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Malo

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Posts posted by Malo

  1. Since XML format, it is possible to read the MDL file by a text editor.

    Here is some information about the MDL format, that I could understand. Hope this can help someone.

     

    The CP:

    01-AM.jpg

     

    The splines :

     

    03-AM.jpg

     

    02-AM.jpg

     

    04-AM.jpg

     

    05-AM.jpg

     

    I have not found meaning the first number.

     

    Hooks:

     

    06-AM.jpg

     

    07-AM.jpg

     

    Patches :

     

    08-AM.jpg

     

    09-AM.jpg

     

    I have not found meaning the first and last number for patches.

     

    UV, Stamps:

     

    10-AM.jpg

  2. I have in mind two cases for this kind of render.

     

    bias.jpg

     

    The first case, the bias* or rather a broken spline ("O" (for smooth) an "P" (for peak) key). ( A)

    * You will find a plugin (written by Emilio Leroux, thank to him) for apply the same bias to your model, at this link:

    http://www.moscafilms.com.br/emilioleroux/...ns_setbias.html

     

    The second case (B), when three splines (or more) cross.

    advise : do not cross over two splines

     

     

    Your ear can be simplified.

    The spline under the nose does not seem necessary.

  3. A little trick to eliminate quickly splines (which can be useful if you do not know).

     

    distruj.jpg

     

    Note (windows key)

     

    A: select a CP of the spline.

    B: press "," key (to select the spline)

    C: two way:

    Ca, if you want to delete the spline, and keep the CPs. Press delete key

    Cb, if you want to delete the spline and the CPs. press twice "." key, and press delete key

  4. hello,

     

    nice model

    Just a note, on the nose, it is possible to eliminate these two splines.

     

    bart3B.jpg

     

    The use of patches with 5 points, in some cases allow a smoother modeling.

     

    it seems that the tip of your nose is close as the first example of this. I advise the second way.

     

    fri1.jpg

  5. Hi,

     

    Thank Robcat for your scheme for mapping, I do not know, that it was possible to unwrap cylindrical in AM.

     

    Thank, Pixelplucker for the LSCM.txt (sorry can not read yet C + +). I have download the Unwrap 3D demo, it works to import models, but for exported, I can’t know with demo version.

    Normally if Unwrap3D don’t rename v’s name in Obj format, that must be good as for Roadkill.

     

    I’ve gone deeper on the script.

     

    koriganUV.jpg

     

     

    I writting the first script again, because it was poorly thought and did not work with certain models.

    Now, It is better. It export 3, 4, 5 and hooks.

    But not all hooks. The hook must be attached in the midle of the segment.

    But it is possible to circumvent the problem manually :

    Use the script, and open your model in Roadkill. See what are the «bad» hooks.

    Open your model on AM, and take the XYZ of them.

    Open the obj model with notepad, and search the lines that are the number of your CPhook, and write the good XYZ.

    Faces with this hooks could be affected too... see the follow picture for example:

     

    problem-hook.jpg

     

     

    example:

     

    fas-renket.jpg

     

    Note: Models without hook is easier to unwrapp.

     

     

    The second script works, but is poorly written, therefore there are «Notice: Undefined offset...».

    Sorry if it is not optimized, I am not a programmer, and I take this opportunity to express my admiration for programmers.

     

    Follow a girafle model, with his UV (use the map you want). To see the result.

     

    Bloavezh mat d’an holl! Happy new year Everybody!

  6. Hi,

     

    Some time ago, I tried to find a way to use Roadkill ( http://www.pullin-shapes.co.uk/page8.htm ), a free standalone program, to autounwrap mdl model.

    And there is a way! :) ... I tried to do it, with help of PHP scripts... But as I am not a programmer, the script is heavy, slow, it has "Undefined offset", problems with big models,and it is not a plugin in AM.

    But don't be worry, the principle works better than my scripts :)

    to download the scripts:

     

    the order to use the scripts:

    step 1: translate the mdl model in a obj model ( by the "MDL 2 OBJ for roadkill" script. )

    01.jpg

    step 2: import the obj in Roadkiller, and unwrap it. Then export it.

    02.jpg

    step3: create the UV informations for the mdl object from the exported obj.( by "Roadkill to UV information" script: )

    step 4: In AM, apply a decal to your model, no matter the way, and save it.

    step 5: use notepad++ (for example) to open the UVmdl generated format and the MDL model.

    In the model, find the code between and where the informations about the UV are, and replace them with the UVmdl format information.

    Save it

    step 6 : Open your model in AM:

    03.jpg

     

     

    It is not perfect!!!

    The Obj exporter script has some trouble with hooks coordinates.

    fazi-dorn.gif

    The script for the UV coordinates don't translate always the good CP number for the patches.

    fazirenket.jpg

    And of course, Step 3, 4 and 5 could be done in one step...

     

    It is important to know that it is not a perfect unwrapping for hashpatches, because the unwrapper is made for polygones.

    To understand a little better what the problem is, let's imagine it is as if we had to give 4 side polygones UV to a 12 side polygones.

    So perharps it is not the better way for AM... but if it could help some people...

     

    If someone knows how to programm, and wants to ameliorate the scripts, or better, how to do plugins in AM... I will try to explain better how to process for the scripts:

     

    For the obj exporter:

    I noticed that:

    - Roadkill needs CP coordinates ("v" for Obj format) and CP numbers that make patches ("f" for obj format). Extra information is useless.

    - Then, to use the UV information in AM, it is important to keep the same number/name for the CP.

    - In Obj format, the CP have not number, but its number is the line number. So when a CP doesn't exist in AM, we must create a line in Obj for this CP.

    -To keep the faces joined when creating Faces "f", we must use only the number of the CP that has directly X,Y and Z coordinates.

     

    So the script is made this way:

    1- import the line splines from the MDl.

    2- create an array with these lines.

    3- order them from the smaller to the bigger CP number.

    4-create the first "v" line and find the CP 1, if it doesn't exist, create the v line "v 1 1 1", and do the same with the second v lines... etc. If the CP exists, write its coordinates... etc. (there I have somes problems with CP hooks, because of the complexity of their relation... perhaps in the SDK, it is easier to find all the CP coordinates, without having to calculate their coordinates? )

     

    5- import the patches lines from the mdl.

    6- create an array

    7- change the number of the CP faces with the CP number that has the direct coordinates in the MDL format. (if you don't do that, all the faces will be independant) (I have some problem to find them all... so don't panic, it is the script the problem)

    8- add the result in the obj format.

     

     

    The script for the model created with Roadkill is made in this way:

    1. import the vt lines without the "vt"

    2. create an array with them.

     

    3. import the f lines. without the "f"

    4.create an array with them.

    5. the numbers are grouped by three. the last ones will not be used. The first is the number of the CP for the patches and the second the number of the lines of vt linked with the CP

    6. If the line isare made of 9 numbers, it is a triangle, 12 a square, 15 a 5 side patch

    so for a 9 number line : a1/b1/c1 a2/b2/c2 a3/b3/c3

    the line has to be written:

    a. "O a1 a2 a3 a1 b1 (b1+(b2-b1)*1/3) (b1+(b2-b1)*2/3) b2 (b2+(b3-b2)*1/3) (b2+(b3-b2)*2/3) b3 (b3+(b1-b3)*1/3) (b3+(b1-b3)*2/3)

    so for a 12 number line : a1/b1/c1 a2/b2/c2 a3/b3/c3 a4/b4/c4

    the line has to be written

    a. "O a1 a2 a3 a4 b1 (b1+(b2-b1)*1/3) (b1+(b2-b1)*2/3) b2 (b2+(b3-b2)*1/3) (b2+(b3-b2)*2/3) b3 (b3+(b4-b3)*1/3) (b3+(b4-b3)*2/3) b4 (b4+(b1-b4)*1/3) (b4+(b1-b4)*2/3)

    so for a 15 number line : a1/b1/c1 a2/b2/c2 a3/b3/c3 a4/b4/c4 a5/b5/c5

    the line has to be written

    a. "5 a1 a2 a3 a4 b1 (b1+(b2-b1)*1/3) (b1+(b2-b1)*2/3) b2 (b2+(b3-b2)*1/3) (b2+(b3-b2)*2/3) b3 (b3+(b4-b3)*1/3) (b3+(b4-b3)*2/3) b4 (b4+(b5-b4)*1/3) (b4+(b5-b4)*2/3) b5 (b5+(b1-b5)*1/3) (b5+(b1-b5)*2/3)

     

    7. these created lines will have to be imported in the MDL stamps. (not in the PHP script)

     

    If it is not clear (sorry for my English), and if you want to have more information, just ask me and I will try to explain better, or perharps some people could explain better than me.

  7. Waow!!! Thank you very much...

    I don't know how it is possible to work together. Any suggestion will be good.

    Maddle, you can found Gerry's and Nancy's mail on their website.

     

    Maddle, pour l'instant, je n'ai pas de changement à faire par rapport au PDF. Peut-être plus tard, rajouter une partie sur l'utilisation des hooks, et parler de quelques avantages à utiliser cette technique par rapport aux raccourcis de selection et pour ajouter des splines. Mais je n'ai pas encore pris le temps de mettre mon nez dedans. Si tu vois de ton coté des choses a rajouter, n'hésite pas. Merci pour ton travail.

  8. Maddle: If you or anyone are looking for a tutorial on modeling faces/whole characters in A:M -

     

    The Colin Tutorial is a good start - but does not create a spline layout that is the best for animating.

     

    The Malo Modeling Method Tutorial creates spline layouts that are excellent for animating, and he describes a generalized, logical method for A:M that can be used for just about anything. Wonderful! I highly recommend it, especially if you want to animate your characters, and have minimal splines.

     

    I believe Malo is a native french speaker. So sometimes the text, translated into English is a little confusing. But I could make sense out of everything just by the wonderful and complete pictures.

     

    The screen captures are excellent - so one doesn't have to read much text at all. Perhaps he has a version in french?

     

    Hi,

    I am breton native speaker and french speaker, but i don't speak english :(

    So, Nancy, or anyone else, if you think you have time to translate it in good English or ameliorate it, don't hesitate. I would be very glad and thankful.

     

    There are older french tutorials at :

    http://forum-amstudio.forumpro.fr/modelisa...n-patch-t25.htm

    http://forum-amstudio.forumpro.fr/tutoriau...toscope-t45.htm

    http://forum-amstudio.forumpro.fr/tutoriau...sonnage-t47.htm

  9. Thank you HomeSlice and Nancy.

     

    Hello Maddle, I will try to explain better (sorry for my english)

     

    normalmove.gif

     

    1. Select the patch you want to move along "his normal".

    2. Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V

    3. Shift + arrow key toward the first patch (here UP) to place the new patch on the first patch.

    4, here I have colored the new patch in red to help to understand, that there are two patches.

    5. Select the two patches.

    6. Press Shift and cliked on one of the CP of the new patch. Half of the spline selected will be green.

    7. Press on the "6" key and move your patch

  10. if it can interest someone, here is a solution to move a patch along the yellow line:

     

    -select the patch

    -CtrlC (Copy the patch)

    -CtrlV ( stick a new patch, now on this patch, all cp hav the same normal direction, this patch will be a guide)

    -Select the 2 patches

    -select a Cp from the copy of the patch.

    -press 6 key and move the patches.

    - in the end delete the copy of the patch.

     

    movePatch.gif

  11. Thank you, Robcat,

     

    I misunderstood the word "normal". (I did not know CPs have normals and patches have not)

    In AM, when I press "Tools/Options/Modeling/Displey normals", I can see one yellow line in the middle of every patche.

    What is this line?

    normal2.jpg

    Is it a keyboard key to move the patch along his yellow line?

  12. Thank you Rusty,

     

    For the Falloff's bones, this does not seem to work

     

    For 1,2,3,4,5,6 keys it seem to be for CP only:

    1,2,3 is for moving along X,Y,Z axis

    4 to snap to the grid

    5 an 6 to move along the tangents

    tengant.jpg

    But I see no way to move the patch along the normal .

  13. Thank you Zandoria!

     

    Is it really the normal direction? That don't seem to be the same direction of the yellow lines.

     

    normal.jpg

     

    Nota: When I use "Patch Group Mode" to select a patch and use 6 after, that don't work

  14. Hi,

     

    Is it a way to view all Falloff's bones, in mode bones?

    bonefalloff.jpg

     

    Is it a keyboard button to move a patch along the normal as there is one for X (1), Y (2), Z (3) axis?

    patch-move.jpg

     

    thank you in advance

  15. (Sorry for my poor english)

     

    Is there any way, once you are on the Decals/Stamps/UV picture , to manipilate the wireframe/UV's points with selection, mirror, distortion, magnet, scale, translate and rotating tools ?

    If it's not possible yet, will it be in a next version?

     

    PS: Thanks to Hash team for creating and making AM evoluate, and thanks to all the people who help for that.

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