New modeling experiences...

[Emilio Le Roux]

I was very excited by new A:M exporting method, which seems to handle 5 point patches and hooks seamlessly. So I decided to start a new model freely using all A:M tools (instead of clumsyly joining uncontinuous splines together...)

 

The modeling experiment consists in creating different 3D gamestudio LOD (Level-of-detail) models. Instead of making, texturing and animating several A:M models for different Levels of detail, my plan is to use A:M amazing spline modeling to create a model and export it at different subdivision levels.

 

This is my work so far:

 

The mesh in A:M

 

 

 

Exported at 1 poly per patch, total 848 polygons

 

 

 

Exported at 4 polys per patch, total 3272 polys...

 

 

 

Side, low and high...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a fairly complex model, even for the low poly version. What do you think on this polygon count? considering that it's only the head.

 

Thanks!

[Emilio Le Roux]

Just to illustrate how 5 point patches are handled:

 

 

This patch in front of the ear:

 

turns into 3 triangles in the 1 poly/patch model

[Zaryin]

Looks great. The poly count seems a little high for the 4 patch, especially since the whole body isn't modeled. I might be wrong on that though.

 

What are you using to export?

[KenH]

I didn't see the five point patch in the original post. Very nice conversion. I wonder if there are any hooks you could show? Are you exporting as obj?

[Emilio Le Roux]

Oh, I forgot it... I am exporting to .X model using AMXtex, trying both 1 poly per patch and 4 polys per patch.

 

I just reduced the patch count here...

 

I also distorted the model, kinda trying the mesh for another character.

 

 

I am not sure about polygon counts, that's why I am asking...

 

In latest years we've been seen models with anything from 300 to 1500 patches, but nowadays patch counts seem to be far bigger than that - and not necessarily in high end engines.

I found no cathegoric information on the net - thus I plan to make a full body model at about 2000 polygons (1 poly/patch) or some 8000 (4 polys/patch).

[KenH]

I think for in game you're talking about 3000-5000 polys. Maybe abit more. Obviously the face needs as much as possible.

[Zaryin]

I think I remember reading somewhere where a guy made a male model, this included all the extras though (armor, clothing, etc...), for a XBOX 360 game and it was a little over 8000 polys. So I guess that could be alright. Like I siad though, I am not an expert in this area.

[Fred]

Hi Emilio,

 

nice model ! you should add some textures. The new algorithm for building poly models seems to work much better then before. But i experienced some UV related bugs and missing [not flipped] polygons (which i reported already). Most models from the A:M 2006 & A:M Extras CDs don't export correctly independent of the format you use. Do you have any problems with exported models ?

 

 

Fred

[Emilio Le Roux]

Hi Emilio,

 

nice model ! you should add some textures. The new algorithm for building poly models seems to work much better then before. But i experienced some UV related bugs and missing [not flipped] polygons (which i reported already). Most models from the A:M 2006 & A:M Extras CDs don't export correctly independent of the format you use. Do you have any problems with exported models ?

 

 

Fred

 

 

uh oh... you brought me some bad news.

 

Preliminary tests show some texturing errors in 5 point patches. However, the patches seem right when exported to 4 polys/patch. I guess (HOPE, actually) that it is a simple bug that could be fixed easily.

 

 

here you can see that the 5 point patches on the pecs are textured bad. But they look smooth at 4 polys per patch!

Note that this is an unedited A:M model, not made for poly count. It's some 4700 at 1, and 20000 at 4.

 

 

I will make some more accurate tests, to illustrate this problem better, and to see if it's an AMXtex or a Hash SDK problem, then report it.

[Fred]

Hi Emilio, i've done another test with a model from the library and got the same behaviour you mentioned with increasing subdivisions.

 

I'm sure the brilliant minds at Hash will find a solution and make the export another kick-ass feature for all game / realtime developers !

 

Fred

[Emilio Le Roux]

I hope so.

 

I just made a more accurate test here.

[Emilio Le Roux]

Update.

 

I think I'm getting close to a fair patch count. Only the feet are missing so far.

 

 

I plan to use these 2 export methods for workless LOD versions of the model

[Zaryin]

Wow, nice work with economy of splines.

[Emilio Le Roux]

Thanks Zaryin!

 

 

Too bad I had to stop for a while - the 5 point patch decaling problem holds me back.

Actually, I have 2 unexpected problems:

 

1) At 1 poly per patch, 5 point patches don't export properly their textures

 

2) At 4 poly per patch, the joints don't seem to animate very well. That's probably due to 3dgs models not supporting CP weights.

 

 

Well, at least I hope they fix the texture problem soon.