3ds Max Tool: Speed up Source Modeling

[shawnolson]

I wanted to share with you a tool I've recently made called the Wall Worm Model Tools. It expedites the process of sending models from 3ds to Source. If you've done it before, you know it can be a pain. This tool is a new best friend.

http://wallworm.com/projects/utilities/docs/
General Overview Video



Some key features:

* Automatically generates a QC text file for your model
* Can automatically generate convex collision hulls for your model (not yet implemented)
* Allows you to pick your own custom collision model if you don't want to use the auto-generated model
* Auto-generate LOD models of your model
* Gives you a visual representation inside Max of the limits (range) tied to each LOD model which is especially helpful if you are also building your level design inside of Max (with Convexity)
* Visually set the $illumposition position and $masscenter
* Assign a surface property to your model from inside the Max interface
* Set various model flags including $staticprop, $opaque and $mostlyopaque
* Will automatically create textures for your model and each LOD (not yet implemented)
* Automatically makes layers in the layer manager for the model, hull, LODs and helpers
* You can select LOD objects in layer manager and tweak their Multi-Res settings or edit the LODs to your liking after they are created
* Auto compile models
* Compile VTFs and VMTs
* Export animation sequences

Quick Video Demonstrating export static prop and textures.

[shawnolson]

I've updated the tool to version 0.83 with the following fixes:

• * Fixed the problem with QC files having quotation marks at the beginning and end of the file.
  * Fixed the QC file bug where model paths and material paths has backslashes (\) when they needed forward slashes (/).
  * Made the Model Path and Material Path fields in the UI work regardless of whether forward slashes or back slashes are used.
  * Fixed bug where LOD would not generate if the LOD spinner was never changed from the default value of 1.
  * Commented out the $shadowlod property in the QC file. If you want that setting, simply uncomment the $shadowlod lines in the QC.

[shawnolson]

I updated the page to show newer videos along with updated feature lists.

If anyone here uses the tool, feel free to share links to your projects. I love seeing the fruits of this in action.

[Nexusdog]

I feel somewhat embarrassed and a little ashamed no one has commented or given you any feedback from here, Shawn, I only hope you've got some good feedback from other sites, perhaps if so, you could provide the links.

Kudos to you for creating this, you deserve it mate.

[shawnolson]

I feel somewhat embarrassed and a little ashamed no one has commented or given you any feedback from here, Shawn, I only hope you've got some good feedback from other sites, perhaps if so, you could provide the links.

Kudos to you for creating this, you deserve it mate.

Don't be embarassed. I've been sharing this in the various forums where I thought the users would enjoy it. I'm slowing down since the tool is now nearly done and does most of the things I needed it to do when I set out... except for a couple features, the majority of what is left is documenting it for everyone.

Here are the two most active threads on the tool:

• Polycount Forum[/*:m:1v26r5po]
• Interlopers Forum[/*:m:1v26r5po]

Now my attention is turning to a making the props for a level I've been working on in my spare time over the last year.

I hope people end up enjoying it as much as I do... now there is no excuse for making your own props for Source if you have 3ds Max!

[Nexusdog]

I read on your site, with great interest, your work on dynamic mapping and I'm extremely interested in how this works and of any further developments or information you may have on this. Any chance you can shed further light on this topic?

[shawnolson]

I read on your site, with great interest, your work on dynamic mapping and I'm extremely interested in how this works and of any further developments or information you may have on this. Any chance you can shed further light on this topic?

I'll share a write-up on the methods to do that when I've released my current project. The map I first made it on (ww_de_tension which was updated to ww_de_tension2) was a learning project for me... so I don't want to draw too much attention to it until I have a more full-fledged and polished level done with it. There were many things that I half-assed in Tension just to get it out the door; not to mention that I was teaching myself a lot (I had designed levels for the older HL1 engine but had been away from level design for a while).

One thing I realized when making it was how annoying it was to build your own props for Source... which is what eventually led me to make the Wall Worm Model Tools.

In terms of modeling... when I started de_tension, I didn't deeply understand Smoothing Groups... and I was not very practiced in the art of UVW mapping... for new modelers here... make sure to look into the Padding setting of the Render-To-Texture feature in Max. Also, very important... remember to make your own Unwrap UVW rather than the one made with Render-To-Texture! Make sure that you use the Relax tool in the Unwrap UVW before flattening your texture! Both are things that I didn't really know about when I started that level... and it shows with any serious scrutiny. But such is the art of learning.

Anyway, like I said, I'll share the dynamic mapping method with my next map release.

[Nexusdog]

Thanks Shawn, appreciate your time and look forward to your work!

I feel somewhat embarrassed and a little ashamed no one has commented or given you any feedback from here, Shawn, I only hope you've got some good feedback from other sites, perhaps if so, you could provide the links.

Kudos to you for creating this, you deserve it mate.

To be honest, when I first read it I didn't understand what it was for. but now after doing a lot of this stuff manually, I'm looking forward to playing with this. I'm still learning 3DS Max, so it will help a lot! Thanks!!

[shawnolson]

To be honest, when I first read it I didn't understand what it was for. but now after doing a lot of this stuff manually, I'm looking forward to playing with this. I'm still learning 3DS Max, so it will help a lot! Thanks!!

You're welcome. Yeah... I don't think you can appreciate the value of this tool unless you have tried to make your own models for Source. But when you realize how much of a hassle it is... you'll wonder how it took so long for someone to make something like this.

[Nexusdog]

Oooh, time for a modelling and importing tut & challenge I think!

[WarrenM]

To be honest, when I first read it I didn't understand what it was for. but now after doing a lot of this stuff manually, I'm looking forward to playing with this. I'm still learning 3DS Max, so it will help a lot! Thanks!!

You're welcome. Yeah... I don't think you can appreciate the value of this tool unless you have tried to make your own models for Source. But when you realize how much of a hassle it is... you'll wonder how it took so long for someone to make something like this.

Hell, I imported a mesh USING your tool and I thought it was a huge pain in the ass. I can't even imagine what it was like before you wrote this! This it not to belittle your tool, I think this thing is awesome, but the Source mesh pipeline is horrendous.

[Nexusdog]

Yeah, right on Warren, go kick Gabe's door down and read him the riot act! lol

[shawnolson]

Hell, I imported a mesh USING your tool and I thought it was a huge pain in the ass. I can't even imagine what it was like before you wrote this! This it not to belittle your tool, I think this thing is awesome, but the Source mesh pipeline is horrendous.

Just an FYI in case you didn't do it, make sure to follow the installation instructions for making the plugcfg folder writable. Without that step, the exporter cannot do the batch export and prompts you to hit OK for each SMD that needs to be made (one for model, one for collision model, one for each LOD and one for each sequence). That can decrease the hassle if that happened to be one of the issues.

[WarrenM]

No, it was just the whole thing. The fact that I was working with text files was amazing enough to me.

I come from the Unreal Engine side of the industry and am used to importing meshes in 2 or 3 mouse clicks.