Playdough-ish er

Community Forums/Developer Stations/Playdough-ish er

IKG(Posted 2006) [#1]
*EDIT* I somehow messed up the title of this thread. It's supposed to say "editor", not "er"


If you haven't seen this video from an earlier thread, you probably won't know what I'm talking about: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1734727723734486891

The beggining when he is first making his creature out of a blob. That's what I mean by Playdough-ish ;)

Anyway, is there any modeling programs out there that allow you to do something like this? I don't have time or talent to learn 3D modeling on the side when I am doing everything else in my game. It would be so great if there was a simple 3D editor which could allow you to create objects as easy as Robin Williams did in that video above (the blob part, not him adding everything else to his creature).

Hope I made sense!


smilertoo(Posted 2006) [#2]
that works cos the whole system is designed for it, nearest thing i can thing of is zbrush.


IKG(Posted 2006) [#3]
That's what I was thinking of. I was also thinking of "Animation Master", but both are so expensive.

Too bad :(


fredborg(Posted 2006) [#4]
Not exactly the same, but SmoothTeddy is cute and free: http://www-ui.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~takeo/java/smoothteddy/index.html

ZBrush is great and well worth the price, but it really requires some additional software (for low poly modelling) to be useful for game graphics.


Pongo(Posted 2006) [#5]
edit: removed,...answered the wrong question.


IKG(Posted 2006) [#6]
Thanks a bunch, fredborg! I'll be trying that out later tonight :D

Edit: It saves to .asg format. I've never heard of it, but I'll do some research to see if there's a convertor.

Edit 2: Damn. Looks like this is made for Java applications.


Doggie(Posted 2006) [#7]
http://cosmicblobs.com

Pretty close and does save in obj format but high polygon count.


IKG(Posted 2006) [#8]
Wow, that looks even better :D

I'll check that out now. Thanks!

As for large poly counts, this may be a possibility for me: http://www.thegamecreators.com/?f=action3d

Edit: Damn! There's no demo, although I watched some of the movies and they look perfect for what I'm trying to do. Doggie, are you sure you can export to .obj? I can't find anything about that on the site so I need to be sure before I buy.

Edit 2: Nevermind. I don't know how I missed the free trial on the front page. Downloading...

Edit 3: I tried it and enjoyed it. Only problem is, I can only export to .wrl (whatever that is). Where did you hear you can export to .obj?

Edit 4: Yes! It finally works! I downloaded a converter called "3DWin5" and it all loads into B3D perfectly. Thanks so much!


Actually, the only thing I haven't figured out yet is how to load the m odel in with the textures. I don't think Cosmic Blobs exports the textures :(


Garion(Posted 2006) [#9]
RE Action Reducer

Here is the main site for it, I use the pro version as and when required and its really good.

http://www.action3d.net/

Cheers

Garion


IKG(Posted 2006) [#10]
I don't know about it now. It really sucks that the program doesn't export textures with the model.


Jams(Posted 2006) [#11]
is your keyboard broken IKG?


IKG(Posted 2006) [#12]
Nah, I think the computer I was using has some sort of a block/filter for certain words. I'll use this computer to post now.

If anyone knows of a really easy and cheap program to draw right onto 3D models, please tell me! I tried the Unwrap3D demo but it's too hard.


trb(Posted 2006) [#13]
This might be what you're looking for

http://www.blitzbasic.com/toolbox/toolbox.php?tool=37


Doggie(Posted 2006) [#14]
Hmmmm. It's been awhile. I could've sworn it was obj but maybe it was wrl. At any rate wrl(virtual reality format)can be converted. I could've sworn it did at least the color if not the texture. Well, it basically makes it easy to get a model made...you can try curvy3d.com too but it's a little different animal.


IKG(Posted 2006) [#15]
Well like I said earlier, I converted it succesfully. Thing is, I don't think the textures save with the . They are saved with the program's file format document (when exported, a document and .wrl are saved).

In other words, the textures are a part of the program. That's why I'm looking for an easy-to-use program that I can draw directly onto the with.


Garion(Posted 2006) [#16]
Is Tattoo still on the go?

I had it, but lost it, It allowed yoo to paint onto the mesh?

Cheers

Garion


GfK(Posted 2006) [#17]
http://www.terabit.nildram.co.uk/tattoo/


IKG(Posted 2006) [#18]
I can't find any help files or tutorials? Could someone please tell me a quick way to start painting? I loaded the mode| and "texture view" window but no luck.

Thanks!


Ross C(Posted 2006) [#19]
Just paint straight to the model. You need to unwrap it first though. Don't bother with the texture view part.


IKG(Posted 2006) [#20]
That's what I thought at first, but I couldn't find any way to do it. How do you unwrap a model?


trb(Posted 2006) [#21]
If you load a model into Tattoo, you should be able to start painting right away. If the model is not UV mapped, the model will still appear in the window; however, you will not be able to paint at all. As far as I know, Tattoo does not have the ability to create one for you. Just a guess, but it sounds like cosmic blobs isn't creating one either..

You may want to have a look at Ultimate Unwrap http://www.unwrap3d.com/ This is a great tool to unwrap and/or create a map


karmacomposer(Posted 2006) [#22]
There is a program called Organica. I do not know if it is available any longer. It was by the makers of Imagine (a 3D animation and modelling app).

They used to have www.coolfun.com

I'll see if I can find it - but that program was one of the 1st blob modellers and is massively easy and surprisingly powerful to use.


IKG(Posted 2006) [#23]
That would be perfect! I took a look at some random screenshots on Google, and it looks great.


IKG(Posted 2006) [#24]
I still can't find Organica =/


AdrianT(Posted 2006) [#25]
it reminds me of mettaballs somewhat. There are similar types of tools avaliable for 3dsmax that work in a similar fashion, Someone sells a set of scripts called polyboost that have a load of really nice tools that can do to some of the stuff I have seen in spore and more.

You would probably need to have one of the meshsmooth modifiers on to keep it organic looking.




http://www.polyboost.com/features_modelling.htm