Professional 3D Modelling Software for free

[Seeadler]

Caligari released their new version 7.6 of the 3D Modelling Software Truespace for free (formerly $700).
http://www.caligari.com/

Only a registration on their website is required to download the main software and manual, plus you get access to training vidos, now available at no charge.


exported SH4 Kongo class opened in Truspace
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/91/3063991/1280_3032386230383135.jpg

[Digital_Trucker]

Thanks, Seeadler:up:Certainly can't beat the price.:o

[Mickle]

Thanks!
:D
Interested to see how it compares to 3dsmax and alias.

[EAGLE_01]

Really! Thanks. My son will love this...:rock:

[Sailor Steve]

:o WOW! That's a pretty amazing price reduction!

Thanks!

[William516]

Just downloaded it myself thanks for the tip off, by the way what did you do to open the ship is the editor program like that?

Bill

[Seawolve44]

Heck, thats a great deal! I'm hoping now that theres a great modeling software that will enable someone to make a model for IJN Nagato class battleship (Nagato and Mutsu.) I find it quite odd why ubisoft never added this elegant class of post-WWI superdreadnoughts which had eight 16 inch guns as its main armament. The Nagato class became the most powerful battleships in the Imperial Japanese Navy through the 20's and 30's until the Yamato class came into service in 1941. Thats been a thing I've sought to do, however I just don't have much skill in 3D modeling. Just thought that'd be an idea to motivate anyone who wants to model a new class of warship that would greatly enhance the pacific theater of action.

Btw I found a model on turbosquid for $79, pretty expensive as it is, sure gets my eyes watering. I just hope in time, not just I myself, but every submariner can get a chance to torpedo one of these.

Link: http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/311802

http://files.turbosquid.com/Preview/Content_on_6_14_2006_08_59_23/nagato1.jpg9b98ee0b-d65e-468c-9e62-59f94b6a50b0Large.jpg


Cheers!
-Seawolve44

[keltos01]

nice, I wonder if it's easier to learn than 3ds :hmm:, but you can't beat the price !;)

[peabody]

nice, I wonder if it's easier to learn than 3ds :hmm:, but you can't beat the price !;)
I had Caligari a long time ago before it was TrueSpace and hated it. I am not even sure it will do the correct type of modelling. I did d/l it but it is not triangles. I don't know if that feature has been added, like I say it was yrs ago. It used to be a 3D that only started with primitives and modeled from there. But maybe editing verticies has been added???? I lost interest in it and never went very far and then 3D programs became so expensive I never got back into it. The only other one I ever owned was Carrera. (except for Imagine for Amiga which was the best)
It was meant more for animations and cartoons than detailed editing, at least as much as I learned. That doesn't make it a bad program, just not what I thought it was going to be. I did read that it has been bought by Microsoft so I wonder what the catch is for it being free. :roll: The site lists it at $595 if you click on products.

Peabody

[keltos01]

with them you never know, f.i. I use Firefox not IE

[Seeadler]

nice, I wonder if it's easier to learn than 3ds :hmm:
In my job I work mainly with 3DS MAX.

I will test TS7.6 over the weekend to see how the editing process works and whether this software is able to export in appropriate formats for the import into SH3/4. The obj import works as seen above:)

BTW:
Microsoft has bought Caligari and offer this for free only for a limited period.
They want in this way introduce this software for game developers for the development of next generation console games.;)

[keltos01]

Downloading while it lasts then ....

[peabody]

Still don't know how he got that ship in there. I know Read the Manual.:rotfl:

Peabody

[Seeadler]

Still don't know how he got that ship in there.
1. export a SH3/4 model with Silent 3ditor v0.9 as *.obj file
2. in Truespace click on model tab
3. in the right upper corner of the model viewport a menu "TS6 files" appears
4. in this menu is a load function
5. load object and select your *.obj model
:|\\

[peabody]

Still don't know how he got that ship in there. 1. export a SH3/4 model with Silent 3ditor v0.9 as *.obj file
2. in Truespace click on model tab
3. in the right upper corner of the model viewport a menu "TS6 files" appears
4. in this menu is a load function
5. load object and select your *.obj model
:|\\
Thanks Seeadler.

Peabody

[DS]

Hi,

I'm taking this weekend to try to build a GUPPY tower. I've downloaded the software, and can export and open the 3d hull models fine, but can't find the file with the conning tower models. Does anyone know where they are?

[peabody]

Hi,

I'm taking this weekend to try to build a GUPPY tower. I've downloaded the software, and can export and open the 3d hull models fine, but can't find the file with the conning tower models. Does anyone know where they are?

Objects folder is conning towers.

Edit: I gave it a try with the TS6 and it does show as triangles which SH4 needs, so it may work. I haven't tried saving or importing back to S3D.

Peabody

[DS]

Hi,

I figured that, but when I open the files (.DAT, .ZON, .CAM, etc) inside using S3D, I can't find an exportable 3d model of a conning tower (specificaly the early war Gato tower that I want to use as a starting point for a GUPPY tower).

[DS]

OK, I think I got it. The Tambor .DAT files has the early war tower that I think that other later boats (Gar and Gato) use.

Thanks anyway.:up:

[Effigy]

This is probably a stupid question, but do these 3d modeling tools also allow you to skin stuff (either export the skin or rework them right there in the 3d app)? From the looks of the example up there that's all gray, I'd guess probably not? But trying to find the right files for textures in SHIII or IV I'm coming up emptyhanded. So I have to assume you need some kind of program to interpret the texture files.

For example, I try opening the .tga files scattered around the SH folders in photoshop, and PS wont open them. I assumed these were the textures, i.e. --- targa image file format? I guess not?

[peabody]

OK, I think I got it. The Tambor .DAT files has the early war tower that I think that other later boats (Gar and Gato) use.

Thanks anyway.:up:

I think the Gato and Gar use the same tower but there is a different entry for Tambor. If you found the 3D object node, you can use the new 3DS and look at each one to see which is closer to what you want to try.

Peabody

[swdw]

Thanks for the link-

This sentence will date me. The last time I tried Caligari was on the Amiga.

[William516]

Great program recommend watching some of the vids and tutorials before trying it as it can get quite frustraiting LOL.

Once you have edited an object and saved it using the new 3d program, what do you need to do to get it back into SH4.

I dont want to give away my secret project, especially if it does not work correctly, but i have made an object complete with animations and would like to now try this on SH4 to see if it works at all before even making a "WIP" post.

It seems that SH4 handles animations of objects and people seperatly compared to the 3d object itself.

If someone can explain this to a dummy like me, lol that would be great.

Thanks

Bill

[peabody]

Great program recommend watching some of the vids and tutorials before trying it as it can get quite frustraiting LOL.

Once you have edited an object and saved it using the new 3d program, what do you need to do to get it back into SH4.

I dont want to give away my secret project, especially if it does not work correctly, but i have made an object complete with animations and would like to now try this on SH4 to see if it works at all before even making a "WIP" post.

It seems that SH4 handles animations of objects and people seperatly compared to the 3d object itself.

If someone can explain this to a dummy like me, lol that would be great.

Thanks

Bill

Only thing I know is you import the 3D object and the node number has to be lower than the node it is in. So you may have
node:19 secret project
node:18 3D Object
node:20 label for node 19

then animations go under this, which I can't help with. The one time I tried importing a 3D object (other than reloading one I had exported) the 3D model kept coming out of the node because I did the node, then 3D, then label and it wouldn't stay put. Then I found out the object has to be lower number and linked to node.

Peabody

[William516]

I may end up making a seperate post to get an answer then. Thanks for the help. I notice that alot of people are using a different program to do 3d work in.

I'm trying to make an object from scratch, its not all that complicated but it does have animation built into it.

So far i have the 3d model, with skeleton and a recorder animation using the 4d software inside truespace. i'm not sure what to do with it from there.

I'm guessing that in SH4 i would need to create a new folder in the "SEA" folder and then place the needed files.

I'm lost though on how to get this to work correctly.

All the tutorials i have found on the site deal with taking a ship already created in the game and exporting it modding it and importing it back.

Nothing is really said about the animations or the file structure.

I will have to try and disassemble one of the mods to see where all the files go.

Thanks for the help, is there anyone that has created something from scratch got it in the game that would be able to help.

It this point even just the 3d model mesh in the game would be a start, the animations well that will have to come later.

Bill

[kiwi_2005]

I remember they did this with version 3 a few years ago.

[Raptor1]

A bit pricey, but I think it's in my budget...

Anywho, I hope this one turns out to be good, most of the 3d software I've used up to now always had some sort of quirk that turned me off

[ivank]

i cant find a exportable obj file in S3D where are they?

[peabody]

Thanks for the help, is there anyone that has created something from scratch got it in the game that would be able to help.

Bill

All of the subs Keltos makes are from scratch, unless he runs into a problem then he sometimes uses a standard hull until he get the problem corrected. But his towers are definately from scratch. It may be a bit busy, but might be able to help. Right now he is on .....well, I say vacation he says holiday....:lol:.

Peabody

[Seeadler]

tip:
click on this icon and navigate to the luuv directory and install the luuv extension. This a 3rd party plugin to import/export OBJ files (the icon left of this one)
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/91/3063991/1280_3633343261623065.jpg

this OBJ importer can't read DDS textures mapped on a model but other formats like *.jpg, *.tga. If you use an exported model from SH4 you must convert the DDS textures in TGA's and edit the material (*.mtl) file. to see the model textured in Truespace.

Truespace can output textures as DDS but not with the OBJ exporter. If you want to create DDS files you must save the object as *.x export file

[Carotio]

Just curious, now that I have dl'ed the files:
the PDF and video are exe files...? :hmm:

Do I need to worry about this?

[Anvart]

For russian members:

trueSpace 7.6: íîâàÿ âåðñèÿ 3D-ðåäàêòîðà òåïåðü áåñïëàòíî

http://www.3domen.com/modules/news/images/user/3d/2005/03/truespace.jpg Âûøëà íîâàÿ âåðñèÿ 3D-ðåäàêòîðà trueSpace 7.6 (http://www.caligari.com/Products/trueSpace/tS75/brochure/intro.asp). Íà÷èíàÿ ñ ýòîãî ðåëèçà, ïðîãðàììà ðàñïðîñòðàíÿåòñÿ áåñïëàòíî. Íàïîìíèì, ÷òî â ôåâðàëå ýòîãî ãîäà ðàçðàáîò÷èêà trueSpace ïðèîáðåëà (http://www.3domen.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4805) êîðïîðàöèÿ Microsoft. trueSpace áóäåò àëüòåðíàòèâîé Google SketchUP, è åå îñíîâíûì ïðåäíàçíà÷åíèåì ñòàíåò òåñíàÿ ðàáîòà ñ ïðîãðàììîé Virtual Earth.

Îäíà èç îñîáåííîñòåé trueSpace - âîçìîæíîñòü ðàáîòû íàä îäíèì ïðîåêòîì â âèðòóàëüíîì òðåõìåðíîì ïðîñòðàíñòâå äëÿ íåñêîëüêèõ ÷åëîâåê. Äëÿ ýòîãî íåîáõîäèìî èìåòü âûñîêîñêîðîñòíîé äîñòóï ê Èíòåðíåò. Ïðè ýòîì, äëÿ êàæäîãî ó÷àñòíèêà ïðîåêòà ìîæíî îïðåäåëÿòü ðîëè, è ñîçäàííûå èì ÷àñòè ìîãóò áûòü çàùèùåíû îò êîïèðîâàíèÿ.

 ïîñëåäíåé âåðñèè ïðåäñòàâëåí ýêñïîðò â ïðîãðàììó Virtual Earth - òåïåðü 3D-ìîäåëè, ñîçäàííûå â trueSpace, ìîæíî ñðàçó æå ïîìåùàòü íà êàðòû Virtual Earth. Êðîìå ýòîãî, ïîëíîñòüþ ïåðåïèñàí ýêñïîðòåð â ôîðìàò X, áëàãîäàðÿ ÷åìó ìîæíî çàãðóæàòü ìîäåëè â èãðîâûå äâèæêè íàïîäîáèå XNA. Êðîìå ýòîãî, óëó÷øåíû èíñòðóìåíòû äëÿ ìîäåëèðîâàíèÿ, ïðåäñòàâëåíà íîâàÿ áèáëèîòåêà èñòî÷íèêîâ ñâåòà, óñêîðåíà âèçóàëèçàöèÿ.

Ñêà÷àòü trueSpace 7.6 ìîæíî îòñþäà (http://cart1.caligari.com/web/Truespacemainreg.aspx) (íóæíà ðåãèñòðàöèÿ íà ñàéòå).

[Digital_Trucker]

Just curious, now that I have dl'ed the files:
the PDF and video are exe files...? :hmm:

Do I need to worry about this?
I don't think so. Avast didn't get upset with it and Comodo didn't register either doing anything funky either locally or in connection with the internet.

[Rockin Robbins]

OMG Seeadler, you and Fred with his music files are going to make me buy a new hard drive! Down scope! Make your depth 140'! Ahead emergency!

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

I'm always suspect of 'free' stuff. I've used professional modeling software for a few years. I'll still stick with Lightwave, 3dsMax and Cinema4D. But I think this is good for beginners and I suspect that features found in professional software may not be available in this free distribution.

[Shiplord]

...I suspect that features found in professional software may not be available in this free distribution.
Microsoft has purchased Caligari to get a 3D product on the market that has an interface to their Virtual Earth. Google Earth and Sketchup are the competitors and there is war with Microsoft, now Microsoft new weapon is freeware.:smug:

btw: here is a comparison table with other popular 3D programms
http://www.caligari.com/products/trueSpace/ts75/Brochure/Comparison_tables.asp?Cate=BProducts&SubCate=ComparisonTables

I am a broadcast-developer and we use in our company Maya and Softimage XSI and on some seats the former version of Truespace bought for $499 last year. We are also astound that this new version is now for free with all the former features and new ones available without limitations so far

[swdw]

I'm always suspect of 'free' stuff. I've used professional modeling software for a few years. I'll still stick with Lightwave, 3dsMax and Cinema4D. But I think this is good for beginners and I suspect that features found in professional software may not be available in this free distribution.

Nope, this is the full version with poly and nurbs modeling, skeletons, inverse kinematics, procedural materials, etc.

What hurt them was the lack of good hair modeling and fluid dynamics (cloth rippling).

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

I haven't tried it out yet, does it have an animation mode incorporated into the software or is it strictly for static modeling? I don't see spline modeling including either.

[peabody]

I haven't tried it out yet, does it have an animation mode incorporated into the software or is it strictly for static modeling? I don't see spline modeling including either.
9.2 The Animation Editor in detail

Read the manual you old drunk.:rotfl:. Spline modeling I don't know.

Peabody

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

Ah, Mr. Peabody, I see you now in stinky Samurai Navy.:D

I downloaded it and I'll give it a try but I bet it doesn't stack up with the real professional software.

Ever wonder why they're giving it away for free? Is it a ploy by the CIA to send your personal info? Are the Chinese recruiting unsuspecting spy moles?:D Hell, I'm gonna scan the life outta it for viruses. Call me paranoid but free stuff gives me the willies.

[peabody]

Ah, Mr. Peabody, I see you now in stinky Samurai Navy.:D

I downloaded it and I'll give it a try but I bet it doesn't stack up with the real professional software.

Ever wonder why they're giving it away for free? Is it a ploy by the CIA to send your personal info? Are the Chinese recruiting unsuspecting spy moles?:D Hell, I'm gonna scan the life outta it for viruses. Call me paranoid but free stuff gives me the willies.
Understand that. But Caligari has been around a long time. From what little I know, I don't think it would be the choice to make submarines but maybe cartoons. And you can be one of the toons.

I have to get dated with SWDW, last time I saw it was on Amiga (Amiga Rocks !!!!) Hey SW, not to hijack the thread but I have 2 and one is an original 1000 before they even had the half brite chip in it. (The one with all the signatures under the cover. I haven't seen them, I never took the cover off) Imagine an entire "windows" operating system on one 880K floppy disk, and that was 7 years before Bill stol....I mean invented it.
Speaking of 'Imagine' that was a 3D Program!! Give me a copy of that to run on windows and I'll be happy!!! Keep all you 'professional' junk that takes 27 years to learn and cost 8 million dollars. (of course the dollar isn't worth much now)

Peabody

Peabody

[swdw]

I haven't tried it out yet, does it have an animation mode incorporated into the software or is it strictly for static modeling? I don't see spline modeling including either.
Yes it does spline modeling, you can model in polygons or NURBS ( For others who haven't been around 3D much, NURBS stands for Non Uniform Recursive B-splines)

Sometimes modeling in NURBS can be an issue for games because of the polygon density when converting to polys. At that point the software needs to have a really good polygon reduction (or tessellation) routine built into it.

** BTW, if want an affordable 3D file format converter, try this one:
Accutrans3D http://www.micromouse.ca/

Also, there are additional free Truespace tutorials with videos and resources if you click on the "training" button on their site. They have fundamental courses, master courses, tutorials, and a set of "older" courses. These are different from the video files that are part of the .exe because those are imbedded in the manual. There's a couple of GIGAbytes of additional info in the training section.

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

Keep all you 'professional' junk that takes 27 years to learn and cost 8 million dollars. (of course the dollar isn't worth much now)


It is quite evident that you don't know what you're talking about. In one line you're attempting to flush down the hard work, time and money spent on creating works of digital art by many.:down:

[peabody]

Keep all you 'professional' junk that takes 27 years to learn and cost 8 million dollars. (of course the dollar isn't worth much now)

It is quite evident that you don't know what you're talking about. In one line you're attempting to flush down the hard work, time and money spent on creating works of digital art by many.:down:
Come on DJFL you know I was only kidding!! I only said that because you know I can't do it! Hey, If I don't pick on you, who will? Somebody has to do it.
Of course I don't know how old you are so maybe you don't know, I was talking about a program from about 20 years ago. So compare those graphics to todays work and you know I was kidding.

Peabody

[swdw]

I have to get dated with SWDW, last time I saw it was on Amiga (Amiga Rocks !!!!) Hey SW, not to hijack the thread but I have 2 and one is an original 1000 before they even had the half brite chip in it. (The one with all the signatures under the cover. I haven't seen them, I never took the cover off) Imagine an entire "windows" operating system on one 880K floppy disk, and that was 7 years before Bill stol....I mean invented it.
Speaking of 'Imagine' that was a 3D Program!! Give me a copy of that to run on windows and I'll be happy!!!

Peabody
I wonder if that box is worth something these days?

Actually I started with Sculpt, moved on to Turbo silver, then Imagine, then Lightwave and Real3D. Actually did beta testing and computer graphics show demos of Real3D for a little while.

Those were the days. I had Will, the kid off Star Trek NG, and Spielberg standing at the booth and watching one time. Towards the end I had a 4000, a 3000, and a 500 and did cross platform rendering in Real3D using 2 486's running the Real 3D cross platform rendering engine.

We had an Amiga at work that had a 486 board in it and was used to run Amiga, Dos, and Unix Oses simutaneously and exchanging info between the 3 operating systems in real time. You shoulda seen the jaws drop when people saw that setup.

I got accussed of having an SGI behind the desk when I did a class on 3D at a computer show. The people about fell over when they found out it was my 4000 running 4 different programs on 4 different screens simultaneously with no observable slow down, and one of them was doing a real time wireframe rendering.

Lessee . . . that was in the spring of 1993!

Things have come a long way. One frame of a sunset in SH4 with a ship in it would have taken 48-72 hours to render in 1991 . . . . if you could get enough memory into your computer to do it.

[peabody]

I wonder if that box is worth something these days?

Well, on ebay right now you can buy a sticker that says Amiga for $4.65 or you can buy the Amiga 1000 for $5.50. Think I'll get the sticker.:rotfl:. Course he's no dope, he wants $72 shipping.
And ya know I forgot I had Real 3D too.

Peabody

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

Sorry Mr. Peabody I forgot to take me Prozac and Viagra.:rotfl: I tried out this free software and it's not bad. It's geared for beginners seeing the pre-made models available. I recommend it to those wanting to get into modeling and further recommend getting professional software for more serious attempts.

[swdw]

BTW, blender has come a long way. Although the interface is . . . different . . . and takes some getting used to. (Import / export to game compatible files is the real question.)

Here's a movie made with it.

http://www.bigbuckbunny.org/index.php/download/

[swdw]

Sorry Mr. Peabody I forgot to take me Prozac and Viagra.:rotfl: I tried out this free software and it's not bad. It's geared for beginners seeing the pre-made models available. I recommend it to those wanting to get into modeling and further recommend getting professional software for more serious attempts.
Pre-made models do not mean it's only for beginners. It just means the company understands beginner friendly features can help with neophytes.

I'd consider this more a beginner to intermediate level software. Most of the advanced features in 3D are needed for organic modeling, character animation, and complex mechanical animations (like the entire inner workings of an engine.)

For structural objects with simple animation- houses, ships, cars, etc. an intermediate level package will more than fit the bill. Since this is the vast majority of whats used in the SH series, you should be able to do whatever you want with Truespace in regards to ships and aircraft. I've seen some top notch modeling work for other sims done in this area with Anim8or and AC3D which have far fewer tools and features than Truespace.

[peabody]

BTW, blender has come a long way. Although the interface is . . . different . . . and takes some getting used to. (Import / export to game compatible files is the real question.)

Here's a movie made with it.

http://www.bigbuckbunny.org/index.php/download/

I saw that video, they did a nice job on it. I actually used Blender to move the bars out of the way on the Maya so I could use it as a bridge. But the compartment I wanted to use was two objects and I couldn't get it to work and keep the textures intact because of the two objects. (and the fact I don't know what I'm doing.) And the interface is definately different.

Peabody

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

I just found out you can't render your mesh in this freebie.:-? I have to download it. Now I now know why it's free.:rotfl:As for Peabody- how do you make a booby trap for a New Yorker?

[peabody]

I just found out you can't render your mesh in this freebie.:-? I have to download it. Now I now know why it's free.:rotfl:As for Peabody- how do you make a booby trap for a New Yorker?

There is a built in rendered, I hit the same button, it is if you are using an external one.

Tell him he won a free trip to Trinadad and all he has to do is buy True Space for $198 and he gets a free trip.

Peabody