Content Creating Program Decision
- Thread starter GN1996
- Start date
The 3 main 3D software programs generally used for Content Creating for Trainz are GMax, 3DS Max and Blender, not in any particular order. Except, 3DS Max is VERY costly, unless one is a student and get 3DS Max through your school. But there are limitations with its use this way.
Easy of use is different for different people, none of the above programs are easy to use. One needs to stay and persist with the 3D program one chooses to go with. Once this is somewhat mastered, the world is your oyster creating wise.
I use 3DS Max, I use it for about 6 years now and check my signature pic below, this is what I can do now after starting with very simple objects, progressing as my skills increased to more complex objects, animations etc. Age is no barrier to learn a 3D software program, I am now 72 years young and there are some people here who are retired or whatever and do some content creating for Trainz.
Cheers
VinnyBarb
Easy of use is different for different people, none of the above programs are easy to use. One needs to stay and persist with the 3D program one chooses to go with. Once this is somewhat mastered, the world is your oyster creating wise.
I use 3DS Max, I use it for about 6 years now and check my signature pic below, this is what I can do now after starting with very simple objects, progressing as my skills increased to more complex objects, animations etc. Age is no barrier to learn a 3D software program, I am now 72 years young and there are some people here who are retired or whatever and do some content creating for Trainz.
Cheers
VinnyBarb
3DSMax 2011 for a little over 1/3rd the price at Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of content creation!
I would recommend you try starting with blender, especially if you have never used a 3d program before! Go to Paul Hobbs site at http://www.44090digitalmodels.co.uk/ for some excellent tutorials.
In addition to a 3d modelling program, you will also need a good paint program to create the skin for what ever model you make! Just about anything that saves as uncompressed TGA format will work but you should also get a program that will work with layers. Layers will make life a lot simpler! The product should be able to save an alpha channel as well or you will end up using multiple programs to accomplish the same thing. I personally like everything in one package so I use Paint Shop Pro X. Search the Content Creation Forum for other choices - some are free and some like PSPx have to be purchased.
If you feel intimidated by Blender, try GMAX but it doesn't have the abilities that blender has and Paul has great tutorials for GMAX as well.
Hope that gets you started.
Bricey
I would recommend you try starting with blender, especially if you have never used a 3d program before! Go to Paul Hobbs site at http://www.44090digitalmodels.co.uk/ for some excellent tutorials.
In addition to a 3d modelling program, you will also need a good paint program to create the skin for what ever model you make! Just about anything that saves as uncompressed TGA format will work but you should also get a program that will work with layers. Layers will make life a lot simpler! The product should be able to save an alpha channel as well or you will end up using multiple programs to accomplish the same thing. I personally like everything in one package so I use Paint Shop Pro X. Search the Content Creation Forum for other choices - some are free and some like PSPx have to be purchased.
If you feel intimidated by Blender, try GMAX but it doesn't have the abilities that blender has and Paul has great tutorials for GMAX as well.
Hope that gets you started.
Bricey
Blender has the added advantage that it has it's own integrated game engine.
You can easily make roaming camera views to to any scene and use your own content in simple or complex routes.
I no longer use Trainz, but make historical routes up to 12 miles in Blender, terrrain and dock meshes, not trains, but boats and barges, and an easy matter to get solid items moving, sailing ships, canal boats, barges or whatever. Dock gates and locks can all be animated. Boats and can be set to start whenever required and run for hours as animations. Everything can be set to operate from the keyboard or make the lot set as automatic and set to always in the logic bricks. I use 2.49b version to enable a script to generate satellite SRTM2 terrain and change to the latest version 2.62 for making maritime content and using it's game engine. B
You can easily make roaming camera views to to any scene and use your own content in simple or complex routes.
I no longer use Trainz, but make historical routes up to 12 miles in Blender, terrrain and dock meshes, not trains, but boats and barges, and an easy matter to get solid items moving, sailing ships, canal boats, barges or whatever. Dock gates and locks can all be animated. Boats and can be set to start whenever required and run for hours as animations. Everything can be set to operate from the keyboard or make the lot set as automatic and set to always in the logic bricks. I use 2.49b version to enable a script to generate satellite SRTM2 terrain and change to the latest version 2.62 for making maritime content and using it's game engine. B
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