[Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic's

How to create models in XSI and other 3D applications and make them work in Battlefront 1 & 2. Post models, tips for application usage and share anything XSI, 3DMax, SketchUp, etc.

Moderator: Moderators

User avatar
Marvel4
Rebel Colonel
Rebel Colonel
Posts: 556
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:57 pm
Projects :: Marvel4s BF1 Conversion Pack + Era Mod

Re: [Guide] make models look as good as/better than Pandemic

Post by Marvel4 »

THEWULFMAN wrote:
lucasfart wrote:Are these maps a lot more resource-intensive then only applying stock textures?

Well that depends on your certain point of view. In order to see bump or normal maps, you have to use High light settings, which are more resource intensive.
When I used XP, some maps had extremely poor performance on high lighting, even with my HD 5850.
Now I use Windows 7 and it finally runs perfectly on highest settings with maximum AA.
Marth8880
Resistance Leader
Posts: 5042
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:43 pm
Projects :: DI2 + Psychosis
Games I'm Playing :: Silent Hill 2
xbox live or psn: Marth8880
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Contact:

Re: [Guide]Make models look as good as/better than Pandemic'

Post by Marth8880 »

Just thought I'd let it be known that all of the example images in the first post are broken. :(
THEWULFMAN
Space Ranger
Posts: 5557
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 3:30 pm
Projects :: Evolved 2
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Contact:

Re: [Guide]Make models look as good as/better than Pandemic'

Post by THEWULFMAN »

He probably wasn't using Dropbox at the time, since he used Imageshack. A shame, only DUCK would have them most likely and he isn't around much anymore.

At least the tutorial information is still valid even without examples. Or one can just play RAS Prosecutor to see the references. :funny2:
thelegend
Sith
Sith
Posts: 1433
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:01 am
Projects :: Star Wars - Battlefront III Legacy
Games I'm Playing :: Swbf GTA CoD LoL KH
xbox live or psn: El_Fabricio#
Location: Right behind you :)

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by thelegend »

I really hate bumping this topic but the images still don't work. I wouldn't mind taking some screenshots from this map so an Admin could replace them in DarthD.U.C.K's first post. I just would like to know if someone would edit his first post here for an image replacement.
User avatar
AceMastermind
Gametoast Staff
Gametoast Staff
Posts: 3284
Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:23 am
Contact:

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by AceMastermind »

Fixed all images except for the specmapexplanation.png

His description of the image if you want to recreate it:
This is an example of the specular map for the stock chaingun texture and its effect ingame:
thelegend
Sith
Sith
Posts: 1433
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:01 am
Projects :: Star Wars - Battlefront III Legacy
Games I'm Playing :: Swbf GTA CoD LoL KH
xbox live or psn: El_Fabricio#
Location: Right behind you :)

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by thelegend »

AceMastermind wrote:Fixed all images except for the specmapexplanation.png

His description of the image if you want to recreate it:
This is an example of the specular map for the stock chaingun texture and its effect ingame:
Wow thanks Ace. I believe he was referring to the stock chaingun texture from the assets and its specular effect ingame. Just let me take some Screenshots. I am going to link them here for you.
Thanks again, Ace.
AQT
Gametoast Staff
Gametoast Staff
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:55 pm
Location: SoCal, USA

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by AQT »

The stock chaingun texture doesn't have a specular map texture nor does the stock chaingun model have specular enabled. He was referring to a custom specular map texture that he created for the stock chaingun and how it looks in-game on a model using the stock chaingun texture with specular enabled. I'll try to post the example and screenshot.

EDIT

Here it is:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Image
First post updated with new image. Is it just me or are the other images still not working? :o
User avatar
AceMastermind
Gametoast Staff
Gametoast Staff
Posts: 3284
Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:23 am
Contact:

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by AceMastermind »

AQT wrote:Is it just me or are the other images still not working? :o
No it was me too, I don't know what happened between today and yesterday. I reset the share permissions and they are back now, see if they're still broken for you, if so i'll upload them somewhere else.
jojo3450
Rebel Warrant Officer
Rebel Warrant Officer
Posts: 317
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:29 am
Projects :: No Mod project currently.
Games I'm Playing :: starwarsBattlefront2
xbox live or psn: No gamertag set

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by jojo3450 »

Great Job this help out alot of people
AQT
Gametoast Staff
Gametoast Staff
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:55 pm
Location: SoCal, USA

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by AQT »

@Ace: Images are still not working. :(
User avatar
AceMastermind
Gametoast Staff
Gametoast Staff
Posts: 3284
Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:23 am
Contact:

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by AceMastermind »

How about now? :)
AQT
Gametoast Staff
Gametoast Staff
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:55 pm
Location: SoCal, USA

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by AQT »

All visible now! Thanks for all you do. :thumbs:
User avatar
giftheck
Droid Pilot Assassin
Droid Pilot Assassin
Posts: 2218
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:58 pm
Projects :: Star Wars Battlefront Legacy

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by giftheck »

On shadowvolumes, how does one go about making one for a unit from an already-textured and enveloped mesh? Would I create a duplicate version, lower the polygon count and remove all texture assignments on that mesh/ If so, how do I go about doing that last step?
User avatar
Anakin
Master of the Force
Master of the Force
Posts: 4817
Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:37 am
Projects :: RC Side Mod - Remastered - SWBF3 Legacy
Location: Mos Espa (germany)

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by Anakin »

That's the way i always do it.

duplicate the msh, don't forget to freeze M. Next steps:
modify poly. mesh>poly reduction > play around with sharpness and preserve volume, too.
Freeze M
Explorer>expand the poly mesh>select the material>klick delete
Freeze M

If you want you can delete under Clusters the UVing, too. But you needn't.
User avatar
giftheck
Droid Pilot Assassin
Droid Pilot Assassin
Posts: 2218
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:58 pm
Projects :: Star Wars Battlefront Legacy

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by giftheck »

Thanks for clearing that up for me :)
Marth8880
Resistance Leader
Posts: 5042
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:43 pm
Projects :: DI2 + Psychosis
Games I'm Playing :: Silent Hill 2
xbox live or psn: Marth8880
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Contact:

Re: [Guide] Make models look as good or better than Pandemic

Post by Marth8880 »

DarthD.U.C.K. wrote:Bump/Normal and Specularmap
Not much explanation needed, its a combination of both bump/normal and specularmap

Creation:
The specular map needs to be put in the bump map's alpha channel. To do this, open the bump map in your favourite image editing application, apply a mask to the bump map and copy the specular map in the mask.

Integration:
To normal/bump and specularmap a surface, apply the rendertype "28".
In the "texture 1" slot insert the name of the bump/normal map with .tga extension.

You need to have your lighting setting on high to see the bump map.
If you have your lighting setting on medium this flag will be interpreted as specular map flag. This means that you also have to put the specular map in the diffuse texture's alpha channel if you dont want people who play on lower settings to see your model looking all plasticy.
In order to make the specular map show up, your map requires a directional light that has "Cast Specular" enabled.

Example:
Here is the Clone Commando without and with specular and normal map, I didn't have the white Commando in the map so I had to take this one which makes the normal map not that recognizeable:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Image
It's worth noting that you'll get the best results if you apply the specular map to the alpha channel of the normal/bump map as well as the alpha channel of the diffuse map. This is pointed out in the documentation:
[color=#FFFF00]misc_documentation[/color] wrote:Bump Mapped with Specular

Render Type: Render Bumpmap+Glossmap (Rendertype #28)
Data 0: NOT USED
Data 1: NOT USED
Texture 0: diffuse texture (gloss map in alpha channel)
Texture 1: bump map texture (gloss map in alpha channel)

Description:

A bump mapping object with specular is useful for shiny surfaces (such as metal) with groves where you want the groves to be highlighted. The gloss map is useful to give the surface an uneven shine.

Comments: In order to adjust the specular power associate the selected polygons with a XSI Phong material. The color of the material effects the specular color and the specular decay controls how big the specular spot is. The larger the specular decay the smaller the spot will be.
Like, it'll still work with the specular map only in the normal/bump map's alpha channel, but it'll look best when it's in the alpha channel of both the diffuse and normal/bump map.

I can post example images comparing them if needed/desired.
Post Reply