Anim8or Community

I import my Anim8or Raxx X models in to Caligari Truespace 7.61/6.6 and key frame the X model in TS and export the model again to 3D Exploration for conversion to XSI complete with animation. I suppose it would also work with the 3DS format as well. You could also probably use other modeling software like Blender to do the same thing considering A8 itself won't export the animation portion.

As most of you know already know Anim8or does not copy 2D textures when models are exported to external storage folders. Typically, you have to manually copy your textures to any external folders that you plan to use to store your Anim8or models.

I recently discovered one very useful method to avoid the problem to some extent by using a 3rd party conversion application called, Right Hemiphere's, older 3D Exploration version 1x model conversion utility. 3DEX, as I call it can be configured to find and display the missing textures by going in to Tools>Options>Textures and click Add.., now locate the path and folder where you have your textures stored and hit okay. You can add as many path entries as you need and 3DEX will search them to display the textures on your models. Select Apply for every new path you add, and then hit OK when you're  finally done entering paths for 3DEX to search for missing textures.

I do a lot of Direct-X to SI-XSI model conversions, so manually copying textures takes a lot of time and increases the work load substantially. With this method all I need to do is point 3DEX to the right file paths and when I convert my X models to XSI; 3DEX will automatically create a new texture file in the same folder; it just copies and renames the texture file and places it in the same folder. Another advantage to this method is the folder size stays smaller because you don't have any texture files other then the one's created by 3DEX. Cheers, Leroy.

Anyone familiar with this texture application? Looks interesting thought and posted a link for others to take a looky. Leroy. http://getsmak.net/

I'm working on a tank model and I want to import another A8 file into the existing one without over writing it. Is this possible? Or is there some other way to get the same thing done? Thanks, Leroy.

As most of you may already be aware that only the native A8 format supports animated models. Unfortunately, exporting animated models in other model formats requires the use on an external 3rd party modeling tool to animate non native formats like 3DS, X, VRML and all of the other exporter based model formats. I use Caligari Truespace version 7.61 Beta 8; also a free modeling software, to export static non animated X, 3DS or VRML models in to TS for the purpose of animating the geometry portion with the key frame editor in TS.

It's quite simple and works somewhat the same as the Anim8or version. TS, uses what it calls the scene editor to display all of the models parts in a separate window that can be expanded to display the time line panel where key frames and the actual frames are shown. Like Anim8or TS also uses inverse kinetics to fill in the in between movements.

Other modeling software like Blender can also be used in the same way to animate your models and further prepare them for final processing.

I found out recently that some older video cards may have trouble displaying some features of Anim8or like point and edge views in solid views when editing models. I was able to correct this on my system by going in to my display settings and reducing the bit rate from 32 to 16 bits. Just thought I'd mention this for the few people that still run Anim8or on some older PC's and laptops. Leroy.

I notice when I edit the mesh objects like recaling the axes get off center in the object itself and the resulting exported model looks strange afterwards. In Truespace there is a feature to move the axes back to the center of the object, so I was wondering how tihs is done in A8? I know about the axes button and manually moving them back on center again, but with a lot of objects this becomes quite tedious. I there another way to do this to all of the objects? Thanks Leroy.