Second Life Forums Archive

Echo Irvine

Dumb American

Join date: 13 Sep 2006

Posts: 35

06-09-2007 17:15

I would like to begin learning how to do texture baking. But I haven't found a tutorial on google . Mostly articles pertaining to the subject of texture baking/shadows baking. Could anyone direct me to a tutorial for it?

I'm also interested in some way of building objects offline then importing them to second life. This is another subject I would like to learn about.

Regards,
Echo Irvine

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

06-09-2007 19:58

From: Echo Irvine

I would like to begin learning how to do texture baking. But I haven't found a tutorial on google . Mostly articles pertaining to the subject of texture baking/shadows baking. Could anyone direct me to a tutorial for it?

What software are you using? We can't very well provide a tutorial unless we know that.

The procedure will vary tremendously depending on what specific 3D modeling program you're using and what renderer. In some, it's as simple as File -> Render Texture. In others it's a highly labor-intensive process, potentially requiring hours of setup time. There can be no universal tutorial.

From: Echo Irvine

I'm also interested in some way of building objects offline then importing them to second life. This is another subject I would like to learn about.

Regards,
Echo Irvine

Read about sculpted prims on this forum and at http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Sculpted_Prims

Also search this forum for OBJ Importer by Jeffrey Gomez, Prims.Blender by Jeffrey Gomez, and Maya to Second Life by Adrian Eisenberg (now Adrian Linden). Keep in mind though, 99.9999999% of everything you see in-world was made directly in-world. With the exception of sculpties, which are brand new, and at this time do require the use of a third party 3D modeling program, the only really practical way to model for SL has always been do it with SL's own tool set. 3D objects in SL are unlike traditional models, due to SL's unique nature as a 100% streaming, 100% user-created environment. Almost everything in SL is constructed entirely from parametric objects, not from meshes.

If you'd like to know all the technical reasons why traditional mesh models can't work in SL (yet), scour through this forum. You'll find dozens of threads on the topic. I don't feel like repeating the same stuff over again for the millionth time here (sorry, I realize you are not those other million people), but if you look, you'll find many posts on the subject by me and others.

The in-world tools will seem bizarre to you at first if you're already experienced with more traditional modeling, but trust me, they are more powerful than they appear, and once you let go of your preconceptions, you'll learn them in no time.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Echo Irvine

Dumb American

Join date: 13 Sep 2006

Posts: 35

06-09-2007 23:59

I am using 3ds max 9.

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

06-10-2007 09:55

I'm not an expert on Max, so I can't really offer you any experience based advice here, but I just Googled "3ds max texture baking" and got 39,700 returns. Here are a few that look like they might contain the information you need (depending on your level of existing knowledge with Max, of course) :

install.anark.com/downloads/developers/how_to/studio2/BakeTextures.pdf

http://www.3dtotal.com/team/Tutorials/leafproject/leaf_1.asp

fordy.planetunreal.gamespy.com/gradientssmeshtutorials/9.html

Those are just the first few I glanced at. There are tons more. Those three seem to range in detail from quick conceptual overview to full step by step (again, assuming you already have some basic familiarity with Max) .

Beyond that, Chip Midnight is our resident Max expert, so if you're lucky, maybe he'll chime in here. I'm sure there are others as well who could guide you through the Max specifics better than I could.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Chip Midnight

ate my baby!

Join date: 1 May 2003

Posts: 10,231

06-10-2007 10:55

Max 9 comes with excellent tutorials and online help. Be sure to make use of it. Texture baking is really very simple. Just texture and light your object until you're happy with the way it renders, then open up the render to texture dialog, select what mapping channel you want to bake, choose the type of map you want to bake (if rendering a texture map you'd want to do a "complete map." For sculpties, you'd render a diffuse map), and bake. I hate to give you the standard RTFM answer, but in Max's case, it's well worth your time and should answer a lot of your questions. If after absorbing that information you have more specific questions about baking textures for SL I'll be happy to help if I can.

_____________________

My other hobby:
www.live365.com/stations/chip_midnight

Echo Irvine

Dumb American

Join date: 13 Sep 2006

Posts: 35

06-10-2007 19:05

Thanks Chosen and Chip.
I will try to learn from thsoe tutorials. I'll post back when I have more specific questions or I get hung up on some confusing detail.

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Texture Baking

Texture Baking
Echo Irvine Dumb American Join date: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 35	06-09-2007 17:15 I would like to begin learning how to do texture baking. But I haven't found a tutorial on google . Mostly articles pertaining to the subject of texture baking/shadows baking. Could anyone direct me to a tutorial for it? I'm also interested in some way of building objects offline then importing them to second life. This is another subject I would like to learn about. Regards, Echo Irvine
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	06-09-2007 19:58 From: Echo Irvine I would like to begin learning how to do texture baking. But I haven't found a tutorial on google . Mostly articles pertaining to the subject of texture baking/shadows baking. Could anyone direct me to a tutorial for it? What software are you using? We can't very well provide a tutorial unless we know that. The procedure will vary tremendously depending on what specific 3D modeling program you're using and what renderer. In some, it's as simple as File -> Render Texture. In others it's a highly labor-intensive process, potentially requiring hours of setup time. There can be no universal tutorial. From: Echo Irvine I'm also interested in some way of building objects offline then importing them to second life. This is another subject I would like to learn about. Regards, Echo Irvine Read about sculpted prims on this forum and at http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Sculpted_Prims Also search this forum for OBJ Importer by Jeffrey Gomez, Prims.Blender by Jeffrey Gomez, and Maya to Second Life by Adrian Eisenberg (now Adrian Linden). Keep in mind though, 99.9999999% of everything you see in-world was made directly in-world. With the exception of sculpties, which are brand new, and at this time do require the use of a third party 3D modeling program, the only really practical way to model for SL has always been do it with SL's own tool set. 3D objects in SL are unlike traditional models, due to SL's unique nature as a 100% streaming, 100% user-created environment. Almost everything in SL is constructed entirely from parametric objects, not from meshes. If you'd like to know all the technical reasons why traditional mesh models can't work in SL (yet), scour through this forum. You'll find dozens of threads on the topic. I don't feel like repeating the same stuff over again for the millionth time here (sorry, I realize you are not those other million people), but if you look, you'll find many posts on the subject by me and others. The in-world tools will seem bizarre to you at first if you're already experienced with more traditional modeling, but trust me, they are more powerful than they appear, and once you let go of your preconceptions, you'll learn them in no time. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Echo Irvine Dumb American Join date: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 35	06-09-2007 23:59 I am using 3ds max 9.
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	06-10-2007 09:55 I'm not an expert on Max, so I can't really offer you any experience based advice here, but I just Googled "3ds max texture baking" and got 39,700 returns. Here are a few that look like they might contain the information you need (depending on your level of existing knowledge with Max, of course) : install.anark.com/downloads/developers/how_to/studio2/BakeTextures.pdf http://www.3dtotal.com/team/Tutorials/leafproject/leaf_1.asp fordy.planetunreal.gamespy.com/gradientssmeshtutorials/9.html Those are just the first few I glanced at. There are tons more. Those three seem to range in detail from quick conceptual overview to full step by step (again, assuming you already have some basic familiarity with Max) . Beyond that, Chip Midnight is our resident Max expert, so if you're lucky, maybe he'll chime in here. I'm sure there are others as well who could guide you through the Max specifics better than I could. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Chip Midnight ate my baby! Join date: 1 May 2003 Posts: 10,231	06-10-2007 10:55 Max 9 comes with excellent tutorials and online help. Be sure to make use of it. Texture baking is really very simple. Just texture and light your object until you're happy with the way it renders, then open up the render to texture dialog, select what mapping channel you want to bake, choose the type of map you want to bake (if rendering a texture map you'd want to do a "complete map." For sculpties, you'd render a diffuse map), and bake. I hate to give you the standard RTFM answer, but in Max's case, it's well worth your time and should answer a lot of your questions. If after absorbing that information you have more specific questions about baking textures for SL I'll be happy to help if I can. _____________________ My other hobby: www.live365.com/stations/chip_midnight
Echo Irvine Dumb American Join date: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 35	06-10-2007 19:05 Thanks Chosen and Chip. I will try to learn from thsoe tutorials. I'll post back when I have more specific questions or I get hung up on some confusing detail.