Graphic libraries & shadow model
Hi there everybody !
I am assembling several basic material libraries that I’d like to make available with the engine. Several woods, stones and grounds, including texture maps and bumpmaps, each with the an XML definitions file ready to use in your scenes. I’ve found out that not having a minimal set of graphical resources is a big drawback when programming this kind of stuff: you end up using crappy home-made graphics and your progress is less rewarding.
Also obtaining good isometric clipart is really difficult. Not easy to draw, not easy to find, not easy to buy either. To help in this endeavour I have created a 3dmax file with proper cameras and lights that you can merge or xref into any 3d model and will generate sprites with proper perspective. It will be available for download as well. As there’s plenty of 3d models out there I think this the way to go.
I was thinking if this becomes something people really uses, with time people could contribute material libraries and object sets, something like “ancient greece”, “egipt” or “spacecraft elements”. If you have access to an engine and ready-to-use sets of items and materials to build your scenes, you have a powerful tool.
On the other side, release has been slightly delayed because the shadowing model for objects has turned out to be pretty stupid. If you noticed the shadows of the cowboy or the trees in the examples, I’m using the same clip placed over the floor with an ERASE blending mode over the corresponding light, and rotate the clip depending on the light’s source position. Now this looks great with people, trees, poles and this kind of graphics. But, try to imagine a chair or a table rendered this way: it look absolutely awful. And I didn’t realize until I tried !
Therefore I’m adding a more complex shadow model where you can either use a movieClip as shadow model for your Object ( what we have now ) or the geometric equivalent that best aproximates your Spite’s real shape. As this may change the library’s API a little bit, I prefer not to confuse people and delay the release until the API is final.
Sorry ! I will be just a few days.
That sounds great! Yesterday, I did some toying around with a model viewer and began to wonder how I’d go about generating isometric sprites from 3D models. I figured that if I could just modify the models X/Y/Z/ rotation values, I could achieve that isometric perspective and then proceed with capturing each frame of animation in a .gif or something. In short, it didn’t work out that well, so I’ll be looking forward to your 3dsmax file.
Good luck with the new shadow model, too!
PlatSajack said this on March 20th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Sometimes the shadow looks fliped, depending on the object position versus light position. On your character it might pass but if you have an assimetric character, it might showup.
fp said this on March 24th, 2008 at 7:45 pm