[JGZinv]

Now completed. Two weeks and 92 pages later.

Simply, if you've got a model with baked textures, you can get it in game with this.
Also contains a resource section with links to many modeling/texturing/help threads or other
highly useful tutorials out on the web.

Offered in two versions, one for developers and one regular.
The Dev pack contains everything from the regular version + all 100 images used in the tut,
and a copy of the document file in .wpd and .doc format. This is so the community can update
this at their leisure, keep it going, Wikify it for all I care. Please do see the license on the last page though.

The tutorial itself is in PDF format, reasons being:

A hyperlinked index up front - jump to any section.
Completely searchable.
Everything can be zoomed in on.
File size.
You don't have to be connected to the net to use it.
Less resource intensive than a browser running 10+ tabs.


Regular Version for Modders/End Users:
8.4MB Zipped
http://files.fringespace.org/jgz/HLP/RiggingTutorialFinal.zip


Developer Version:
25.1MB Zipped
http://files.fringespace.org/jgz/HLP/RiggingTutorialDev.zip

If anyone wants to mirror this thing, let me know.

Enjoy.  

[Scooby_Doo]

I noticed the meshes textures were blurry. I dunno if it's the textures or max, but go to Customize->Preferences->Viewports->Configure Driver->Background Texture Size->Check Match Bitmap size as Closely as possible and Download texture size->Match Bitmap size as Closely as possible.  You'll have to restart max.


btw the steering wheel is new to 2009.  Older versions don't have this, and it's pretty useless anyways, hotkeys are much faster.

[JGZinv]

I've got Max 7 and 2009, so that's why I stated it wasn't probably available.
I guess for veterans the hotkeys would be easier, I'm still a noob, and I'm mainly trying
to write this so that even us poor noobs can understand it.

I'll check on the textures thing. Textures in the viewports have always shown up utterly blurry
when I've loaded them. Rendering and exporting shows them fine.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Scooby_Doo]

Do like I did... write them on a piece of paper and tape them next to the monitor 

[JGZinv]

Updated the guide, now 77 pages. 7.5 MB

There's a significant resource section at the end now, for modeling and other
things that tend to come up. The PDF is completely searchable too btw.

Included two copies of a sample commented out table file as well, so now it's a Zip package.

I've got to go back and add sections on Paths, Glowpoints, and Dockpoints.
Mention some things and clean it up formatting wise, but I think it's done besides that.
I'll try to get the rest done Sat night.

[JGZinv]

Last update for you guys to review. If you don't want noobs popping up with errors,
best review it and tell me what to alter now.

The content is done far as I can tell, I'm only going back to edit the formatting now.

One note is that my glowpoints don't show up, so not sure if something is incorrect in that
section or not. Could use to be checked out. Pg's 81-83 of the PDF.

Original post has the link.

[JGZinv]

Tut is complete, see first post.

Thank goodness that's over.

[Vasudan Admiral]

Epic well done dude.

I'll be sure to direct all future novice modders using 3DS max towards this tut - it looks very comprehensive, and the resource section at the end should be very helpful even for those not using 3DS.

[JGZinv]

Really I don't understand why Scooby's tut wasn't stickied... it's got more of the cap ship end of things
while I covered fighters mainly. But I got PCS2 completely (*er almost) explained. So I rather feel they are companion tuts.

But yeah the resource section sort of hit me of "why not." One of the things I really wanted when I first showed up
was links to modeling how-tos and UV mapping was very hard to figure out. So I took from the best of the links I'd bookmarked.
What you can't find in my tut, is probably in the links, even if you want it said differently.

Thanks.

[chief1983]

So your tut doesn't really cover turreting?  It could probably stand to have a whole guide just for that but still, it would be awesome.  Especially a good ref that covers the any-angle turrets and all the new features Wanderer has added for that.  There's some good posts etc about it but not a start to finish up to date turreting guide.

[JGZinv]

I'm not planning on doing another guide chief, least not for the immediate future.
I've been putting off stuff just to get the thing done as is.

I have no clue on turrets, and having read what I could when the topic comes up, am
confused as you are. Turrets probably being the only thing keeping me from rigging FringeSpace's
cap ships atm.

My tut doesn't cover turrets, and there's some minor fields in PCS2, like in the header, textures, shield
sections that I just didn't feel were important enough to mention or try to dedicate a section to.
Everything major, is covered though for fighters. Scooby as I said, I think covered the cap end and had a
turrets section...

If people figure out things more - edit the guide - it's meant to be edited. Keep it going.
Branch off and make a set of tuts in PDF format so we can package em with PCS2.

[Vasudan Admiral]

*Bump*

Can this be stickied plz? It's getting a bit crowded up there I know, but "Here something handy" can probably be unstickied by now - same with the "Retaining hierarchy on export from any program to tS 7.6 + VRML" too if needbe, since both do encourage using TS - which is definitely not what we want to be telling newbies!

[peterv]

Now i know 

Yes, stick it pleaze. It's a very good tutorial and a reminder that we can do thinks without the use of TS.

[JGZinv]

Maybe we just need a subforum for tutorials or things dubbed as most useful rather than clogging
the normal board. "The Best Of" for modding.

I'd really like to see Scooby's tut stickied along side mine, his handles a couple things mine doesn't.


Do we need the request for documentation thread any more either?

Thanks guys.

[Galemp]

OR YOU COULD PUT IT ON THE WIKI. And make sure it's easy to find a link to it.

Tutorials, helpful data, files, and tools should ALL be accessed from the Wiki. New users complain all the time that it's hard to find things on these boards, and that's just the ones who bother to register.