3DS max Animation Export Trouble

[jimonions]

I have been working on a multiplayer map for the past 2 months and I am now in the process of adding details. I do not want to post any pictures of the map since I do not feel it is still looking worthy enough. The general setting is a snowy/windy cliffedge and is turning out very well.

I would love to have a blowing tarpaulin type model much like the one in the beginning of l4d on the rooftop.
I have managed to succefully create and animate one in 3ds max with seamless looping using the cloth modifier and wind space warp. I am able to export the referance model However I cannot export the animations.


I have been able to export animations made with rayfire in the past so this is really bugging me.

This is the smd code for the animation: 45 frames and none of them change in values.
In the key filters I have tried selecting all the filters as well.

Code: Select all

version 1
nodes
  0 "Plane001"  -1
end
skeleton
time 0
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 1
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 2
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 3
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 4
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 5
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 6
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 7
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 8
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 9
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 10
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 11
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 12
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 13
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 14
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 15
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 16
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 17
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 18
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 19
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 20
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 21
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 22
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 23
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 24
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 25
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 26
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 27
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 28
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 29
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 30
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 31
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 32
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 33
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 34
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 35
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 36
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 37
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 38
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 39
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 40
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 41
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 42
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 43
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 44
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
time 45
  0 11.457834 0.857860 64.393631 1.570796 -0.000000 -1.570797
end


[ShinobiWan]

Try wall worm's exporting tools. Watch his videos on how they're used. Really usefull!

[kraid]

The smd only stores the skeletal animations, no vertex animation.
AFAIK, you'll have to use a bone structure to archive the waving flag effect.

Right now there's just your root bone which isn't changing it's position during the animation, so the animation smd is exported correctly.

I know there is a possibility for vertex animation in source too, but it's meant to be used for face expressions.
Not sure if it can be usefull for you, but here's a link: http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki ... Studio_Max

[jimonions]

Ok I now have my vta file with the vertex animation but when I try compiling it with this qc file it does not animate, even in face poser.

Code: Select all

$modelname jimonions/tarp1.mdl
$cdmaterials "models/jimonions"
$texturegroup skinfamilies
{
   { "tarp_old"    "tarps"   }
   { "tarp_new"    "tarpaulin_texture" }

}
$body studio "tarp_ref.smd"
$sequence idle "tarpaulin_sequence.vta" loop fps 30
$collisionmodel "tarp_collision.smd" {
     $automass
     $concave
}

[crazycarl]

$sequence only works with skeletal animation. You will need to use $model instead of $body in order to reference the .vta file.

Honestly, I'm not sure if vertex animation has ever been done this way, outside facial expressions. I'd be interested to know if you get it working.

[jimonions]

still not working
If I shouldn't use sequence then what else should I use?

Code: Select all

$modelname jimonions/tarp1.mdl
$cdmaterials "models/jimonions"
$texturegroup skinfamilies
{
   { "tarp_old"    "tarps"   }
   { "tarp_new"    "tarpaulin_texture" }

}
$model studio "tarp_ref.smd"
$sequence idle "tarpaulin_sequence.vta" loop fps 30.00
$collisionmodel "tarp_collision.smd" {
     $automass
     $concave
}

[crazycarl]

Code: Select all

$model "tarp_ref.smd" {
   flexfile "tarpaulin_sequence.vta"
}

I have no idea if you can use Faceposer to simply cycle through the frames of a .vta or if you will need to write some custom code to do it. Normally, vta files are still frames (facial muscle flexes) that are blended together to make facial expressions, so I don't really know of any example code to give you.

Your best bet would be to use skeletal animation for your tarp, to be honest.

[jimonions]

I would have to assign bones to certain vertexes?

I figured that was the only other possible way :p
Ive seen a couple of models like waving flags so it is possible.