gmax

[RDLOVER777]

hi, i decided to make the APT on gmax, but how do i use it as the gmax help on the auran webpage doesn't work

 

[RRSignal]

If you're new to GMax, it's probably better to learn Blender or some other program at this point. At any rate, here are some tutorials:

http://www.worldoftrainz.com/Pages/Tutorials.htm

 

[RDLOVER777]

thanks, its manly adding the points with the wheels are gonna go

 

[jankvis]

Start off with youtube.

The basic version of GMax do not support export for normal mapping (or bump mapping). I have some extra files in case you need to model with bump maps. The extra files
will allow you to export bump maps to Trainz.

Jan

 

[RDLOVER777]

i have the gmax to trainz converter thing

 

[paulhobbs]

This is going to end in tears.

Paul

 

[trainman7616]

I use gmax but I agree with paul.

 

[Zeldaboy14]

I have the Gmax Trainz Pack, but I never used it due to it being old and basically outdated. I use blender and sketchup for work, but best recommendation is to fully use blender.

 

[johnwhelan]

hi, i decided to make the APT on gmax, but how do i use it as the gmax help on the auran webpage doesn't work

Trainz has a history of people deciding they are going to build a loco in GMAX before anything else. Very very few succeed.

There are people who do very nice work in GMAX that is true but even these are gradually moving to Blender.

There is a major learning curve with any 3D software so I’d suggest you start with Blender but it is only a suggestion.

Any special reason why you chose GMAX?

Cheerio John

 

[RDLOVER777]

well because i also have sketchup

 

[RRSignal]

Avoid Sketchup. Also, the point is, don't try doing a loco if you haven't even made a house yet. Blender is the best to use going forward because it should be able to take advantage of new features offered in future versions of Trainz. GMax apparently can use some advanced features with current Trainz versions, with some work, but probably will not be able to use those advanced features of newer versions in the future. Sketchup can't even handle attachment points (a very basic feature required to make a locomotive work, among other things) let alone any advanced stuff, so it's a bad idea all around.

 

[Zeldaboy14]

Have we all forgot that Tomix has created a tutorial for Sketchup to Blender to Trainz? The tutorial was brilliant when I watched it.

 

[RRSignal]

It's still Sketchup.

 

[GDennish]

I agree, avoid Sketchup at all costs. Blender is the way to go.

 

[trainman7616]

I dont care if you export from sketchup to blender and reduce the triangles. Sketchup just make models with WAY to many polys.

 

[johnwhelan]

I dont care if you export from sketchup to blender and reduce the triangles. Sketchup just make models with WAY to many polys.

Apparently if you know exactly what you are doing and avoid the default settings it is technically possible to get normal poly models out of Sketchup. However I understand the expertise required is more effort than learning Blender.

Cheerio John

 

[GDennish]

You basically rebuild parts that have too many vertices or faces. For example if you have a funnel, you would get rid of all the faces and vertices except for the vertices needed to spin the funnel around again. Thus reducing the mesh significantly.

 

[Zeldaboy14]

I agree, avoid Sketchup at all costs. Blender is the way to go.

Is this the reason you now hate your tutorial? I still have a long way's to go to fully use blender to make everything I like.

 

[nathanmallard]

GMax is old, Blender is confusing, and 3DSMax...well, look at the price! Sketchup is definitely the way to go for a new starter, as it has an easy to learn interface and a nice exporter too (RubyTMX, check out the thread over in freeware announcements). The only problem with sketch up is the textures, no matter how hard you try they always look a bit rubbish. I have not experienced any loss in FPS by using Sketchup assets, those damn speed treez are much worse!
My advice is to use Sketchup now and move on to blender when you get good at it.

 

[johnwhelan]

GMax is old, Blender is confusing, and 3DSMax...well, look at the price! Sketchup is definitely the way to go for a new starter, as it has an easy to learn interface and a nice exporter too (RubyTMX, check out the thread over in freeware announcements). The only problem with sketch up is the textures, no matter how hard you try they always look a bit rubbish. I have not experienced any loss in FPS by using Sketchup assets, those damn speed treez are much worse!
My advice is to use Sketchup now and move on to blender when you get good at it.

You must be joking. The number of texture files adds to the overhead, we’ve seen some very high poly assets made in Sketchup on the DLS these kill any machine. No lod even.

No Sketchup is not for a beginner, you need to know a lot about 3D software before you can even make it create reasonably performing models.

Sketchup should be avoided by the beginner its too easy to make really bad assets for example I note a recent asset is 11,000 polys even with textured windows, no lod has seven texture files so that's another 1,200 poly equivalent overhead that looks a typical resource hungry beginner Sketchup asset to me and typical of what the DLS can do without.

Cheerio John