Object Textures, Skins

[k00kev2]

Can someone help me with my unit texture/skin/whatever?
It's a standard tank, and I found it really easy to change it all to the silver color that's hidden in those .pak folders.
How do you introduce custom skins? And is it possible to use Threed to get the skin right? If so, how?

At first, the unit would appear in-game with its texture/skin all green with some pink. I think it had words written on it,
and it was all neon-looking. Now I did something in threed and it's a flat gray/white color.

Will upload pics eventually...

[General BlackDragon]

do not save any model in threed, it's just un-healthy.

threed cant skin, uvmap, or animate.

Textures need to be converted to DXTBZ2 for 1.3 PB6+ to use them. The pink/green "Modder: Make DXT" texture is there telling you to convert them to DXT.

The DXT Converter is located here: http://matesfamily.org/bz2/

[k00kev2]

So, convert to DXTBZ2, and then just add the texture, but by what means? Notepad?

[General BlackDragon]

adding the texture, or uvmapping?

You can change the texture filename in the .xsi with notepad, yes.

However, u need a proper 3d modeling program to uvmap. Gmax, 3ds max, etc

[GSH]

Don't change file extension to .dxtbz2. BZ2 does that automatically. Just model with .tga/.png. Run BZ2DXTGen to make the .dxtbz2 file(s). Run BZ2. Simple.

-- GSH

[DarkCobra262]

Don't change file extension to .dxtbz2. BZ2 does that automatically. Just model with .tga/.png. Run BZ2DXTGen to make the .dxtbz2 file(s). Run BZ2. Simple.

-- GSH

Is all you got to do..

[k00kev2]

Yeah, I'm horrible at the whole UV mapping ordeal. I haven't the first idea of how to do it.

Modelling software, what do you guys prefer? I made a model on Truespace a while back, and I had gotten the hang of it,
but then I messed with the layout of the program, and eventually rendered it unusable - stopped modeling, and now that
I redownloaded, I don't even know how to pan...

I used to do 3d modeling on Autodesk Inventor: sketches and then turning them 3d from there. I'm not used to the whole
morphing-of-shapes ordeal. I had done a decent tutorial for Truespace on modelling, and got the hang of it, but it's disappeared
since. I have my one model done, but it's got way too many polys in my opinion. A shame I don't know how to consolidate points now...
Also, it's a single mesh. The turret and main body aren't separate, and I think I had to rename everything in Threed. It's usable,
just not textured. It could also be a bit fancier with the engine and lights - or a recoiling cannon.

I'm no where near close to begin animating...

[DarkCobra262]

Yeah, I'm horrible at the whole UV mapping ordeal. I haven't the first idea of how to do it.

Modelling software, what do you guys prefer? I made a model on Truespace a while back, and I had gotten the hang of it,
but then I messed with the layout of the program, and eventually rendered it unusable - stopped modeling, and now that
I redownloaded, I don't even know how to pan...

I used to do 3d modeling on Autodesk Inventor: sketches and then turning them 3d from there. I'm not used to the whole
morphing-of-shapes ordeal. I had done a decent tutorial for Truespace on modelling, and got the hang of it, but it's disappeared
since. I have my one model done, but it's got way too many polys in my opinion. A shame I don't know how to consolidate points now...
Also, it's a single mesh. The turret and main body aren't separate, and I think I had to rename everything in Threed. It's usable,
just not textured. It could also be a bit fancier with the engine and lights - or a recoiling cannon.

I'm no where near close to begin animating...

Animating is easy. I prefer 3ds Max but that's my opinion. I hear a few other programs can be used but meh. I suck at UV mapping.

[Ded10c]

The preferred program around here does indeed seem to be Max. Blender is also fairly popular. I've also heard good things about Milkshape, Lightwave and Wings3D.