21.02.2008 07:18
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Uber Modder
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Updated! SketchUp directly to SandBox2
UPDATE:
Thanks to amorilia and Seith for the release of ColladaCGF.
You can now import directly from SketchUp to SandBox2.
See here: ColladaCGF
I will be posting a guide on this soon.
See details later in the thread.
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OLD POST:
Folks I am simply amazed at the power of CryEngine2 and all the tools that work with it.
XSI and other 3D modeling programs are immensely powerful, but also have a learning curve.
However Google SketchUp for most users is very easy to get started, the models are simple enough that they translate well into games as far a polygon count. If my 65 year old dad can use SketchUp you can too. 
I myself have modeled my entire house accurate to the inch in SketchUp I used it to plan house remodeling, since then I have made models of small stuff, and big stuff including the building I work at. Since SketchUp integrates with Google Earth it is possible to re-create 1:1 scale models of areas using my image capture technique, and then import actual models of surrounding building. (Keep in mind copyright issues and ask to use models)
I am not trying to pull anyone away from 3DMax, Blender, or XSI. I just want to open up another tool to the community.
I have just installed XSI a few hours ago, so I am learning the program once I feel comfortable I will post a full tutorial on properly converting stuff from SketchUp into SandBox2 using XSI as and in-between.
However the screenshots below show just how quickly something can be brought into SandBox2.
The model is a real-world model of a 42" Westinghouse HDTV and is to perfect scale. I made the model as part of my home theater planning. The model it's self took only minutes to make using photographs of the actual product.
I pulled this into XSI, and it took a some of tweaking and cleanup but I was able to get most of the textures to work. (there are some missing textures on the far side of the model)
Once in SandBox2 I opened the material and edited the glow setting on the screen to give it some light and viola your own HDTV for all the characters to watch when you are not playing the game.
Here is a link to the model for anyone who wants it, however it is NOT tweaked texture wise for games as the textures are fairly large.
HDTV
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sketchup.jpg |
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sketchup_to_xsi.jpg |
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ZapWizard has attached these images (downsized versions):
  
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This post has been edited 4 time(s), it was last edited by ZapWizard: 25.11.2008 07:02.
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21.02.2008 08:22
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Uber Modder
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RE: It's coming- SketchUp to XSI to SB2
she's checking out his butt on the HDTV
sounds great, there is just a veritable cornucopia of 3d tools available to modders today
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21.02.2008 08:24
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Beginner
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RE: It's coming- SketchUp to XSI to SB2
Looking good! 
Thank you so much for your effort for getting Su working for Cryengine2 mapping! I´m looking forward to your tutorial!
i use Su since v4 ( @lastsoft, before they were bought by google) and i felt really fast in love with it. It provides very easy to learn and use tools. the tools are very intuitive, and once you learned the keyboard shortcuts you can models complex stuff in no time!
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23.02.2008 02:09
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Beginner
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RE: It's coming- SketchUp to XSI to SB2
Hi!
Did u export the materials from sketchup to Sandbox2 too???
Or u did it in XSI?
thanks
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23.02.2008 03:48
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Uber Modder
Thread Starter  |
For the above it was all entirely import, process, export.
But two textures were missing. I haven't started trying to make a real effort at it yet. If i start modeling I am afraid I wouldn't get my map done.
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23.02.2008 08:25
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Hardcore Modder
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IIRC
Use the .xsi option in the when you export from sketchup, and don't forget that there is a small option screen in the save as window, that you can access to tweak the export.
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Call me Rad 
My stuff:
http://www.crymod.com/thread.php?threadid=57124
http://www.crymod.com/thread.php?threadid=56978
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23.02.2008 15:31
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Uber Modder
Thread Starter |
I am using the free version of SketchUp, otherwise yes it can export directly to XSI.
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23.02.2008 15:34
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Beginner
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This is GOOD. I'll post this on our community too.
L.
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Leonard Teo
Softimage
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23.02.2008 16:25
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Beginner
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With google earth / sketchup you can easily get existing models. Although some are copy right protected there are also that are not.
You can get entire city blocks this way, however these are often without textures.
Unfortunately the free version of sketchup does not allow you to save (export) to an XSI file type. What you can do is download the trial of the PRO sketchup. This version is based on time.
So prepare your model in sketchup, open the PRO version, export it to XSI and close the pro version.
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25.11.2008 07:07
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Uber Modder
Thread Starter |
UPDATE:
Thanks to amorilia and Seith for the release of ColladaCGF.
You can now import directly from SketchUp to SandBox2.
See here: ColladaCGF
I will be posting a guide on this soon.
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For now here are the basics:
MANY MANY 3D models in the Google Warehouse are badly done, and horribly textured, DON'T expect most of them to work right off the bat.
If you are making your own model, or editing someone else's keep in mind the rules that any 3D game model needs:
-Low polygon count
-Remove extra surfaces and hidden details
-Keeps the number of textures to a minimum
-DDS textures need to be a multiple of 64
-Keep track of "reverse faces"
-Ask for use of models!
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How-to:
-Install ColladaCGF
-Set the sketchup units to Meters under "model info"
-Make your model
-Texture it using proper sized textures.
-Open the "Model info" and go to statistics, cllick "Purge unused"
-Export the model to using "Export to Google Earth" (Not upload to 3D Warehouse)
-Rename the .KMZ to .ZIP
-Unzip the files
-Goto /Model and right click on the model and convert it to a .CGF
-Move the material files from the /images folder to the same folder as the .CGF
-Open all the materials and save them as .DDS using Paint.Net or similar
-Open SandBox2 and import the model
-Open the model's texture file in the material editor
-Replace the .JPG links to point to the proper .DDS files
-Tweak the textures from there
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If you make the model yourself and do things right, this is a powerful tool. Way beyond what the solid tool can do.
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Here is something to get you started:
After trying out lots of different objects I found one that works well right off the bat:
It's a fully textured model of a spit fire. The model maker used correct texture sizes and UV mapping. All I had to do was convert the .JPGs to .DDS and tell the material editor where they were.
http://tinyurl.com/5gjd42
Here is a quick screenshot of them in-game:
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This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by ZapWizard: 25.11.2008 07:17.
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27.11.2008 06:32
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Uber Modder
Thread Starter |
So today I worked on a very complex model: Wall-E
I had to re-work parts from several Wall-e's in the 3D warehouse.
Then lots of re-texturing, and reducing the number of faces in the files.
This is far from the end-result. There is tons more to do in the way of textures and optimizing. I did this more as a proof of concept.
He is made of 22 separate parts that can move (Not including the tracks)
He was posed inside of SandBox2.
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This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by ZapWizard: 27.11.2008 06:33.
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27.11.2008 14:37
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Beginner
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very well :-)))
Thanks ZapWizard.
Can you make a video? :-)
I try to do that but I don't understand step
"-Goto /Model and right click on the model and convert it to a .CGF"
Not option in menu.
P.S.
Can you make vegetation?
Can you set a car or a character?
OT
Can I place vegetation over the model? EX: building in sketchup , then import in Sandbox2 and place tree on roof.
Thank you very much sorry for my English
This post has been edited 2 time(s), it was last edited by ita333: 27.11.2008 14:38.
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27.11.2008 15:24
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Crytek Staff Member
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RE: very well :-)))
\Thread Stickied
Many thanks to amorilia for the amazing tool and Zapwizard for this guide. This is a superb asset to the community!
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Originally posted by ita333
P.S.
Can you make vegetation?
Can you set a car or a character?
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No, this is for static models only. You would need to use 3ds Max to do the neccesary rigging to get vehicles and characters working ingame. You can use the static models as Zapwizard has with the WallE model, for posing purposes. You can also use these models as Physicalized Rigidbody's
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OT
Can I place vegetation over the model? EX: building in sketchup , then import in Sandbox2 and place tree on roof.
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You can't place vegitation over buildings in that way even with stock Crysis models (aside from voxels), so... er... no
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Joe Garth - Level Design and Cinematics
This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by Cry-Havok: 27.11.2008 15:29.
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27.11.2008 15:46
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24/7 Modder
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RE: very well :-)))
Wow.
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27.11.2008 15:50
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Uber Modder
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RE: very well :-)))
awesome!
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28.11.2008 15:12
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Skilled Modder
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RE: very well :-)))
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Originally posted by ita333
Can you make a video? :-)
I try to do that but I don't understand step
"-Goto /Model and right click on the model and convert it to a .CGF"
Not option in menu.
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I would also love to see a short video-tut on this as I also have trouble understanding the "go to /Model.." part. 
Thanks alot for sharing this, and also many thanks Amorilia!
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28.11.2008 18:34
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Beginner
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RE: very well :-)))
| quote: |
Originally posted by jimmiegrunde
| quote: |
Originally posted by ita333
Can you make a video? :-)
I try to do that but I don't understand step
"-Goto /Model and right click on the model and convert it to a .CGF"
Not option in menu.
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.....I also have trouble understanding the "go to /Model.." part.
Thanks alot for sharing this, and also many thanks Amorilia! |
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| Open the extracted folder and you should see more folders(e.g. Model, Images etc), open the Model folder then right click on the dae(COLLADA) file and convert it to CGF |
Fixed^
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28.11.2008 19:51
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Skilled Modder
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RE: very well :-)))
Never mind, guys. It was right under my nose!
When using the Sketchup Pro Trial I can export as .dae (collada format) and when I export that file and right click on it there is an option for "Convert to Crytek Geometry File". 
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29.11.2008 17:39
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Uber Modder
Thread Starter |
I am still learning the process myself, getting it perfect before I try to make a full tutorial.
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30.11.2008 12:35
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Hardcore Modder
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this seems relly interesting it save me alot of time in 3ds max
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