Any good 3d Studio Max forums about?
Discussion
That are good for help and tips?
Unless anyone can answer a very quick and easy question here, I'm still learning Max (v8) and have maybe been doing some things via a long route and to maybe save some time......so.
My question is, is there a simple and easy way to combine a number of objects into a single object?
To give you the scenario I have a car model made up from many different objects. I want to create an accurate shadow for it This will be used in a game so what I need is just a black textures shaped model matching the car that when converted in the game will appear under the car and show the accurate shape in the shadow. So I need a single object exported from Max to convert into a single GMT file to be used as the shadow.
Unless anyone can answer a very quick and easy question here, I'm still learning Max (v8) and have maybe been doing some things via a long route and to maybe save some time......so.
My question is, is there a simple and easy way to combine a number of objects into a single object?
To give you the scenario I have a car model made up from many different objects. I want to create an accurate shadow for it This will be used in a game so what I need is just a black textures shaped model matching the car that when converted in the game will appear under the car and show the accurate shape in the shadow. So I need a single object exported from Max to convert into a single GMT file to be used as the shadow.
Hi,
Two easiest ways of achieving that is to either drop one component to a mesh, then from within the mesh editor for that object just attach all the other objects (by clicking the attach button) or create a boolean and attach the sub objects (create/compound/boolean). I'd prefer the first option as booleans tend to get a bit messy, and with a single mesh you should be able to apply materials by face id so it all still looks correct.
Mitch
Two easiest ways of achieving that is to either drop one component to a mesh, then from within the mesh editor for that object just attach all the other objects (by clicking the attach button) or create a boolean and attach the sub objects (create/compound/boolean). I'd prefer the first option as booleans tend to get a bit messy, and with a single mesh you should be able to apply materials by face id so it all still looks correct.
Mitch
mitchp said:
Hi,
Two easiest ways of achieving that is to either drop one component to a mesh, then from within the mesh editor for that object just attach all the other objects (by clicking the attach button) or create a boolean and attach the sub objects
Mitch
Two easiest ways of achieving that is to either drop one component to a mesh, then from within the mesh editor for that object just attach all the other objects (by clicking the attach button) or create a boolean and attach the sub objects
Mitch
That worked perfectly, didn't think about that approach. I didn't use all the objects in the import and I'll have to trim it down as the shadow GMT file created after the convert from 3ds is 2.2mb which is too big I think and will effect game speed if there are 30+ cars with those shadow so I'll edit it and cut it down to those which are most commonly producing a shadow. But the effect is just what I was after.
Thanks
Now I know I can quickly combine objects to create a perfect shadow I can take some time to make it smaller in size removing like parts that aren't shadow reflecting like almost all of the wheels above car floor level which are quite high poly. I can cut them off above the body floor and remove a few other bits too by easily editing them before I merge them.
I can also use the same technique to create a perfect collision mesh for the car.
I can also use the same technique to create a perfect collision mesh for the car.
Don't know if the studio max forum is any good but a useful bunch of forums here:
www.postforum.com/forums
www.postforum.com/forums
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