Creating Models and Scripts

Figure 01

Run Serious Modeler (Figure 01).To create model from 3d geometry file you need 3d object supported by Serious Modeler. Press CTRL-N or select New from file menu. Requester opens asking you to click on 3d object file you want to create model from. Select Headman.lwo and voila model is created (Figure44).
Note: if 3d object doesnt contain UV data, error message will be shown.

Figure 44

Press CTRL S or Save from file menu to save model with name HeadMan.mdl (you can save it under different name pressing Save As from file menu).

Once model is created in folder with objects file , 4 additional text files are created:

• .scr (script) is necessary part of model creating. Model can be created either from script file or 3d geometry. When model is created from 3d geometry, script file is created (examine Listing 03 for full script explanation). Script can be easily accessed (s shortcut) and changed. Changing some settings (like changing object's geometry, texture size, number and polygon distribution in mipmodels etc...) in script requires model to be recreated from existing script while, some like adding/removing and adjusting model's animations require model to be updated (Update model's animations).
  
  
• .h (header) in which animations names, colision boxes and attachment names are saved.This file is created for usage in engine's AI for character.(Listing 01)
  
  
• .ini which contains pointers to all model's textures (diffuse, reflection, specular and bump), pointers to attachment models, pointers to model sound files , thumbnail settings for saving thumbnail file (Listing 02)
  
  
• .map in which texture map coordinates for all mipmodels are saved, pointers to attached sounds, names and definitions of collision boxes and pointers on patches.
  
  

Once script is created and model saved, its time to edit script and adjust some settings. First, press s shortuct to access script and change model's TEXTURE_DIM line (2.0X 2.0Y is by default) to 1.0 1.0 . As you can see in Listing 03, by default Headman.tex (name of model plus suffix .tex) is added. Since Headman is multifunction model instead of TEXTURE HeadMan.tex line add this 4 lines:

TEXTURE BomberMan.tex
TEXTURE FireCracker.tex
TEXTURE Kamikaze.tex
TEXTURE RocketMan.tex

NOTE: for creating and adding textures manually please reffer to Basic tutorial.
This 4 textures are skins for 4 models derived from basic headman model. Save script and click on Recreate model from script icon or press CTRL SHIFT S shortcut. After recreating you should have Headman looking like on Figure 45.

Figure 45

Browse thru textures (PAGE UP/DOWN shortcut) to see how they change on model. Model size is now ~90kb. For easy editing script and model can be on screen is same time. From WINDOW Menu click New Window and then enableTileVertically checkbox. Select left window and access script. Modeler should look like on Figure46.

Figure 46

Having both, script and render view opened in same time will speed up process of model creation and adjustments.