To the artists here
 

who've created some !nice! original shipsets.... What software do you use? Is it shareware?

Re: To the artists here
 

I use POVRay it can be found here I believe www.povray.org

With that I use Moray, which is a graphical interface using POVRay... Both are shareware

http://www.stmuc.com/moray/index.html

They aren't huge downloads and well worth it if your interested in 3d modeling... There are other programs out there but since I don't know much about them I'll let others mention them.

Re: To the artists here
 

Hi! Try this thread:

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...3&t=003606&p=2

Re: To the artists here
 

On the thread Zenbudo pointed you to there is a program called DoGA, which I think is one of the easiest programs to use for shipset modeling. It lets you make a decent set without needing to know a lot about CAD products.

Re: To the artists here
 

Has anyone tried out Gmax yet? I've installed Gmax 1.1 and it looks great but I haven't actually tried making anything yet. I have been using Moray until now. The best thing about Gmax is that its free and designed for game modders (like us).

You can get it at http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/
This is what the blurb on the site says about it (in part):

"Based on the world's best selling 3D modeling, animation and rendering platform,
3ds max™, gmax™ is actually two distinct products:


1. gmax, available free of charge from the web for consumers, allows game players to create, customize, and exchange their own game content Online.

2. gmax developer Version for 3ds max 4 (aka gmax dev) is Discreet's new game development platform aimed at level and game designers. It allows game companies to shorten development time and offers the potential to increase sales and extend the life of their game titles by the optional distribution of gmax "game packs."

Re: To the artists here
 

I have gmax but found it to be bit complex http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif . I prefer to use DOGA, the 1 & 2 Versions are avilable at http://downloads.cnet.com or http://www.doga.co.jp/english/.

In order to use DOGA 3 you must register V 2.

Instructions on this are at :

http://www.doga.co.jp/english/

DOGA is very easy (bolting parts together and then coloring/texturing) but there are limits to what can be done (no custom colors but you can add custom textures/bump maps with DOGA 3).

gmax and moray/povray allow more flexability but have a steeper learning curve (IMHO).

[ 22 March 2002: Message edited by: pathfinder ]</p>

Re: To the artists here
 

True Moray/POV does require a lot of time to get anything decent out of it. After half a year of practice I'm still struggling with it. However if you're willing to put in the time I believe the extra features make it an excellent program... I'm actually checking out DOGA now, I've heard of it several times before but never looked into it. Depends on how much free time you have I guess...

Re: To the artists here
 

1. Exsisting images
2. Images from games
3. DoGa L3
4. Paint'
5. PSP 6
6. 3d Studio Max 4
7. ShipViewer for SFC

DoGa is by far the best for beginners.

Re: To the artists here
 

Well, you can just forget about gmax.

After spending some time with the tutorials and deciding it was one pretty sweet program, I started looking for the renderer in there. Guess what? Yep, no renderer. And the real kicker is that you can't export it out in anything other than the gmax file format for which (you guessed it) there is no renderer support anywhere by anybody. Boy, was I po'd. What the heck were they thinking?? Avoid this one.

I downloaded Strata 3D Base (free with registration at strata.com) and have played with it some but I may go back to Moray or try some of the others mentioned here. Apparently there are no really good modeling/rendering choices unless you want to spend about $10K on the good stuff.

CS

Re: To the artists here
 

"Guess what? Yep, no renderer. And the real kicker is that you can't export it out in anything other than the gmax file format for which (you guessed it) there is no renderer support anywhere by anybody. Boy, was I po'd. What the heck were they thinking??"

It's NOT a standalone modeling program! It's for making game mods, and the game has to have a specific gmax- "pak" for it to work.

Phoenix-D

Re: To the artists here
 

Gmax: yeah, all you can do is in gmax "render" then take a screen shot.

unless of course you happen to have a game that has a gmax "game pak" for it....

Re: To the artists here
 

Thanks folks.

I'd like to try my hand at some of this. Unlike the fantasy figures that I've painted, I can put this to some use.

Re: To the artists here
 

I just found another one. it's called OpenFX and it's an open source project with binary distribution files for a variety of operating systems.

Haven't had a chance to play with it yet but it looks very promising based on the information at their site (openfx.org). The good news is that it includes a renderer as well as modeling tools. I like open source projects like this a lot so I'll try it out and post my experience with it here.

On gmax, I knew about the gamepacks but thought that was stupid since they only have one pack available which is for quake 3 and if I want to develop more maps for quake 3 I'm going to be using QERadiant like I always do, not the tempest pack. The only thing it makes sense for is weapon and character models. Now that I can see as very useful.

CS

Re: To the artists here
 

i lost my doga-l3 registration numbers can some one maybe be a nice guy and give me theirs for a short while until i find mine i dont want to pay another 40 bucks. thanks i have doga-L2 numbers if any one needs them.

Warhawk009@yahoo.com

Re: To the artists here
 

i use MilkShape 3D which is pretty cheap, i think about 20 to 30$ canadian, because i also do models for mods for Homeworld and for the WW2 mod im doing for SEIV because i cant make the models i need for it in DOGA V3 unfortunately

Re: To the artists here
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you just lost the number I'm sure you can get a new one from the producer. Sharing reg numbers on this board for products you didn't buy on the other hand is frowned upon on this board.