29 replies to this topic

[Ironman]

How do you make computer generated blueprints? Like the ones that Zero makes on his website. Thanks

[Langley]

I use Adobe Illustrator for my diagrams. They come out looking like This. I'm not sure what groove uses, but it's not like an autocad program for blueprints or anything like that, I think it's for CGI graphics and that sort of thing.

[Ragornocks]

I think he is talking about Gmax, which is a free 3-D design program. It can be used to make skins, levels, and things like that in games, and can produce nice three dimensional models and animations. However, I would recommend you either have time on your hands to play around with it, or have used a similiar program in one of your educational courses.

[Ironman]

Anything that comes with the standard hard-drive?

[cxwq]

Why would a hard drive come with design software?

[Ironman]

I don't know, it could. whats the cheapest software?

[Ragornocks]

Gmax is free. You just have to download it. You may have to register a free account with discreet, also.

[Zero Talent]

Hard disk drives store information on hard magnetic discs, for later use. The only ones that come with information already written to them are either preformatted, old, or Compaq. The latter is often bad.

Gmax is a free download, though they'll haggle you for your soul. Just give them a fake name and an expendable E-mail address (though they have yet to bother my previous E-mail, so it seems harmless), and retrieve your registration code. I don't believe it installs any spyware. If you can get a hold of Maya, 3D Studio Max, even Milkshape 3D, that'll probably serve you better, but none of those are permanently free. Gmax just seems to lack proper model export protocols....

[Spectre2689]

I hear Studio Max 3D is one of the best out there, next to Maya, and it has a trial. If worse comes to worst (or w/e...), you can just keep re-downloading the trial... It COULD work...you never know. On another note, I'm hoping to get into 3D modelling soon, if anyone has any tips, it would be greatly appreciated. I may even mail you a used sock as a present

[Ares]

i hear good things about milkshape 3d

[Ironman]

Just give them a fake name and an expendable E-mail address...

Does that mean to give a fake e-mail address and a name like Adam Bomb(just a example) ?

[Grinch]

I've experimented with those programs, and I never can quite get the hang of it.

[Ironman]

Zero, what software do you use? I want to make my designs like the ones you make.

Edited by Ironman, 13 December 2003 - 07:07 PM.

[Ares]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Zero's graphics not 3D models but images that merely LOOK like 3D models? i.e. they are just pictures, not realtime digital 3D objects

[xedice]

I game program in my spare time, (VC++) and I have used 3d Studio Max extensively for the graphics. Spectre to answer your question, and for anyone else intrested in learning to model in 3d, I would recommend that you get some good drawing skills before you attempt 3d. Well, that applies to modelling organic creatures. If all you are doing is modelling nerf parts, by golly I could teach a monkey to do that. In other words, its fairly easy to learn and Gmax is a good place to start.

[Zero Talent]

If all you are doing is modelling nerf parts, by golly I could teach a monkey to do that. In other words, its fairly easy to learn and Gmax is a good place to start.

'Tis true.

The stuff I do is in actual 3D, and mostly to scale. I'm usually cheap and just printscreen it, and clean it up a bit with Irfanview. So, Ironman:

Gmax @ www.discreet.com [models]
Irfanview @ www.irfanview.com [images]

Just play around with the tutorials, and play around from there. Homemades are mainly composed of basic objects, so modelling them is a rather inane exercise. A little over 5 minutes when you're used to using the program. It's the conceptual design that matters, after all, not the presentation.

[Grinch]

I use Gmax as well, but I've never heard of Irfanview. I downloaded it to try it out, and it didn't really seem to enhance my models. What does it do to make them better? I think my simple models look fine the way they are, but if they could look better, I'd appreciate it.

Example:



Elementary, Watson.

Edited by Grinch, 14 December 2003 - 08:30 PM.

[Langley]

Well for one thing, that pic could use some antiailiasing.

[Vintage]

I know I'm opening an old topic, but I don't want to start a new thread on the same subject.

I use Wings 3d for my rendering. It has alot of exporting extensions, and it is extremely easy to learn the basics. Once you get good at it, you can make very complex objects.

So, here's the link for it. I highly recommend it, especially since its free, and you don't need to register it.

Wing's 3d Homepage

~Vintage

[xedice]

Looks like Wings3d is good for character modeling. I am currently using a program in my Engineering class called SolidWorks, which is especially made for creating blueprints for mechanical engineering projects. You can make a full fledged nerf blaster in like 5 minutes tops, wonder how Wings3d does. Have you created anything cool yet in Wings3d yet Vintage? I'll have to look into Wings3d also, that Soldier in the gallery is amazing.

[Tinkerer]

Gmax just seems to lack proper model export protocols....

Speaking of which, I have that, and I'm not very good at it, but either way, how do you export the models from Gmax anyway?

[Vintage]

Have you created anything cool yet in Wings3d yet Vintage?

I sure have!

Here are some of my best: (Only with a few of them did I worry about lighting)



What do you think?

~Vintage

Edited by Vintage, 25 April 2004 - 01:17 PM.

[Ironman]

thats aweome! what version did you download?

[Vintage]

I used one of the earlier versions of Wings. Whatever version came out about 2 years ago. About last month, I decided to finally download the latest version, 0.98.20c.

~Vintage

[Ironman]

Can you make blueprints of nerf guns?

Edited by Ironman, 25 April 2004 - 05:10 PM.