[TEC] Ambient Occlusion Tutorial

skwasjer · 06-05-09, 06:16 PM

You can use color in an AO-texture. Just understand that full white allows the original underlying color to pass through fully, where black fully blocks it. So when having some pixels as 'red' in an AO map, it will essentially only allow the red channel of the texture underneath to pass through. The technique can be used in a limited way though, since you can't paint/overlay white colors this way. It is however perfect for darkening areas of a model, or even tuning the colors a bit (due to light sources or whatever).

For adding text to a specific place on a ship, I recommend using decals. This is a simply geometric flat mesh, positioned close to the side of a wall for instance, and then you put a (transparent) texture on it. But you'll need a 3D program to create that mesh though.

runningdeer · 06-05-09, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skwasjer

You can use color in an AO-texture. Just understand that full white allows the original underlying color to pass through fully, where black fully blocks it. So when having some pixels as 'red' in an AO map, it will essentially only allow the red channel of the texture underneath to pass through. The technique can be used in a limited way though, since you can't paint/overlay white colors this way. It is however perfect for darkening areas of a model, or even tuning the colors a bit (due to light sources or whatever).

For adding text to a specific place on a ship, I recommend using decals. This is a simply geometric flat mesh, positioned close to the side of a wall for instance, and then you put a (transparent) texture on it. But you'll need a 3D program to create that mesh though.

Thank you for the reply. Been trying to figure this out for a long time.

Thats not to say that I completely understand what you said, lol, but I sort of understand about using/applying a decal using a mesh...I think.

But...I have a place to start now! Thank you for that

.

ichso · 06-06-09, 02:35 AM

Nice ...

The S3D is able to export the 3D-Model of any submarine ( open it's .dat file and find point 5 in the list called "Node - NSS [type]", open it and right click on 3d model to export it as an 3d object.

The use something like http://www.blender.org (it is free) and there import the model again (don't bother trying to open the file, import it). There you can change the 3D Model, save it and import the updated one back via S3D again.
Thanks skwasjer

It is of course much more complicated to keep up with other mods editing the .dat file. Because supermods and whatever like to edit stuff there and you would have to keep adding your own changes to the newest versions to keep up with them if they update their mods.

keltos01 · 07-10-09, 02:15 PM

bump ! another should be sticky

keltos

keltos01 · 07-23-09, 01:56 AM

bump for Sledgehammer 427

othr · 11-03-09, 11:23 PM

First of all forgive me as I really don't know anything about 3D and this question may seem very silly.

I exported a VIIC from an SH3 .dat file and performed the steps you described. Could this ambient occlusion map be now used to add shading to the boat's model instead of using the old SH3 'SHD' nodes?

Like so? Thanks in advance.

othr · 11-04-09, 10:36 AM

I managed to pull it off, thanks for the tutorial!

Now only if I could do the same for the conning tower

06-05-09, 06:16 PM	#1
skwasjer The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,549 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 3	You can use color in an AO-texture. Just understand that full white allows the original underlying color to pass through fully, where black fully blocks it. So when having some pixels as 'red' in an AO map, it will essentially only allow the red channel of the texture underneath to pass through. The technique can be used in a limited way though, since you can't paint/overlay white colors this way. It is however perfect for darkening areas of a model, or even tuning the colors a bit (due to light sources or whatever). For adding text to a specific place on a ship, I recommend using decals. This is a simply geometric flat mesh, positioned close to the side of a wall for instance, and then you put a (transparent) texture on it. But you'll need a 3D program to create that mesh though. __________________ S3D - Silent 3ditor (v0.9.9) - S3D homepage - Open sourced S3D file parser API's - SUBSIM thread SH5 mods: Speech Recognition for SH5 \| Digital UI Clock Tutorials: [TEC] Import/export 3D models to/from game using S3D [TEC] How to work with the model viewer in S3D - VIDEO

06-06-09, 02:35 AM	#3
ichso Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Germany's oldest city alive Posts: 1,066 Downloads: 57 Uploads: 0	Nice ... The S3D is able to export the 3D-Model of any submarine ( open it's .dat file and find point 5 in the list called "Node - NSS [type]", open it and right click on 3d model to export it as an 3d object. The use something like http://www.blender.org (it is free) and there import the model again (don't bother trying to open the file, import it). There you can change the 3D Model, save it and import the updated one back via S3D again. Thanks skwasjer It is of course much more complicated to keep up with other mods editing the .dat file. Because supermods and whatever like to edit stuff there and you would have to keep adding your own changes to the newest versions to keep up with them if they update their mods. __________________ My Subskins: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=164169

07-10-09, 02:15 PM	#4
keltos01 Silent Hunter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Milan Italy Posts: 4,999 Downloads: 114 Uploads: 18	bump ! another should be sticky keltos __________________ "Honorable Builder of Sinking Ships"

07-23-09, 01:56 AM	#5
keltos01 Silent Hunter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Milan Italy Posts: 4,999 Downloads: 114 Uploads: 18	bump for Sledgehammer 427 __________________ "Honorable Builder of Sinking Ships"

11-03-09, 11:23 PM	#6
othr Mate Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 54 Downloads: 83 Uploads: 0	First of all forgive me as I really don't know anything about 3D and this question may seem very silly. I exported a VIIC from an SH3 .dat file and performed the steps you described. Could this ambient occlusion map be now used to add shading to the boat's model instead of using the old SH3 'SHD' nodes? Like so? Thanks in advance.

11-04-09, 10:36 AM	#7
othr Mate Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 54 Downloads: 83 Uploads: 0	I managed to pull it off, thanks for the tutorial! Now only if I could do the same for the conning tower