|
|
Images in library
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
Images in library // New Users
Post by Douglas Chin // Sep 12, 2008, 3:21am
|
Douglas Chin
Total Posts: 11
|
Hi,
I imported some pictures into the library and it shows up there. Trying to insert it into the workspace, it does not show, yet images that were there before can be inserted. The difference seems to be the format. The images already in there have an extension of obj. whilst the ones I put are jpeg, bmp and png. Could that be the reason the images do not show up in the workspace?
If so how can I convert to obj?
Thanks very much
Doug. |
Post by TomG // Sep 12, 2008, 4:07am
|
TomG
Total Posts: 3397
|
An obj is a 3D object, that has actual geometry associated with it. It may or may not have an image painted on it as a material.
PNG, JPG etc are 2D images and have no 3D data, no geometry. They can't be added into the workspace, which is a 3D space. Only 3D objects can be added into it.
You can't convert a 2D format into a 3D format - you would have to create a 3D object and paint the 2D image onto it as a texture map. If you want to take the image of a car and make it 3D, then you'd have to model the car first. Depends on what you want to do with the 2D image exactly.
HTH!
Tom
PS - OBJ format can't be dropped into the workspace either, it can only be loaded via the model side and the LUUV plug-in. You can store anything you like in a tS library, but it doesn't mean the workspace can load it :) |
Post by trueBlue // Sep 12, 2008, 5:01am
|
trueBlue
Total Posts: 1761
|
In the Library Browser there is a System - Import library. There you will find a ImportBitmap object. Load this into the Link Editor and you can Drag and Drop images onto the Image area or you can use the File Dialog. |
Post by Douglas Chin // Sep 12, 2008, 6:21am
|
Douglas Chin
Total Posts: 11
|
Hello Mr. Grimes,
Thanks very much for your quick and informative reply. I went to some tS websites and there were images I imported them into library. They were formatted with jpg and bitmap. So that means that they are not 3D images. I also went to 3dcafe and looked at some of their images and went into the properties and they were jpg.
Actually, I started out writing an application in Visual Basic 2008 with DirectX, DirectX3d etc. I got a book Game Programming for Teens. I have written the application with logics. Sprites, png, were used in frames to do animation. I can do the animation in 2D, but 3D is so much better. Can I use the animation in tS and incorporate it into VB? If this can be done, where can I find the info to guide me through?
Thanking you very much.
Douglas. |
Post by TomG // Sep 12, 2008, 6:30am
|
TomG
Total Posts: 3397
|
Hi Douglas,
I am still not sure what you are trying to do with the images - on tS websites, you will see the renders that people made, and a render is like taking a photo with a camera. The photo is 2D and flat and can be placed on a web page. The objects in the photo are 3D and real and are not actually in the photo, the photo is just a snapshot from a certain angle with certain lighting of those objects.
Same thing with a render, it's just a 2D snapshot of the 3D scene, from a certain angle with certain lighting. There's no 3D in the photo, and the actual 3D made in tS is contained in the 3D scene only (the RsScn or RsObj file). Users just post the images though, just the same as a photographer just posts the photo and not the objects :)
So what do you want to do with the images is the main question? You can paint them on a plane and use them as a background for a render of your own, or use them as a template to model an object (see the Organics Modeling course for details). You can paint the images onto other objects, eg a picture hanging on a wall in your 3D scene. If you let us know what you want to do, then we can help get you there :)
You can animate in tS and add that animation into VB in several ways, eg you render out to images which you use as sprites. You have the ease of the 3D data to make the animation, and you just render (take snapshots) of that to turn it into 2D and animate in VB just as you would with 2D from any other source.
Or you can add libraries to VB to let it read and handle and render objects on screen, extending the native VB routines to give it DirectX real-time rendering functionality. Doing that would let you use 3D data saved as .X or FBX or COLLADA or BVH, and the conversion to 2D snapshot happens in real-time (which is what 3D games do via their real-time render engine, translate 3D data into a 2D snapshot to show on your screen, and repeat that 20 to 60 times every second).
HTH!
Tom |
Post by Douglas Chin // Sep 12, 2008, 8:21am
|
Douglas Chin
Total Posts: 11
|
Hi Tom,
This is project I am doing. On a form in VB I have background of a blackboard, clock, a desk etc. Next, I have sprite of a teacher and this is the sprite, which will would do the animation. What I would like to do, is have this image appear as a 3D image and by using tS I can do the animation so much easier and smoother, rather than having to draw images for each frame of the animation.
I hope this explains it much better. Your explanation is very good and has made my understanding so much better.
Douglas |
Post by TomG // Sep 12, 2008, 8:43am
|
TomG
Total Posts: 3397
|
You won't be able to load the sprite (or image) into tS and animate it.
Instead you will need to build the teacher as a 3D model, including a skeleton. You can then make the animations in tS, render to 2D images, and use those as the sprites in VB.
I suspect it would be hard / impossible to export the animated 3D model of the teacher and use that in VB - you'd need to get the 3D libraries, get to grips with 3D, and move away from a form too I would think, you'd be reworking what your app is and how it works. Sounds a bit too fundamental.
note that learning to rig and animate a character is VERY hard - the tS tools make it about as easy as it can be, but it is still one of the pinnacles of working in 3D. If you are just starting out, I would suggest a smaller, more bitesize project, so you can learn some fundamentals - begin with some modeling, then keyframing simple primitves moving around, then maybe move on to learning about characters and rigging once you have clips and keyframes down.
Biting off too much too soon can be demoralizing and counter-productive - a little at a time can work out better for getting more done.
HTH!
Tom |
Post by Délé // Sep 12, 2008, 9:01am
|
Délé
Total Posts: 1374
|
A good place to start learning 3d would be to watch Jack's Organic Modeling course.
http://www.caligari.com/products/trueSpace/ts5/Courses/WorkspaceOrganicModeling1.asp?Cate=Training&Subcate=Fundamental
It's a good introduction to modeling and will show you how to transform your 2d reference images into 3d objects. As Tom said, it will take some time to get good at it. It can take years to get proficient at modeling, texturing, rigging, and animating. I also agree with Tom that it's best to start simple and work your way up. All of the trueSpace videos are now free, I would suggest watching many of them. Even though a lot of them use older versions of tS, a lot of the modeling techniques will be the same. You might also want to search the web for 3d tutorials. There are quite a few out there. Of course, you can always ask questions here if you get stuck too. :) |
Post by Douglas Chin // Sep 12, 2008, 9:12am
|
Douglas Chin
Total Posts: 11
|
Hi TrueBlue,
I have tried what you mentioned, but I cannot find ImportBitmap. There is an icon library browser. I clicked it and the library browser box came up. There is a link system inports and right clicking it does not bring up ImportBitmap.
However, I created a new library and through link editor I put images with ext. jpg, bmp and png. I also put in the banaman, which is in the objects library. I can only insert the banaman image into the workspace.
Don't know what I am doing wrong. Please read my answer to Tom and you get an idea of what I am trying to do.
Thanks very much to you guy's. I feel so frustrated I wanted to give up, but I pains me to give up. So with the help of gentlemen like you guys it give me fight to keep plodding along.
Douglas. |
Post by Douglas Chin // Sep 12, 2008, 9:18am
|
Douglas Chin
Total Posts: 11
|
Hi Guys,
I think I have worked this enough. I will work through the lesson Workspace Organics Modeling and go from there.
Again thanks very much.
Douglas. |
|
