Basic 3D S.Max 5 - Chapter 1: Modelling and UW-Map

[xXMephistoXx]

Basic 3D S.Max 5 - Chapter 1: Modelling and UVW-Map

Ok, in this chapter of my tutorials we're going to learn how to model, skin(only UW) and export a 3D Model for Warcraft III from 3D Studio Max 5.

1.:	3D Studio Max 5 with Wc3 Art-Tools
2.:	MDX Pather

1.:	Magos' Wc3 Model Editor
2.:	Wc3 Viewer

1.:	Modelling it:
2.:	Unwrapping it:
3.:	Adding a Material:
4.:	Exporting it:

		First of, we're going to make a Box. Press the "BOX" button marked in the picture and draw a box(You first draw the length and width, then when you release your mouse-button, you choose the height). Then press the "Modify" button, also marked in the picture. Here you can choose your model's specifics(Length, Width, Hight and Planes pr. side). Set this as you want it, but it may be smart to set it like me if this is your first time modelling.
		Now, right click on the "Box" text marked in the picture. Select "Convert to:>Editable Mesh"
		If you've done it right you'll now see that the "Box" text changes to "Editable Mesh".

		Now select the "Modifer List" and choose "Unwrap UVW". Now select "Select Face" adn click the "Edit" button. The big window on the left side of the picture should now appear. Now select one of the sides and press "Planar Map" as shown in the picture. Later, if you decide to make more models, you could play around with this a little, and see how it all works and how to make good unwraps. Now repeat that stage for all the sides.
		Now you'll have a square in the "Edit UVWs" window. Select all the vertexes(the corners). Then select the "Scale" button as shown in the picture and scale the entire square down a'bit, so that the model will not go beyond the skin.
		Now you need to convert it back to "Editable Mesh", but this time just right-click in the window showing the model. Convert to>Editable Mesh, and you've got yourself a box with Un-Wrap!

		Now we're going to add a skin to the model. This we'll do by entering the "Material Editor" as shown in the picture. When you've opened the material-window. Now press the button showed in the picture labeled "Standard". Then a new window will pop up. Select Warcraft III from the bottom as shown in the picture.
		Now the menu to the left will change drasticly, but the only button you need to worry about is the "Diffuse" button. Press it and a new window will appear. Double-click on "Bitmap" on the top and select the skin you would like to use for this model(Remember! Have to be a ".TGA" with an "Alpha Channel"!). I would suggest you turn off "Show End Result", since it allows you to see the skin more clearly.
		You see? Now (while having your model selected) press the Assing Material to Object(The marked button to the left in the picture.). The model now has that Material assigned to it. If you've done it right, it should turn gray. To see the Skin on the model, we have to press the other marked button in the picture, "Show Map in Viewport". That'll make the ksin visible. If you can't see the ksin on the model, you've done something wrong.
		Tada! We now have a finished model with a skin!

		To export the model we have to have Wc3 Art-Tools. Go to File>Export as shown in the picture. Select a destination and set the file-type to "Warcraft III Model (*.MDX,*.MDL)" and press save.
		When a warning appears, just click OK, it has to do with animations. In the folder you exported your model there should be two files: "'Your_model_name'.mdx" and "'Your_model_name'.blp"(In addition to some other files you might have saved there, like the "'Your_model_name'.MAX" and such. First: Create a new folder called "Textures". Place the "'Your_model_name'.blp" in it.
		Then open up the MDX Pather and open your model(*.MDX). Add "Textures\" to the path of the skin. Save it adn it should all work fine! To test it, open up in Wc3 Viewer or Magos' Model Editor.

And you have a finished model!

Follow This tutorial to learn how to import it to your map.



If you learn something from this tutorial, it was a good one!

 

[madcat2]

What?(15 limit)

 

[xXMephistoXx]

Sry, I have a shortcut to play music on my keybord, but when I pressed it, I submitted the thread... :S

 

[BlinkBoy]

the tutorial is too basic, tthere r advanced tutorials that do the same as yours but go further, maybe you should add something to make your tutorial more unique?

 

[madcat2]

Sry, I have a shortcut to play music on my keybord, but when I pressed it, I submitted the thread... :S

I wondered if that was the case xP.

 

[xXMephistoXx]

@BlinkBoy: This is supposed to be simple, so that the ines that haven't got the knowledge will have an easy time beginning with modelling.

@madcat2:

 

[BlinkBoy]

the problem mephisto is that it is way too simple, you should try atleast teaching how to use the basic modelling tools like extrude, collapse, etc. The rest of the tutorial looks fine, so keep working on it.

 

[xXMephistoXx]

It's a kinda "Work-Flow" Tutorial, so that's not what I'm trying to teach here, that'll be in a later tutorial(if this gets accepted) called "How to enhance your models".

 

[BlinkBoy]

oh ok, sorry I misunderstood ur tutorial purpose's; how about you add some basic animation like up and down and adding note keys, maybe edit the curve and set controllers. All that is inside the work flow.

 

[xXMephistoXx]

It's coming in another tutorial Maybe the mods'll decide to fuse them all into one, but for now I'll take one step at a time...

 

[Sephiroth_VII]

You should Make the tutorial have you make a complex model with particles, animations, and using several different textures with teamcolor, transparent ect, that covers everything you would ever need to know to make a cool model. But keep it at this simple level its at now.

 

[xXMephistoXx]

I don't even know all those things myself, but I'll put some of it in a later tutorial, "Enhancing your models".

 

[Elfsilver Lord]

Or you can make an icon and assign it to the SammyCube.mdl...

 

[xXMephistoXx]

Ofcourse you can, but that wont teach people how to model, would it?

BTW: How's that skin for my town hall coming along?

 

[Kofi_Banan]

I agree with Blink its a bit too simple. Going with this newbe can create a skinned primitive. What about anims and creating more complicated shapes
Quality of tutorial itself is good.

 

[xXMephistoXx]

It's coming more tutorials, maybe I'll get one done within a week...

 

[Nihilism_Is_Death]

thanks for the intro!

 

[xXMephistoXx]

thanks for the intro!

No problem; it's great that people are still using this!