Wings 3D

Dalin SeivewrightDalin Seivewright 0x0000221E Join Date: 2007-10-20 Member: 62685Members, Constellation
in NS2 General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">A modeling application for the rest of us?</div>I've recently been looking for 3D modeling applications that I could pick up in less than 5-10 minutes, was easy to use, did things in obvious ways and was FREE. The only tools I really needed were vertex, edge and surface editing, as well as the basic Move, Rotate, Extrude tools, etc.

After trying a few applications (Blender, MayaPLE*, Houdini**), I found an applications called <a href="http://www.wings3d.com/" target="_blank">Wings3D</a>. It is available Mac, Windows and Linux and I believe its Open Source. It is a subdivision 3D modeler only, so there are no other tools for film, cinematics, or other modeling tools such as NURBS. The only caveat seems to be that it isn't meant for High Poly work, although its only something I read and haven't really tried out (probably due to the fact that I am not a modeler, amateur or otherwise).

I picked up Wings3D in around 5-10 minutes. Instead of an interface of buttons, it uses an menu interface where Left-click selects a surface/vertex/edge and right clicking brings up a menu to manipulate the selected items. Right clicking while noting is selected allows you to create objects (sphere, cube, etc.). It also has included a UV Mapping tool which lets you create a UV texture of the model, and allows you to texture it and see your changes on the actual 3D model in Wings3D.

I wanted to start work on a few prototypes that required the use of models, and this is why I wanted a quick, easy to learn and fast modeling tool. Aside from working with MayaPLE when UT2004 came out, I had no real experience with modeling, so I'm hoping that some of the Lua scripters/Level designers who don't want to learn complicated 3D software can use this tool to easily create required models for their projects (if not for the final version, then for a prototype phase before you get a half-decent 3D modeler to make some better models for you).

The first model I wanted was a little Ion Cannon Turret that could be mounted. The black lines are a blank UV map applied. I'm not sure what is causing the jagged black lines, but I'm hoping it won't affect the texturing process (when you paint over the lines).
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v376/MythOpus/TurretTest.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Feel free to suggest other 3D modeling applications that are free (and preferably easy to use, and uncomplicated)!

*MayaPLE - discontinued because someone thought it was a good idea to have a 30-day trial of Maya 2010 instead.
**Houdini - After installing, it said I required a Licence server for the PLE version (which for some reason, it didn't checked by default when it was being installed so I figured I didn't need it. Attempting to install the License server failed however, but apparently Houdini is useless without a paid license as it only lets you save models into a Houdini file format.
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Comments

  • BiglinesBiglines Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24094Members, Constellation
    edited February 2010
    you probably got put off by blender's initially imposing interface, did you try it longer than an hour or two? if you watch some good video tutorials for half an hour it's by far the best free modeling software, once you understand the basics behind the interface it becomes much easier to use than most paid applications (and i've worked with 3dsmax, cinema4d and solidworks). It actually made an interface that's meant to work very very easily once you know it, not made for people who only use menu's (as an interface designer myself, as an expert tool blender's interface is superior to most commercial modelling software).

    so if you want free software with about the same amount of features and possibilities as 3dsmax, give blender another shot till at least you understand the interface. Lot's of people are currently even turning from 3dsmax to blender because of some of the great features (and the new blender 2.5 even has a possibility to have all the little buttons that used to be on the keyboard on a windowpane, making it easier to use for first time users)

    of course it's not the simplest way of doing it, but at least with blender you can do proper 3d stuff as well if you want to, wings3d might be easy to pick up, but if you have no idea how to model properly the props will have no sharp edges, or no proper normal maps to add detailing
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  • BruteBrute Join Date: 2009-06-10 Member: 67778Members, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    Google SketchUp
    afaik it's not opensource, but it is free and very easy to use (my little sister could do it). It does a great job aligning points and finding special ones (like the middle of a shape). For the less talented guys like me, it gives you the opportunity to enter every value directly using the number keys.

    <img src="http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/3265/sketchup.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    When the spark editor was published I really cried out of joy. Hopefully they add even more sketchup-like features.
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  • cmc5788cmc5788 Join Date: 2009-10-06 Member: 68959Members
    edited February 2010
    Honestly, I'm going to throw my weight behind Blender on this one. The interface is VERY obscure (although the latest alpha version has changed that completely to make it more user-friendly). But once you learn how to use Blender, it really is the most powerful tool for model authoring and rendering that you can get for free. Without a doubt.

    The thing about Blender is that it's very hotkey-driven for efficiency. Watch one or two video tutorials and you'll have it down. I guess in terms of the original topic, it isn't the "easiest" program to learn... but if you want to spend your time learning something that's powerful and adaptable enough to be used for a variety of tasks, you really should go with Blender.
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  • BiglinesBiglines Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24094Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1753144:date=Feb 14 2010, 07:35 PM:name=Brute)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brute @ Feb 14 2010, 07:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1753144"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Google SketchUp
    afaik it's not opensource, but it is free and very easy to use (my little sister could do it). It does a great job aligning points and finding special ones (like the middle of a shape). For the less talented guys like me, it gives you the opportunity to enter every value directly using the number keys.

    <img src="http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/3265/sketchup.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    When the spark editor was published I really cried out of joy. Hopefully they add even more sketchup-like features.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    regretfully it doesn't officially support exporting to collada (you can get a collada model by unpacking the google earth export, but think that's not directly importable in ns2), I used to use sketchup for quick prototyping, but now I'm used to blender that's actually much faster (except if you're trying to define line lengths)
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited February 2010
    We're talking about Blender 2.5 alpha here (new/easier interface)?
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  • BruteBrute Join Date: 2009-06-10 Member: 67778Members, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    edited February 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1753165:date=Feb 14 2010, 10:10 PM:name=Biglines)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Biglines @ Feb 14 2010, 10:10 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1753165"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->regretfully it doesn't officially support exporting to collada (you can get a collada model by unpacking the google earth export, but think that's not directly importable in ns2), I used to use sketchup for quick prototyping, but now I'm used to blender that's actually much faster (except if you're trying to define line lengths)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    sure?
    under file/export it gives me two options, one is google earth data and the other one is collada
    will check again when i'm home

    also have a look at <a href="http://twitter.com/NS2/status/1820630649" target="_blank">this twitter post</a>
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited February 2010
    Blender is surprisingly easy to use, this "modeling of an ear" video tutorial will show you a alot on how to work in Blender 2.49b

    <center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JpVbfOfBdfo"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JpVbfOfBdfo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center><div align='center'><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpVbfOfBdfo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpVbfOfBdfo</a></div>
    <center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2VrfOyl9CQ8"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2VrfOyl9CQ8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center><div align='center'><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VrfOyl9CQ8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VrfOyl9CQ8</a></div>
    <center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/04XjnOvjfwA"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/04XjnOvjfwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center><div align='center'><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04XjnOvjfwA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04XjnOvjfwA</a></div>
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  • BiglinesBiglines Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24094Members, Constellation
    edited February 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1753241:date=Feb 15 2010, 12:42 PM:name=Brute)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brute @ Feb 15 2010, 12:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1753241"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->sure?
    under file/export it gives me two options, one is google earth data and the other one is collada
    will check again when i'm home

    also have a look at <a href="http://twitter.com/NS2/status/1820630649" target="_blank">this twitter post</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    then u prolly have a hacked pro version, cuz the free one doesnt do that
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  • BruteBrute Join Date: 2009-06-10 Member: 67778Members, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    sorry to disappoint you
    <a href="http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/product/whygopro.html" target="_blank">http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/product/whygopro.html</a>

    File -> Export -> 3D Model -> Collada
    but I didn't manage do load it into spark using <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=108436" target="_blank">this</a> tutorial
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  • BiglinesBiglines Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24094Members, Constellation
    edited February 2010
    ah cool, checked again and I have an old version, which doesnt export it, but cool, shud upgrade then
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