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Hack (689 posts)
May-02-02, 11:05 PM (EDT) "3D Canvas Pro Question" LAST EDITED ON May-02-02 AT 11:07 PM (EDT)Clem, from Speedworks, pointed out to me that I may be able to solve some of the smoothing issues on my F-units - namely the areas between the top of the nose and the a-pillar:Now...
Desired...
My main concern happens to be that I don't want to have to remap or recreate any item on the model - I wish to do the least amount of work possible. In the 3D Canvas Pro version: can I export from Max my model in 3ds, and then import it to 3D Canvas with all maps intact? Since I'm not keen to the learning curve required in a new program, can I weld in Max and export to say - WRL - and bring it into 3DC without separation of the mesh? Geez, if this works, I can think of a thousand things to do differently on the F-model.In other words (for those familiar with 3DC), what would you do? (Julian, Clem, John, others?) Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.com
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Table of Contents

Subject Author Message Date ID RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question stationmaster May-03-02 1 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question pwillard May-03-02 2 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question Hack May-03-02 3 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question ctillier May-03-02 4 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question FozzyBear May-03-02 5 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question Hack May-03-02 6 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question AlabamaRailfan May-03-02 7 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question FozzyBear May-03-02 8 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question pwillard May-03-02 9 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question Hack May-03-02 10 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question AlabamaRailfan May-04-02 11 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question pwillard May-04-02 12 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question Hack May-04-02 13 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question AlabamaRailfan May-04-02 14 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question FozzyBear May-05-02 15 RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question Hack May-05-02 16

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stationmaster (484 posts)
May-03-02, 02:17 AM (EDT) 1. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" Marc,I have not tried importing mapped models into 3DCanvas Pro, so I don't know the answer. But if you want to send me a simple model to test, I'll give it a try.Ron Paludan
stationmaster@railwaystation.com
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pwillard (77 posts)
May-03-02, 06:37 AM (EDT) 2. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" I've done it.You get a pop-up asking if you want to optimize the imported model. It says that if you do so you might end up with mapping distortions. When working with MSTS models, it should say you *will* end up with distortions. Don't optimize and you should be ok. Works pretty good for me.
Pete Willard
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Hack (689 posts)
May-03-02, 07:41 AM (EDT) 3. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" So this leaves the maps AND smoothing groups intact? Thanks so much for your answer. Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.com
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ctillier (135 posts)
May-03-02, 08:15 AM (EDT) 4. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" Hey Marc,Since I work exclusively in 3DCanvas I'm not familiar with all the export/import games you can play between Canvas and Max. I would refer you to Chris Longhurst, who had a similar smoothing problem as you (if I understand correctly) and solved it via some unspecified sequence of export/import steps. Here's where you need to ask him how he did it, if he's willing to reveal The bottom line was that the direct export from 3DC to .s format avoided conv3ds.exe and some of the strange ways it handles smoothing groups--
Clem

http://www.tillier.net/speedworks/index.html
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FozzyBear (1114 posts)
May-03-02, 11:29 AM (EDT) 5. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" Yes Marc!! Canvas handles smoothing in an entirely different way to any other software. Far better in fact than the smooting groups in Max.. The pro version handles smoothing on a per object basis and not on a group basis and the level control of it works so that you get exactly the amount you need on each object. And yes you can import a 3DS with the texture map entirely intact. I did that when I prepared the files and did the export for Danny Beck's B-40 Dash 8... The one in SP livery.IMHO Canvas really is the only way to go now to get the very best quality output. The in built converter avoids all the problems you get by using Kuju convert3DS.Best Reagrds,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
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Hack (689 posts)
May-03-02, 12:06 PM (EDT) 6. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" Thank you Clem and Julian for your informative answers. I'm off to buy 3DC - wish me luck. Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.com
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AlabamaRailfan (290 posts)
May-03-02, 02:21 PM (EDT) 7. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" Hey Marc,
If you get it to work and feel like sharing the details, I for one, would love to hear about it! I have been following the FAQ at www.christrains.com, but he hasn't posted anything yet on how to get the nice smooth models. I have been using TSM, but have been playing with 3DC for the last month or so with the thoughts of changing over to it!Highball!John D. Peterson
Webmaster - AlabamaRailfan.com
http://www.alabamarailfan.com(Insert cool logo here)
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FozzyBear (1114 posts)
May-03-02, 02:55 PM (EDT) 8. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" >I
>have been using TSM, but
>have been playing with 3DC
>for the last month or
>so with the thoughts of
>changing over to it! You won't regret the move John! the extra power it has is at just the right level for MSTS. Not overloaded like Max and not underpowered like TSM.Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
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pwillard (77 posts)
May-03-02, 03:21 PM (EDT) 9. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question"
Yeah, "ditto" ...like fozzy said.
Pete Willard
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Hack (689 posts)
May-03-02, 10:00 PM (EDT) 10. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" I'll let you know how it turns out. Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.com
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AlabamaRailfan (290 posts)
May-04-02, 11:04 PM (EDT) 11. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" Well, I plunked down the $70 today to get 3DC Pro so wish me luck! WhoooHoooo! Anyone know how long after you register before Amabilis gives you access to the support forums? The message basically said as soon as they verify your purchase, you will be able to get into the forums.BTW, you making some progress, Marc?Highball!John D. Peterson
Webmaster - AlabamaRailfan.com
http://www.alabamarailfan.com(Insert cool logo here)
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pwillard (77 posts)
May-04-02, 11:07 PM (EDT) 12. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" PDQ!I had mine almost right away.

Pete Willard
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Hack (689 posts)
May-04-02, 11:30 PM (EDT) 13. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" I too am awaiting confirmation...The software end was immediate, but the forum thingy is s-l-o-w. Progress goes well - I got the locomotive in the sim! Smooth as a baby's butt, but the colors are screwed - There's a tut on changing the lighting parameters of the polys, so more reading is needed. All in all an excellent purchase. Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.com
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AlabamaRailfan (290 posts)
May-04-02, 11:42 PM (EDT) 14. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" Yeah, I figured being as I upgraded on a weekend, it might be Monday before they enable our forum access! LOL!
Glad to hear things are going smooth, Marc! Can't wait to see the finished result!Highball!John D. Peterson
Webmaster - AlabamaRailfan.com
http://www.alabamarailfan.com(Insert cool logo here)
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FozzyBear (1114 posts)
May-05-02, 11:26 AM (EDT) 15. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" >Progress goes well - I got
>the locomotive in the sim!
>Smooth as a baby's butt,
>but the colors are screwed
>- There's a tut on
>changing the lighting parameters of
>the polys, so more reading
>is needed. All in all
>an excellent purchase. Marc, Don't worry about it!! It's not that the colours are actually screwed up... It's just the way that canvas handles the import... Try doing an export to msts and you'll find they're still right. Also add another ambience light to your scene it only shows in Canvas and doesn't affect the exporter.I had exactly this problem with Danny Beck's model.... It's quite normal with 3DS imports. They look dark in Canvas but export fine.Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Hack (689 posts)
May-05-02, 01:36 PM (EDT) 16. "RE: 3D Canvas Pro Question" >>They look dark in Canvas but export fine. Not here - in MTS the nose glows, the sides flash, and the main body is too dark (I fixed the center axis thingy). - Like I said, a bit more reading should do the trick... Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.com
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