. If SimFox doesn't like the idea (and I don't know why he wouldn't) he can drop by and let us know... although somehow I can't see that happening.

Aaron: unfortunately, due to the game's projection angles, I don't think that would work. But even if it could, it'd also reduce the quality of the renders through being rendered 'twice'.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Definitely possible but tbh it might be easier to just reBAT it.

[gutterclub 2,729]

Yeah, i think I might just stick to my little W2W's and hope that one day some of these guys will come back and resurect their BAting careers, or at least throw us a bone and upload what they have..

[SimCoug 5,972]

Sounds a bit like Dr. Frankenstein resurrecting the BATed dead. I like it!

[gutterclub 2,729]

I’m willing to give this a try as I don’t mind about the time taken to do this, as long as it isn’t too complicated a process..i’m pretty good at following instructions. I agree with Jason, but if I could model and texture as good then I doubt I’d even be mentioning these buildings in the first place and would just be making them myself…but like I say, if it’s a fairly straight forward process then I know that it would take me a few days work to get a reasonable BAT from the pictures rather than months and months of practice modelling, not to mention not being able to render half the things (I operate a basic laptop, good for small modern buildings (which I kind of see as my niche anyway) then I’m all for it.

The problem lies in that, as mentioned before, I’m good at following instructions..which is why BAT4MAX 5 is such a beautiful bit of software..so I’ve never really had to deal with FSH files, creating them or manually inserting them..I can basically get as far as making the basic LOD model to export.

Is anyone able to write a really short (if it is short) basic tutorial describing the work flow and tools needed. Without knowing much about it I understand the process would be something along the lines of.

1. Find the proporations of the LOD and export a box of this shape size.
   
2. A load of BMP files go into the gamepacks directory after being inserted into the .sc4
   
3. In theory these files would be edited and the render BMP’s pasted over???
   
4. Reinserted into model?
   

What tools would be needed such as FSH man, reader etc or can it all be done in photoshop?

Might be a useful tut for others if someone can knock one together?

[debussyman 1,348]

If this is the only building you're interested in importing with this method, I'd suggest reBATing it, seems like a pretty simple in modeling and texturing (there could even be room for improvement texture wise).

[gutterclub 2,729]

Well the idea was that if it was a simple process, it could be done with lots of buildings..you could also bear in mind that if people were using it themselves for CJ's you might only need one or two views the rendered as having all 4 views might not be needed for taking screenshots etc? Most of this was for personal use, not to be redistributed...

Like I say, it's merely I thought based on it being a simple process...as you say, if it was that building in particular I'd just rebat it, or more over just make something similar....which I will probably do anyway

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Nah... I don't remodel it. I want to see if you can do this, I'm interested now.

You shouldn't need to use any tools other than 3dsMax and Photoshop. I've made you an alpha from the original image, which yields the result shown below. The antialiasing isn't perfect, but it's good enough IMO. That's probably one of the most difficult things out of the way.

First figure out the LOD size (just guess, preview and check against the image until you get close enough) and then I'll tell you how to do the rest.

[gutterclub 2,729]

Would this be too loose or is it close enough to get it all in?

[debussyman 1,348]

It really doesn't matter if it fits snuggly or not, it just makes it easier when replacing the "box" images in photoshop and aligning them. Also, I don't see the need of a complex LOD. A simple box should do it.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Yeah, I’d make it a simple box. But I would try to make it as snug as possible, just to avoid problems down the track.

[gutterclub 2,729]

This seems ok to me?

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Well, the simple box will make it impossible to add taller props inside the "L" shape, though. You couldn't even place a bicycle prop at the wall next to the enrtrance inside the "L". If that's no problem, then a box LOD will be just fine.

[gutterclub 2,729]

Technically, you could make a prop/props, render them in all 4 views and paste them into the original render...but thats getting silly. Ideally, I think we want to see if we can just get them functional.

Next steps please chaps

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Excellent. Render the 3 LODs plus a box standing in for the building (same size as the LODs) out of Max as per normal. When you get to this message... stop! But do not close Max, leave it running.

Go to your output files directory and start editing the bitmap files. Use the original image with the grey background for this and chop/ resize as appropriate so it fits perfectly onto the boxes. Then do the same with the alphas using the black and white image I've given you.

After that, return to Max and complete the export. This should insert everything into your model. If you've done it all correctly, you should have a fully functioning SC4model. If not, you'll have to identify any problems and return to your output files to correct it. Obviously don't start from scratch if this happens (if probably will), copy your output files to another location and work on them separately before repeating the process.

If you want to do nightlights, this'll require some more complex work in Photoshop, but if you think you can manage that you should now have the knowledge to do it.

[gutterclub 2,729]

I think I'm being stupid as I'm having a hard time figuring out what folder contains what zoom and direction in the Output files, some of the output BMP are a tint part of the building so its hard to align. Is there any method to the numbering of the files?

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Just texture letters onto your box (or colours or something) that correspond to the four directions.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Technically, you could make a prop/props, render them in all 4 views and paste them into the original render...but thats getting silly.

I have witnessed the re-lotting of a BAT where precisely this has been done, btw. Problem was, the original building had been made by someone else who couldn't be contacted, so a re-export with changed LODs was not an option.

[gutterclub 2,729]

Plan on having another crack at this, there are a few Darknono ones that have all 4 views and could be straight forward due to simple LODS. Hopefully wont lose patience this time.

[rsc204 21,806]

What is it exactly you are trying to accomplish here?

I've built models and messed with the FSH files in all sorts of ways. But it's a crappy way to make models that's typically more effort than it's worth. If you have any ability modelling, I'd consider simply re-making the models. Almost certainly that will prove quicker and give better results than trying to afix a texture onto a simple LOD.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

On 12/30/2016 at 5:51 PM, gutterclub said:

Plan on having another crack at this, there are a few Darknono ones that have all 4 views and could be straight forward due to simple LODS. Hopefully wont lose patience this time.

So I take this to mean that you'll be finishing my 1001 Woodward BAT? Good, I'll cross that one off the list then.

[gutterclub 2,729]

Haha, not getting out of it that easy

[Ceafus 88 1,794]

I will be following this, it seems like an interesting idea for sure!

[gutterclub 2,729]

Had another go at this just trying with Z5 South view replacing Image and Alpha but still can't get it to work, just shows up as original coloured box in Lot Editor at Zoom 5. Have the output files zipped if anyone would like to take a look and see what I am doing wrong? Attached

Sorry Aaron - was using one of your render images, hope you dont mind!

aaron-0x5ad0e817_0x83cf9f8_0x30000.zip