G-max

BAshh

<div class="IPBDescription">its just like 3dsmax i hear</div> I wanna make better models, and i hear that g/3ds max is better than Milkshape. well i dont know how to use it, i've looked for some tutorials but found none helpful... just wondering if anyone could help

Spook

The tutorials in gmax itself are pretty good for starting off if you've never used 3DSMax before. You have to download and install them independently of the gmax download.

Just make sure to grab all 4 main files, the program, the help, the tutorials, and (if you want them) the sample textures. I can't remember if the sample textures are used in any of the tutorials or not, but it doesn't hurt to grab them. That'll get you going on basic use, modelling, boning, etc.

Exporting models is a little trickier. I haven't quite worked that one out myself. GMax is meant to use plugin "game packs" for different games. Closest I know of right now (maybe someone else knows a better one), is the exporter from the Quake3 pack (Tempest, also available from the GMax download site). I believe you export to Quake3 models, then use Milkshape to convert to Half-Life models. I don't know if there is or ever will be a game pack for Half-Life.

All available here if you haven't been able to find the right link:
<a href='http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/' target='_blank'>http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/</a>

[edit] spelling [/edit]

BAshh

bah... thanks i guess

MalambisBZ

There's tons of 3dsmax tutorials out there..

FunkyFungus

<!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo--> links?? <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

sry
ohh shame on me there are some good in maus modeling 101

Delarosa

YOU---- Gmax, i head it's just like 3DSM

ME --- Gmax, it's a bad way to save the $25 you would have spent on milkshape.

------------

My recomendations: starting with the highest "powers"

3D studio Max (more than you wanna pay)
Softimage XSI (free) <b>USED FOR HL2</b>
Maya (academic version is free)
Milkshape ($25)
Gmax (to get it into HL, you still need MS3D)
Blender 3D (free)
Steve3D (free)


and there you have it, in Delarosa's opinion of course...

HKK

Bah ! you missed out Lightwave, i use that, i find it easer than 3dsmax, but thats me.

sheena_yanai

Bah ! you missed out Cinema4d, i use that, i find it easer than 3dsmax, but thats me.

Selbstmord

Cinema4d is for cinematics, hence the name.

Burncycle

Can you believe my college has NO classes on anything involving 3d computer modelling, texturing or animating?

Woe.... wooooeee....what a world *melts*

I'll never get anywhere with skin-less models <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> I need to learn <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo-->

BAshh

<!--QuoteBegin--Delarosa+Sep 27 2003, 03:47 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Delarosa @ Sep 27 2003, 03:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> YOU---- Gmax, i head it's just like 3DSM

ME --- Gmax, it's a bad way to save the $25 you would have spent on milkshape.

------------

My recomendations: starting with the highest "powers"

3D studio Max (more than you wanna pay)
Softimage XSI (free) <b>USED FOR HL2</b>
Maya (academic version is free)
Milkshape ($25)
Gmax (to get it into HL, you still need MS3D)
Blender 3D (free)
Steve3D (free)


and there you have it, in Delarosa's opinion of course... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
i have milkshape, and i like it, but some people say that g/3dsmax is better. also i use blender but i dont use it for HL modeling

CrouchingHamster

Well then, I'll take this opportunity to pimp <a href='http://www.wings3d.com/' target='_blank'>Wings3D</a>, which is the coolest app I've ever seen for quickly sketching out a low poly mesh. It's a modeller, no bones, no animation, crappy openGL renders, but for plain old low poly modelling I think it rocks a fair bit.
( Disclaimer: I'm weird, hell I liked Blender, Wings works for my brain, might not be good for everyone..)

You can export the meshes easily to Milkshape, and as Sheena mentioned, Cinema4D has a <i>lovely</i> renderer. Free versions can be had on computer magazine coverdisks..

BAshh

im might look into it. right now MS is fine for me

CrouchingHamster

Fair enough, I like Milkshape too.

I think what I like best about Wings is what most people hate about it, ie the single viewport weird interface.

I find rather than annoying me it forces me to constantly spin the camera around models and in doing so, get a very good idea what they will actually look like in three dimensions...

All a matter of taste obviously.

/randomly pimps the renderer on Cinema 4D, simply because I can't stop playing with the thing since I got it..

Maus

I thought there were HL .smd plugins for GMax.

edit: Hmm, looks like there's only an importer, so you'd still need to find a way to convert your gmax model to a HL smd (Milkshape would be your best bet). <a href='http://mojo.gmaxsupport.com/Sections/MaxScripts.html' target='_blank'>http://mojo.gmaxsupport.com/Sections/MaxScripts.html</a>

CrouchingHamster

I actually found the Gmax tutorials that you can download pretty good, although I often felt I'd acheived a given result without actually understanding what I'd done, y'know?

"Yes, I have a convincing Yoda head on my screen, but I have no idea what the polycount is, nor could I do it again without this tutorial open in another window..."

/me shrugs

Each to their own I suppose. Milky3D was good for me then, Wings is <i>now</i>, hopefully SoftimageXSI will be my next app of choice..

BAshh

yeah. rigth now i can make and extrude splines in G-max, but thats all. after that i'm lost. i guess i'll stick with Milkshape for now

CrouchingHamster

Milky3D is good, if only because it forces you to realize that it's all just dots, connected to make triangles. These triangles get connected to other triangles, repeat until you have a HLDM character...

It's a good way to learn what the hell this is all about. No point worrying about how Booleans work until you understand what a poly is...

/me praises MS3D