CMP to SUR Conversion Tests
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Lancer, you say vertex = x,y,z … sounds similar to .obj format, do you mean it will be possible to use .obj meshes to generate a sur file?
If so that could be a good thing too, as .obj is a simple text format, it would then be possible to generate from 3ds Max and other modellers too, only needing to export the .cmp from Milkshape?
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Concievably any mesh format can be used. Only the vertices are needed to build the convex model which every mesh format contains.
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StarTrader is still chomping at the bit waiting for the beta…
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**I got the convex hull stuff pretty much working ALMOST perfectly. As the code is now I am going to go ahead and start building the sur conversion routines with it. It isn’t absolutely perfect since some models seem to cause it to make way too many faces. It’s usually only happens on really high poly count models. So far out of about 30 models only 2 have caused problems. I will have a 3D preview mode so you can abort making the sur if it screws up. Hehe, I just learned how to make them so I am still a bit of a novice at it.
As it stands I will make it make a convex root sur starting out for the first release. Then I will add in the ability to create all of the sub-sur parts including the main root sur. Your just going to have to bear with me as I still have to figure out how all of the sub-bits sections work together, until I do the hull collisions won’t even work at all for the sub-parts of the meshes. I am also looking into mesh partitioning for meshes with holes in them (IE tradelanes) so if you are wanting it for that it won’t work as is. It currently covers over the tradelane rings completely which would render them impossible to enter into.
For those of you making your model as a single part model, don’t even bother trying this software. It will simply cover the entire thing with a single sur file, nothing more at this point. This is NOT a replacement for custom sur files, it is a general purpose tool for those of us who want a form fitting convex hull without the hassle of building a sur-splitter file layout. If you do split your model into multiple pieces, it should work really well for you once I get the sub-part builder going good. I am a big fan of multi-part meshes, it just makes more sense to me and it makes the models easier to edit later on…**
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When exporting from Milkshape you can make it multi-part mesh, up to 18 parts. If it’s exported as a single part it will simply cover the entire model as a single sur map. I have not delved into Delaney triangulation yet which would yield per face triangulation.
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Reason i ask is there a loads of custom models saved as having only 1 group. Would those now have to be resaved as an 18 part group models? If that’s the case, this utility won’t work with nearly all custom ships as they are all saved as 1 group. Or am i missing something?
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Commonly I save all of my models as multi-part meshes based on the textures. Send me one of the single mesh models and I will let ya know if it will work properly…
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Well my models are all multi-part, the smallest are at least 3 groups (hull, left wing, right wing) and many are 4+ groups.
We just need surs that register hits and collisions and don’t crash FL, especially when the factions are all using only custom ships and only custom surs, which is when sur crashes are most likely to happen as is happening in my mod at present.
Lancer as you know the way to test your utility is to make it produce a sur for a plain FL ship that is as near to identical to the original sur as possible.
That gets complex, with the duplicate sur parts we have seen and yet more duplicates to cover wing+weapon for each side.
And that will delay your project too long for me, my virtual sur beard is already 3 feet long, white and VERY wispy!
I want your sur generator as soon as possible!
I want it, I want it, I WANT IT! TRUST ME, I WANT IT!
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**Hehe, gonna take a bit more time. I have already started to project up today and I’m making it a separate utility. It is going to take a bit of work to yank the relevant code out of my test program and the cmp editor to put into it. So don’t get your beard stuck in your keyboard, hopefully it should be soon
Thanks for the test model Gibbon.
By the way, I got a pair of scissors if you need 'em hehe**
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My beard is a bit cold-and-flu-ridden at the moment, 3rd week of sniffles and dribbles.
Duhhhh… going for more headache remedy…
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Sniffles and nasal drips in the background…
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**[wmp=640,480]http://www.digitalbrilliance.org/Videos/SUR_Export02.wmv[/wmp]
Zipped up below so you can see it in another player…
http://www.digitalbrilliance.org/Videos/SUR_Export02.zipI am working on the sur file builder part atm. For the first test I will only be using the final hull (the rotating one) then I will start on the sub-parts that were drawn first.**
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If you pull this off you’ll be the lancer of the year man
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Oh, this would be an amazing achievement. I cannot wait
GO LS!
