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Author
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Topic: Working with AC3D..and Max, what file types does AC3D use?
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DanW
Pilot
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posted 11-20- 02:36 PM
  
Hey folks,I'm thinking about doing project with someone over the holidays. Only problem is one person has Max and the other has AC3D. Question, what file types does AC3D import/export? I will do the Tmapping and painting in Max, but I don't want the smoothing to get killed when I export to whatever AC3D supports. I assume I can take the pieces and just export them to .obj files when I'm done, but I'd like to be able to have the model pieced together for ease in Tmapping/painting. So I'm not sure what files types we have to use. I'm pretty sure we'll be using OPS to put it together. Has anyone done a mixed project in Max/AC3D in here? If so, what are the pitfalls? dan IP: Logged |
wakeup tailgunner
Pilot
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posted 11-20- 04:46 PM
DXF can be exported from AC3D, and it will import 3DS files. I have Max 3.1 and AC3D, but haven't got to grips with Max enough to actually do anything constructive. AC3D is so much easier! One problem I know will crop up is textures. The easiest way to mix and match is through SM files. Farmer Joe is doing some crew models for the B17, and he is a Max man. Both applications can get textured models into SM files. Don't worry about all the properties unless you need to! IP: Logged |
DanW
Pilot
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posted 11-20- 06:31 PM
Ugh, .dfx sux..Hmm, hopefully we can find a work around if Ac3d will take .3ds files. thanks IP: Logged |
Sv
Pilot
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posted 11-20- 09:15 PM
I would think that you should both use the .sm file to share. Untextured AC3D objects could be imported into the aircraft .sm file. You could then do your work in 3dsmax. So long as the both of you only edit the .sm file with your respective tools, there should be no problems.But I am not familiar with how you 3dsmax guys get in and out of .sm files, so maybe I am missing something... ------------------
-Sv =FC=
WWI in SDOE!
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DanW
Pilot
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posted 11-20- 10:16 PM
I don't plan on doing any OP stuff..I'm just gonna tmap. I dont want to lose the smoothing on the objects during import/export. I have never messed with .sm files, so my stuff is all strictly Max. IP: Logged |
Sv
Pilot
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posted 11-20- 11:56 PM
The 3dsmax -> SM guys here must know the trick in importing/exporting to 3dsmax without losing the shading... right? I think it was TS that posted allot about this, or maybe Bryan knows the trick?IP: Logged |
wakeup tailgunner
Pilot
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posted 11-21- 04:35 AM
The Max method involves exporting .OBJ files to import into OPS. Unfortunately, AC3D won't use .OBJ files. It may be possible to use something like 3D Explorer to convert the .OBJ files into a format that AC3D will use.Other options may be the use of VRML. AC3D supports VRML1 and a variant on VRML2. Not, however, the same one that Max uses. The tricky bit will be getting something that moves the models with texture mapping and smoothing intact. The only surefire way would be to use the SM file format. It IS possible to get properly smoothed Max objects into OPS. There has been some discussions recently about MAx texturing, and the guys giving the advice seem to know what they are talking about! I, on the other hand, have not even cracked the rudiments of Max textures and exports! Second thoughts,...... Well, does it actually matter if the smoothing goes pear-shaped when you export from Max? If the parts are going to go into AC3D to build the SM, smooth them again there! Smoothing won't damage the T-mapping.
I am wondering about some of the stuff Farmer Joe has pulled together, T-mapping with a single skin, like the good old Quake skins! It would be so much easier when building from scratch, since you could create a good skin template from your parts....If you crack this one, post somethi ng to let me know! Max has some great things going for it, but AC3D is a really simple and easy to use modelling tool. It suits me. Plus, with a small monitor, and a relatively slow PC, Max is not user friendly! [This message has been edited by wakeup tailgunner (edited 11-21-2000).] IP: Logged |
Sv
Pilot
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posted 11-21- 10:01 AM
AC3D can not reliably re-smooth objects that have smoothing errors. If you "cut away object" to split off some polys, like striping away the top from the bottom, then re-merge the objects, then smooth shade - this seems to fix it again.IP: Logged |
jedi
Pilot
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posted 11-21- 05:05 PM
If you can make an .sm file with Max, you can use Hippie's tools and AC3D with no problems. But you need to solve any shading or mapping or materials issues first, i.e. if your Max.sm file has weird flickering or shading or transparency problems, there's no guarantee AC3D will "translate" these properly, and you may be unable to fix them in AC3D.Re: smoothing--AC3D "unsmoothes" every object by default. Once you're done working with the part, you must optimize the vertices and re-smooth the part. It works and looks fine, but you do have to remember to do the step, and there are some ways to accidentally mess up the shading. AC3D will load .3ds, .obj, .vrml, and most other formats, but it won't export all of them. It will do .x direct-x files I believe. With Hippie's plugins, you can convert .sm files into .lod files, and the .ol format, which are pretty easy to text-edit. My advice would be to always have your models converted into .sm format, and then "decompile" from there into AC3D .lods or Max files. That has the added benefit of being viewable in OPS.
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--jedi--
[This message has been edited by jedi (edited 11-21-2000).] IP: Logged |
DanW
Pilot
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posted 11-21- 07:34 PM
Thanks for the tips guys. What I'll probably do is just tmap in Max and get Zur to take care of the rest  .obj or .3ds sounds good. I don't know any OpenPlane, so I can't take the .sm route. IP: Logged |
Bishop
Pilot
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posted 11-23- 08:53 AM
This might help to convert between file types:
www.xdsoft.com/explorer/ IP: Logged |
Sv
Pilot
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posted 11-23- 09:32 AM
In my non-3dsmax experience, transparency/flickering issues always have to do with either the texture flag or the poly flas in the LOD. But I am having an odd flikering issue on a very small object right now, strange.AC3D does not un-smooth automaticaly. When you import a LOD, it does appear as un-smoothed for some reason, but the vertex normals are still correct when you export. Do NOT re-smooth individual objects if they are attached in a planer way to another! (like wing sections and ailerons, etc.) Smooth them all as one merged object, then cut them away. NEVER smooth them again and you will be fine ------------------
-Sv =FC=
WWI in SDOE!
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