Is anyone using 3D Canvas for Trainz?

steamdrivre

Narrow gauge or nothing
Hi all,
I know that Gmax, which I never could catch onto, is the 3D app for Trainz but I have just bought 3D Canvas Plus, which was easier for me to learn in the past few days, and wanted to know the steps necessary for getting a creation into Trainz.

I'm tired of being a skinner and want to be a creator, now.

Thanks,
Rick
 
I've been away from Trainz for the last month or so due to other commitments, so I'm a little rusty, but I use 3DC for creating Trainz content. I'm still learning, so I haven't released anything yet, but I've been VERY happy with 3DC. I never could get my head around GMAX!

Anyway, importing content into Trainz is quite simple. All you need are the plug-ins available here:
http://www31.brinkster.com/decapod/
(not sure if you have them already)

After that, it's just a matter of selecting Tools>Plugins and then clicking on "Trainz IM Export".

Of course, if you're just starting out with content creation, there are a number of other things to learn, but I found the best way to do it is trial and error. If you have any more specific questions, I'll do my best to help.

Patrick
 
"The daily bandwidth limit for this customer has been exceeded. Try again after midnight, EST.
Click here for more information."

I really despise free web services.
 
Thanks, PatrickTaylor89, I understand completely. Unfortunately, CasyJ is right. LOLOLOL

Gmax was a nightmare for me too. 3D Canvas is a dream in comparison. I'm actually catching on to it and starting to create after just a couple of days. :D
 
"The daily bandwidth limit for this customer has been exceeded. Try again after midnight, EST.
Click here for more information."

I really despise free web services.

Ahem.. "File Not Found
The page that you are looking for was not found. Please click the Brinkster logo...etc."

EDIT: Oh I see, click to view crap website info; sorry :/
 
Last edited:
Thanks, PatrickTaylor89, I understand completely. Unfortunately, CasyJ is right. LOLOLOL

Gmax was a nightmare for me too. 3D Canvas is a dream in comparison. I'm actually catching on to it and starting to create after just a couple of days. :D

Glad to hear it. I had the same experience. Sorry that the website is down, it was working fine when I wrote that post.

In re-reading your post, I see that you've purchased the "Plus" version. I have the full, "Pro" version. I'm not 100% sure that those plug-ins work for Plus. According to the Amabilis website, the Trainz plug-in now comes included with the latest version of 3DC Pro
http://www.amabilis.com/whatsnew.htm

I'm still using the version I purchased two years ago. Maybe I should get off my butt and download the latest one! That's another perk of 3DC, by the way. It's still supported, and the updates are free!

Patrick
 
Firstly, apologies for the free website - it's been getting too popular lately. The bandwidth gets reset at midnight US time.

Unfortunately with 3DC Plus you may have a problem - there is no way to export to TRS.
You cannot load any extra scripts or plugins and the trainworks features are not enabled.
http://www.amabilis.com/products.htm

Pro is the preferred version ($70), but there is also a "trainworks" version which is somewhere in between ($50) - exports to MSTS, TRS, BVE, Rail 3D and EA Rail Simulator

You can get an upgrade from plus to pro or trainworks, but you may need to e-mail support at amabilis . com to get the info on how to do this.

With the latest version of 3DC pro or trainworks, the export plugin is included.
You need to select File/Export/Trainworks/Trainz (.im) to run the export
 
Followed the link, but I must be missing something. I do not see a $50 "Trainworks" version mentioned anywhere, could you please clarify your instructions as to how to find it?
 
Firstly, apologies for the free website - it's been getting too popular lately. The bandwidth gets reset at midnight US time.

Unfortunately with 3DC Plus you may have a problem - there is no way to export to TRS.
You cannot load any extra scripts or plugins and the trainworks features are not enabled.
http://www.amabilis.com/products.htm

Pro is the preferred version ($70), but there is also a "trainworks" version which is somewhere in between ($50) - exports to MSTS, TRS, BVE, Rail 3D and EA Rail Simulator

You can get an upgrade from plus to pro or trainworks, but you may need to e-mail support at amabilis . com to get the info on how to do this.

With the latest version of 3DC pro or trainworks, the export plugin is included.
You need to select File/Export/Trainworks/Trainz (.im) to run the export

Where did you get the Trainz documentation for the exporter? I'm interested from the Blender point of view.

Thanks John
 
Thanks, all. I went ahead an upgraded to 3DC Pro and I have already exported an asset into Trainz. It exports an .im file in the Pro version. And, works very well, btw, although I can't seem to get it to plop in at ground level. It only seems to come in at half level and the asset has to be raised up. LOL. :)

@John, I haven't found anything in the way of instructions relating to Trainz. There is a lot for MSTS, though.
 
Last edited:
Where did you get the Trainz documentation for the exporter? I'm interested from the Blender point of view.
Thanks John

Mostly from the Jet 1.1 documentation, the rest was hex editor/guesswork, confirmed by Henk.

Someone from Germany recently contacted me to see if I could help out with info for a blender export.
I'm also part way though one for sketchup (scenery only)
 
Thanks, all. I went ahead an upgraded to 3DC Pro and I have already exported an asset into Trainz. It exports an .im file in the Pro version. And, works very well, btw, although I can't seem to get it to plop in at ground level. It only seems to come in at half level and the asset has to be raised up. LOL. :)

@John, I haven't found anything in the way of instructions relating to Trainz. There is a lot for MSTS, though.

You need to set the main group axis to ground level in 3DC before exporting - there is a ShiftGroupAndAnimations script in my extra plugins download to help with this. Alternatively use the Shift tool and right mouse drag with the Ctrl key held down.

Instructions for TRS are being written up, but this may help
http://amabilis.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8846020084/m/92910155441?r=20810565441#20810565441

Tutorials for MSTS should work equally well for any of the train sims, only the export option changes - even for rollingstock.
You can build a single whole model and export it in parts for TRS.
 
Hi all,
Can someone tell me why my model comes into the game all lit up with very bright textures on it and it also glows at night???

I have a 'light 1' tag in the config file...

Does this have anything to do with it?
It seems to be when I export into the .im file.

lightsbf5.jpg



Here's the model,

barber4pg7.jpg



Glowing at night,

barber5pu1.jpg


What I really need is help setting up 3DC for Trainz only.

Thanks,

:)
 
Last edited:
As I said in my first post, it's been over a month since I've used either Trainz or 3DC, so I'm a bit rusty BUT...

...My guess is that your problem has to do with the Material Palette, as you asked.
My settings are as follows:
Diffuse: 100
Ambient: 50
Specular: 1
Translucent: 0

If I remember right, having the Specular setting on "0" will make your stuff glow, but I'm not 100% sure on that. I had the same problem when I first started, and I remember reading a thread on the Amabilis site that explained it for me.

Patrick
 
Patrick is correct.

Set the specular value to 1, then use the update material plugin to re-apply the material.

See the help file - Specular 0 is used to create objects that glow at night :), specular 1 to 5 applies the texture as normal, 5 to 100 makes the object "shiny"
Use the secondary texture to apply an environment map.

Diffuse value is ignored, Ambient of 20 is normal - <20 makes the material darker. Use translucency of 1 to 5 when the texture has translucent parts to correct the alpha sorting problem.
Use Translucency of 0 if the texture is solid or has completely transparent parts.
 
Last edited:
Yes, yes, yes. That solved the glowing problem. Thank you both very very much! Although I still don't understand the ground level thing.

I need a little better instructions on bringing in my model at ground level. I've played around with your earlier directions but apparently don't understand what the heck I'm doing.
Could you elaborate a little more on it, please? My model is still coming in about half way up. LOL It has to be raised.


Soon to be released, an Old West Barber Shop for small towns on your layout.

thebarbershop2qy3.jpg



In game shot... Oops, gotta raise it up. LOL

thebarbershop3yy2.jpg

Thanks,
Rick
 
Last edited:
LOL I've moved the model all over the 3DC grid. I've even started a new building, didn't move it and it came in at ground level so I used those co-ordinance to reposition my Barber Shop and that didn't work either.

Where in the heck is ground level?:eek:

Thanks,
Rick
 
Long, long time since I used Canvas 3D to create a building for Trainz, but would this have to do with the position of the main axis within the building? If you move the axis to the 'bottom' (floor level) of the barbers will it export OK then?
 
Back
Top