[StratComm]

New objects -> lights -> [light of your choice] -> place like any other object in Max.  Skylights require some extra options to be set in render settings, but I can't remember which ones offhand.

[MetalDestroyer]

I meet another probleme now.
After the cob to pof file process with PCS,  the pof model don't have any textures.
But, before the conversion, I can see all textures in the cob format.
What happens to textures ?
I look into the pof file with a Hexadecimal Editor, and i see it have textures names.
I convert textures in pcx format and use 256*256, something missing ?

[BlackDove]

A tutorial.

[MetalDestroyer]

I fix it. I tested the x wing, but i don't have any glow animation for thruster. Is there anything to do with PCS ? I put coordinates from the 4 engines, but no sign of thruster :/

[StratComm]

At this point, I'm going to point you to Karajorma's Freespace FAQ as he has put together a pretty comprehensive set of instructions for dealing with PCS and the POF format.  You're now asking about basic POF questions which are better addressed by the FAQ than by a Q&A session in the forums.

[MetalDestroyer]

I've resolve my problem.
But, now, after studying a lot of time into 3DS and his bake feature, i found the X Wing Alliance model have more than 16 parts (objects).

This afternoon, i try to convert the Imperial Star Destroyer's texture within the Bake feature from 3DS.
3DS have generated 21 maps of 256*256, and when time come to put these maps on the ISD, I found the ISD have 21 objects.

So, i'll ask you, if i could have a special fs2 open built for models with more than 16 textures.


For now, i have only 3 models converted into Fs2 :
- the X Wing
- the new X Wing from the New Jedi Order
- the Tie Fighter

[StratComm]

If you imported from 3ds, that's one of the format's limitations.  It stores textures by object, not by face, so the 3ds model will have each of its texture components broken up into individual sections.  In max, before you bake, make sure you weld all vertices so that you end up with a single solid object.

Asking for a build with more than 16 textures per object is not going to happen, because as has been stated repeatedly, that limit is there for a reason.

[MetalDestroyer]

I know the reason
You said I have to weld all vertice before baking. But how to weld vertices ? Where can i found this feature in 3DS ?

[StratComm]

Select all of the faces on the mesh (bandbox select over the whole model is what I usually use) so that you don't accidentally miss anything.  Then use the "select modifier" drop-box and select "vertex weld".  There is a possibility that this will cut a lot of detail out of the model; if this is the case you're going to have to scale the whole thing up and reset its pivot (don't worry about this unless it actually comes up though).

There's going to come a point though where I'm going to start pointing you to Max help, because the answer to most of these "how to" questions in Max are better answered there.

[MetalDestroyer]

Could you take a screen about the "vertex weld" ?
Because i'm not sure if i select the right one but, when i clic into it, nothing happens :/

[StratComm]

I'm sorry, but no.  I'm not going to take and host (and post) a screenshot of a Max vertex weld.  When you select it, you should have every face on your model selected.  When you select it, nothing should (ideally) change visibly, but the number of vertices on the model should decrease.  You should also be able to collapse the stack (right click, collapse to in the modifier panel), select the mesh again, and have volume select select the whole thing.

[Roanoke]

Here, I don't mind:



You want Weld -> selected.
If it does nothing or moans about threshold, put that thresholdvalue in the box really high to somethin' like 50, undo (ctrl-Z),  then gradually bring it down.

StratComm's right though. If you can't get hold of any tuts your gonna be in a whole world of hurt.

[WMCoolmon]

Nice ship, Roa.

[Roanoke]

bit of pimpage never hurt anyone .
 Texture's about only 20/30% done tho.