Skinning a new building-Help

[Patricius]

Hi,
I just created a new building in 3d max, and I finished all the shapes,
Could any give me a little advice on how to skin it? How do I figure out where each part of the dds goes to what part of the building, when I have a totally new shape? I am new at this, so I kind of need a little tutorial almost.

Patricius

 

[Patricius]

Here is the Building File if that helps you figure out what I need.
View attachment 120909
View attachment 120911
Hint: C Roland, if you're around, I see that you have experience with this, pretty please help me

Patricius

 

[sharick]

Nice building.

You need to use Unwrap UV modifier on your model and I'm sorry to tell you but it's pretty complicated if you are new to it. But if you managed modelling you can manage that too. I don't know about 3dsmax 8 but in 7 there is a tutorial how to do it under Materials and Mapping - Managing Texture Coordinates. There are numerous tutorials on the internet too. Good luck.
After you have your coordinates use Texporter plugin (free) to export them to some 2D painting software and paint you textures.

You could also use a different approach which is easier but not recommended in Fireaxis documentation. Give your model a Mulit/Sub-Object shader and different small textures for each part of the building: walls, steps etc. Then in your model pick the polygons and change their Material ID to the number corresponding to your material.

I don't know if I explained enough but at least you know where to start and in my experience the best way to learn is to try it by yourself. Max's User Reference is still my best friend when I'm making models and the tutorials that come with max are really good. I recommend you doing them all and there are additional ones on their web page.

 

[Patricius]

THanks Sharick,
I should be able to figure out from there. Thanks for answering...I am having fun learning how to do this, so I should have it figured out before to long..


Sincerely,
Patricius

 

[C.Roland]

Hi,

Sorry, I don't use 3ds max but blender.

In both you have to Unwrap your model like Sharick explain, but i don't know how to do it in 3ds max.

 

[Patricius]

Do you recommend Blender? I know that I only have 26 more days with 3d max, and I don't really want to buy it. Blender is a free program correct?

Patricius

 

[C.Roland]

Do you recommend Blender? I know that I only have 26 more days with 3d max, and I don't really want to buy it. Blender is a free program correct?

Patricius

For a free program is excellent. I can't do animated model(not yet, but maybe in the future with the incredible work they are doing at niftool) but i can do static model(bulding, wonder, improvement, ressource) and I can also do some mesh that i can import on an animated unit with nifviewer(see the unit forum if you want example of what i can do with blender and niftool), so i can do a lot of thing for free.

 

[Patricius]

You're right this is pretty tough...Could you direct me to a tutorial that does exctly what I need to be doing? There are many that talk about UV and UVW and skinning, and all sorts of things but I can't find exactly one that Say the things I need to learn.

Thanks in advance,
Patricius

 

[C.Roland]

You're right this is pretty tough...Could you direct me to a tutorial that does exctly what I need to be doing? There are many that talk about UV and UVW and skinning, and all sorts of things but I can't find exactly one that Say the things I need to learn.

Thanks in advance,
Patricius

For blender : http://www.blender3d.org/cms/Tutorials.243.0.html

 

[Patricius]

Thanks very much...I plan on switching to Blender as soon as 3ds max runs out.

Patricius