GMax "glass" question

My coaches were parked outside the shed, someone decided to "nick" all the window's glass. I'm now stuck as there is 'no' Glass Merchant in this area, and the passengers would like to stay dry in the rainy season.
Could someone, please, explain to me how to make the "Glass", appearance in the windows? I use GMax.
Johan.

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RE: GMax, Volker_Bollig, Apr-13-03, 03:14 PM, (1) RE: GMax, harveype, Apr-13-03, 05:24 PM, (2) RE: GMax, asamtrak911, Apr-13-03, 11:23 PM, (3) RE: GMax, Johansteam, Apr-21-03, 11:14 AM, (5) RE: GMax, Hack, Apr-21-03, 12:50 PM, (7) RE: GMax, Johansteam, Apr-22-03, 06:59 AM, (8) RE: GMax, Hack, Apr-22-03, 07:30 AM, (9) RE: GMax, Johansteam, Apr-22-03, 11:08 AM, (10) RE: GMax, Hack, Apr-22-03, 03:08 PM, (11) RE: GMax, Johansteam, Apr-22-03, 03:49 PM, (12) RE: GMax, Johansteam, Apr-14-03, 02:00 AM, (4) RE: GMax, Volker_Bollig, Apr-21-03, 11:23 AM, (6)

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Hi,make the windowpanes new objects, preferably planes (few polygones) and map an alphatexture eg glass.ace (in the MSTS samples directory) and give it the material BlendATexDiff. in LOD-Manager give the panes an own SubObject ID and check "sort this object" that the scenery objects behind the panes are visible in MSTS.That should work in most cases.If you established LOD Level before creating the new objects, make shure to first remove all LOD-level from the scene and rebuild it again in the plugin, otherwise gmax will crash on export.HTHVolker

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make the windowpanes new objects, preferably planes (few polygones) and map an alphatexture eg glass.ace (in the MSTS samples directory) and give it the material BlendATexDiff. in LOD-Manager give the panes an own SubObject ID and check "sort this object" that the scenery objects behind the panes are visible in MSTS.Hi do you really need to create more objects to get semi opaque windows in gmax, in 3d Canvas I have created carriages before and by changing a setting in 3DC (the transperancy setting to 1) I have made my windows semi opaque, and by setting lower mask settings when I have made my (alpha) textures ie: instead of setting the mask to 100% (photoshop) reduce it to 30 or so This way you can, say have one flat surface on your carriage, apply the texture and your windows appear as if they have glass.Doesnt Gmax have a similar function so that this same method can be performed, without having to creating more objects.Just a thoughtPeter

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If you're hoping to be able to see the alpha transparency in Gmax, then as far as I know, it's not going to work. I may be mistaken, but while I know Gmax in non-Trainsim mode (i.e. launching it without the plugin shortcut) will allow you to set up transparent materials, the Kuju Material Editor will not. If you set the shader for the material as being "BlendATexDiff" (click 'Shader Description' for an explanation) then that surface will use the alpha channel from the texture. It will show up in the sim, but not in Gmax itself.The problem with alpha though, as was mentioned above, is that you need to sort the objects that have alpha. Otherwise things behind the alpha-ed surfaces will not display properly. For example if you alpha out windows on your "main" object, then in the sim you will be able to see straight throught the windows to the track. Also, if you pass by any buildings, or any other scenery objects, you will see straight through them to the sky or ground. That's why you need to sort the objects with alpha to a lesser priority. You can't sort the 'main' object, so you have to either assign a different object as 'main', or have the windows part of a separate object - which could be as simple as detaching their polygons from 'main.' Once you have the windows as a separate object, you can make them subobject ID 1, and check the 'sort this subobject' box. Give them a sort value of 5 to start with, see if everything looks okay. Be careful of the sort value, though, because if you sort it too low (below 8 at least) your shape might disappear if it passes behind a scenery object that has alpha. This happened to me recently with the glass platforms at Washington Union Station.It's a tough thing to figure out, especially if you have an interior too, but I hope this answers your question at least.Alex Stroshane
Amtrak Prototype & Model
Photos, Train Gifs, and more!
http://www.trainweb.org/asamtrak911

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Alex,( Asamtrak911 ), I'm back at the computor, but, for the life of me, I cannot figure out what you guys are talking about?
I've made a Passenger coach, something simular to the Heavy's that can be downloaded in the Library and made by ? sorry the name is forgotten?
However, my windows looks as if it has been robbed of the "Panes" i.e. nil glass. What setting do I have to set GMax in order to reveal glass in the windows? I've experimented "only" with the texture file ( .ace ) in photoshop, but, it either show the window see-through without glass, or, it does not go see-through at all.
Please be leanient with me.....
Johan.

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Sounds as though the glass texture has a full 0,0,0 (black) alpha channel, rather than a grey scale one. Can you confirm?Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.comPro Series SuperPacks

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Marc, yes, you're correct. I did make the Alpha 0.0.0, if I make it grey or anything other than 0.0.0......the transparency disappears, totally. ( It become a sort of picture of the window)
Volker, the problem is when I import it into MSTS. I'm not really worried what it looks like in GMax, the end result is my concern.
Any more suggestions, please.
Johan.

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>if I make it grey or anything other than 0.0.0......the
>transparency disappears, totally.In Gmax, remove the "Trans" from the material editor, setting it to "None." Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.comPro Series SuperPacks

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Marc, Thanks, I'm going to do it, but, one question.....do I set the "material" to - BlendATexDiff ?
Johan.

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>do I set the "material" to - BlendATexDiff ?Yes. You will also need to sort the part in the LOD manager to prevent items (scenery) behind the windows from disappearing.Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.comPro Series SuperPacks

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Marc, great stuff, I'll come back to you during tomorrow.
Johan.

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Volker,
1st, I would like to thank you for your Tutorial. Without this, I would still have been sitting on the sideline.
2nd, Thanks for the info, I will be attempting it shortly. Unfortuanately, do I have to be away from my "putor" for about a week.
Johan.

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Johan,as Alex stated, you won't see transparencies in GMax, only in MSTS.
It's a matter of material definition and alpha-channel.Volker

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