Hi again,
sorry for all the questions but this is my first BAT and I am very keen to have it finished. I have already posted these questions a couple of days ago in my BAT thread (see my signature) but thought this might be a more likely place to get a response. I think my number one issue is that I have created this on a landmark LOT but I want it to be a farming reward. I assume I am going to have to entirely re-LOT this. What, in the event that it can't all be transferred somehow, should I be building it on?
Any ideas how to reduce the amount of gravel in the front carpark without removing the carpark or changing the 5 by 5 layout?
Also any other advice/criticisms gratefully accepted. Bring it on, I can take it.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2Fna5LK.png&hash=8f049d17429072605b9fb3abc42cae9f93cb47ea)
A farming reward, like the State Fair? Interesting. You'll need to create a new Reward building exemplar (preferably using SC4PIM), then create the new lot. But once you've done that, you can simply copy over all of the lotting by copying the LotConfigPropertyLotObjects, for the textures and props, then changing the LotConfigPropertyLotObject for the building to match your original.
Of course once that's done, you'll need to work on the LUA to trigger the reward.
As far as the carpark, how about some real parking spaces? I doubt that anyone with a gravel parking lot would have such maintained gardens for their entry. Also, I'd say shift everything over to the left, and put more trees and such on the right side as well.
thanks a lot xxdita, :thumbsup:
Unfortunately I don't understand how to do much of what you suggested. Exemplars? LUA? LotConfigPropertyLotObjects? I will keep hunting for articles to explain these terms but if anyone can speed up this process it would be great. (FWIW this is also my first SC creation fullstop, I've never made a LOT before either)
I am very happy that I won't have to redo all the props, thanks for letting me know.
I have to disagree with you on the carpark though, this is modeled on the family business, Shottesbrooke Winery, and that's how the carpark is.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2Fc5Zkt.jpg&hash=42d97f7067cd34a717dad5c6a8c1539e4b559215)
Ah ok then. Take a look at your original lot in SC4PIM.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll see stuff like this:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk301%2Fditareinvented%2FScreenShot106.jpg&hash=b226f8aced09b9e52449b3c20ddc00215137d878)
So just highlight all the props and textures, and right click on Copy Properties:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk301%2Fditareinvented%2FScreenShot107.jpg&hash=c8591af4641ae97715aea483a4ef44e12a350ea9)
Now Paste those onto the new Reward Lot.
I strongly suggest you download & read the SC4PIM User Guide (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2257), as it will explain a lot of this.
thanks again xxdita,
(there was more here but I've already answered my own question so I removed it)
(First off, as this has become PIMX specific, I am assuming it should be moved elsewhere?)
I haven't got far with this, after a bit of a poke around, and a scan through the user guide, I occupied myself elsewhere for a while.
I understand your advice xxdita, up until you say "now paste those onto a new reward lot" How do I do this?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FIzA0W.png&hash=c0ce7b02d632c2f3577761f3db731d6016793a71)
Also if I try and drag the model name it comes up with this message, is this normal?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FR4AwS.png&hash=41b4e3729c4b7becc0a8650371e0fee07be4d820)
To copy the properties, just highlight them, and right click, selecting Copy Properties. ::)
And I don't have any problem creating the building exemplar for the State Fair. Or is that what you were trying?
thanks xxdita,
I should have been more specific.
I know how to copy, I'm just not sure how to create the new reward LOT. I found the reward section in the left hand column, do I drag it onto one of these pre-existing ones (you mention the state fair one) I don't get what the next step is after copying the properties, thanks.
I'm afraid that thingfishs can't copy properties from one exemplar to the next. It isn't possible in the public release version of SC4PIM, sorry. You can, however, do that in iLive's Reader.
Making a reward lot is quite complex and you should study some of the BSC Rewards to see how they work. Daeley has also posted an introduction to making rewards (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=1010.0). You should read this before attempting to make a reward. If you would like help to do this I can make the basic reward lot for you and send it back to you for lotting.
Thank You Barby :thumbsup: :thumbsup:,
I appreciate your offer. I'll admit I didn't know quite was I was getting into when I started all this, and the project has become larger than anticipated. What I want to do with the winery is reflect it's RL story (the vines were planted 10 years before there was enough money to build the winery). I have made some vineyard LOTs and was hoping there was a way that if you planted enough of those (combined with some other condition/parameter-I'm still learning the terms) that you would get the winery as a reward. Is this possible?
If so I would appreciate any help I can get at this point. (what would I have to send you?-I want to get my head around all of this eventually, but for now my brain hurts and I am keen to tackle other ideas)
It is very possible to do what you want as I can add the necessary counter to a reward. This would, however, mean that it would depend on BSC Essentials to work. All I would need is the model and a note of what size lot you want together with the conditions you would want for it to be rewarded. I would also need to give you an OG for your farms and fields so they could be counted. I can do that with instructions on how to add it to your lot.
It does not have to be a State Fair and I could edit your lot to be a reward. In that case I would just need your lot, not the model, together with the conditions you want and also the type of jobs you want adding. It is better to have jobs added as that then makes it a game asset.
Thanks again Barby,
I'm slowly learning, but still each response at this point seems to be causing more questions. What is an OG? I'm also a bit confused about the different alternatives you offer. What's the best way to achieve the vineyards/winery reward chain I am proposing?
As far as adding jobs goes I certainly intend to add them to the winery but was also hoping there was a way to add them to the vineyards as well. I'm under the impression job enabled LOTs have to be connected to roads. The vineyard LOTs I have created are 1×1 and 5×1 tiles long, allowing the user to create vineyards of any size, but only those closest to a road will actually be in contact with it. So therefore I am assuming the jobs won't work. (does that make sense?) If I'm understanding that right would a possibility be transit enabliing the vineyards to pedestrians?
As far as numbers of jobs go I have no real idea what to suggest. In real life Shottesbrooke Winery has 5-6 full time staff, but many more in vintage (harvest) and at other key times of year. How is this best translated into SC?
I thought that you had made growable farms for your vineyards. The OG is an Occupant Group number given to a base growable lot like a farm or field to count the total growing in a city. Mikebear and I did a similar thing with his Mediterranean style farms. For 4 vineyards growing a special lot was offered - Castello di Chianti.
Your vineyards sound as though are going to be eye-candy park lots which won't work with this system. You would need to make the 1x1 a growing field to be "attached" to - ie to grow with - a farm. The farm "building" could be anything including a row of vines but would need to be made as a farm to grow. The farm could be made as a 5x1 or a 1x1 and the 1x1 fields attached to grow with it.
When it comes to adding jobs to a lot you need to follow the guidelines given in SC4PIM and the thread about making the Filling Degree higher to allow for extra buildings on a lot. It may be RL to have only so few jobs but SC4 isn't RL and we have to work on the guidelines given by Maxis via their PIM. It may seem unreasonable to have 200+ jobs for a winery but it will depend on the size of the building and the lot. Otherwise a lot will be unbalancing the game.
If you have any more questions, please ask.
Okay, thanks for the info Barby :thumbsup:
Well it sounds like making them growable is the way to go, I'd prefer that they were functional. What I wanted to control with the manual placement idea, was the winery growing in an area with too few vines, but as you say, number of vines can be factored in to the growing approach too. I just want Shottesbrooke to appear only when someone has a lot of vines, so it looks like a real vine growing area. I also don't want them growing in too smaller areas. How much control do you have over the size of the vineyards that will grow?
I'd also like a bottle shop to be involved in this chain as well, either before or after the acquisition of the winery. If it came after, is that something I could worry about further down the track? (after releasing the winery)
As for jobs if it's 200, it's 200, I realise it has to fit in with the game.
Another question I have regards the size of LOTs. At what point do we stop emulating reality? What I mean is it's been suggested the winery LOT is too large already, and yet compared to RL there's much that is missing (a couple of sheds, rainwater tanks etc) This is a rural building and so is a bit more spread out. How much of this is factored in? How big is too big?
QuoteHow much control do you have over the size of the vineyards that will grow?
The control depends on the size zoned. It does, however, then depend on what other farms you have in plugins at the time. A farm has to have road access and a minimum zone size 2 tiles each side of the farm size - ie a 5x1 farm needs to have a 7 x 3 zone size. Unfortunately in SC4 we have no way to stop any other farms growing unless the vineyard is the only custom lot and you block Maxis farms. It can be done for a special city tile but for normal play it would not be possible to replicate what you are seeking.
A lot is as big as it needs to be. I think possibly the criticism given that your lot is too big is because there is so much unused space on it. Fill it with more items like the sheds/rainwater tanks etc and also reduce the gravel area at the front. That doesn't look enough like your real place as the gravel area seems twice the size of the RL one.
I understand what you are trying to do but think you need more knowledge of the workings of SC4. I like what you are doing and do hope we can help you to get it into game.
thanks Barby :)
I hear what you're saying about game mechanics, and so now I intend to have as you suggested, a certain number of vineyards (higher than 4) grow and then you receive Shottesbrooke as a reward. At a later date I intend to add a bottle shop as a further reward (for maintaining enough jobs at the winery, or whatever the parameter has to be.)
I have the winery just about finished now: http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=9362.80
I want it to occupy a 5×5 LOT. (it's currently on a 6×5 LOT because, I think, of the placement of the main building in gmax. I centred it on 0,0,0 without change.)
Can this last grass row just be ignored in the transfer to SC4PIM, or do I have to figure out the gmax problem?
I also want to add a few customers and/or winery workers as timed props. Can anyone suggest any appropriate props (animated or not) for such a purpose.
If you send the lot and model for the building to me at my email address I will have a look at it and see what I can do. I will also need the farms and fields to add the OGs for you. I won't touch any lotting or anything else, just do what modding is needed. Once I have finished you can add the people or you can do them first. There are a number of people/crowd props in the Maxis props. They do appear and disappear so should do what you want.
Okay then, thanks a lot :thumbsup:
I just have to get the vineyards finished. What sized LOT etc do arrange them into? I don't know how farms work.
If I can add people afterwards then does that mean I'll still be able to change other things? I would still like to prune off a dependency or two as far as the garden is concerned.
Hi,
sorry to dp, but it's been three days, and I haven't been able to find the info elsewhere. I'm sure I'm probably missing something simple somewhere, but I still don't understand how to go about making farms. Can anyone tell me what size I need to make them? Is it just a 1×1 square that fills the space that you zone by replicating itself? I am confused...
thanks
A farm itself can be any size you want but it must have at least one growing farm field attached to it. A field is attached to it in the building exemplar of the farm. I suggest you look at some of the farms and fields available to see how they work. The farm grows and the fields then grow around it to fill the area zoned.
Hi,
These are some examples of where I am up to with the farms/fields. I have been using couchpotato's seasonal grapevines but want to make them truly seasonal (with a leafless winter period) so with his her permission I am in the process of modifying/creating this.
(ignore the tractor in each shot, it was just there as a measuring device. However I was hoping it could appear randomly in the vineyards as a timed prop. Can this be done with a growable farm?)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FXWpvP.png&hash=4c6c702399629821eab9f58b3e55a790e22cb2dd) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FyitUB.png&hash=b1cfb26b87ab22bcfd83713338aa76110a0f1d82) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2F4gWht.png&hash=ab699d76adc4d9636f48c44cb3602d50ca5f2dc1)
Also the posts at the very end of rows (called strainer posts) are wider and lower than the other posts (along the lines of what I have done in the winter/bare version) Will these work in game or will I have to make them the same as the other posts? (in the interest of only having them at the end of rows) Also will these be able to grow up hills, how is this best achieved?
I'm sorry but I still don't understand quite how I'm supposed to format these but I'll keep trying.
(Also should I start a farm specific thread somewhere with this?)
As for turning the tractor into a timed prop, this thread has a tutorial on just that: http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=4789.0
Nice looking farm! &apls
QuoteHowever I was hoping it could appear randomly in the vineyards as a timed prop. Can this be done with a growable farm?)
I guess you want the tractor to grow in the fields?
Remember that a field tile is 1X1. And as near as I can tell you've created a farm lot that is 5X5. So if you zone a 15X15 farm and if a winery grows on it you'll have total 225 tiles minus 25 tiles of the farm leaving you with 200 field tiles.
So let's say you put a timed tractor on your new grape vine field tile. There will be 200 tractors appear and disappear.
How to control the number or placement of tractors? I think I'd make the winery somewhat large. Let's say - oh 8X8. A small 5X5 section looks like the farm lot and the rest of the farm lot is made up of grape vines that look just like your field. Perfect place to put a timed tractor prop. It would appear to be in the field but you can control the numbers. Perhaps that's what you have in mind but I can't tell from reading your question.
Just had another thought - you could Mod a tractor so that it acts like the Maxis irrigation sprinkler or Maxis field worker. But I haven't the foggiest on how to do that.
The grape vines on the field lot is made up of 4 seperate props. So from that standpoint they are fairly slope conforming. Not perfect but good enough.
Strainer Post! Ha! You certainly know more about grapes than I do. If you're asking for advise? I'd try to make the strainer posts look as close one can to the originals. The casual gamer will otherwise have a rather dramatic change during the winter months. Obviously, it's your project.
thanks Elric & Jim. :thumbsup:
Quote from: jmyers2043 on January 01, 2010, 05:03:01 PM
Just had another thought - you could Mod a tractor so that it acts like the Maxis irrigation sprinkler or Maxis field worker. But I haven't the foggiest on how to do that.
Yes, that's what I'm after, does anyone know how to do this?
Quote from: jmyers2043 on January 01, 2010, 05:03:01 PM
The grape vines on the field lot is made up of 4 seperate props. So from that standpoint they are fairly slope conforming. Not perfect but good enough.
Can you explain this further? What 4 separate props? Why does number of props make a difference? confused ()what()
Quote from: jmyers2043 on January 01, 2010, 05:03:01 PM
Strainer Post! Ha! You certainly know more about grapes than I do. If you're asking for advise? I'd try to make the strainer posts look as close one can to the originals. The casual gamer will otherwise have a rather dramatic change during the winter months.
1: I grew up in a wine growing area with the winery I am creating as the family business, so yeah, I've picked up a few things. (but know nothing compared to my brother ;))
2: I am assuming though that if a field has to be a 1X1 that you would then have strainer posts in every tile across a field, which will look wrong. So I will just use the one kind of post throughout the vineyard...?
Thanks for the help and please don't hesitate to tell me where I'm going wrong, I want this winery to be good.
Quote from: thingfishs on January 02, 2010, 12:55:30 AM
Yes, that's what I'm after, does anyone know how to do this?
Can you explain this further? What 4 separate props? Why does number of props make a difference? confused ()what()
1: I grew up in a wine growing area with the winery I am creating as the family business, so yeah, I've picked up a few things. (but know nothing compared to my brother ;))
2: I am assuming though that if a field has to be a 1X1 that you would then have strainer posts in every tile across a field, which will look wrong. So I will just use the one kind of post throughout the vineyard...?
Thanks for the help and please don't hesitate to tell me where I'm going wrong, I want this winery to be good.
If you look at the following picture you can see that there are four vine props on the field. This field is from the BLS Farm Fields pack. By using four props the field has a chance of growing reasonably well on slopes. The Maxis grape vines are one single prop covering the whole field and can give some strange effects on slopes.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy171%2Fbarbyw%2Ffourvineprops.jpg&hash=4722bb98246f7a7f8e6f5d558bef8f259cb33655)
Each of the vines is seasonal in two states - green or gold as you show in your pictures further up. It cannot be made to have a third state - ie bare for winter - so would need an additional prop that would be stacked on top of this one and with everything modded accordingly. (BTW couchpotato is a her ;D not a he)
The Maxis irrigation sprinkler is modded to have a random chance of appearing at certain times. The tractor would need to be set to similar properties.
A growable farm field cannot be bigger than 1x1 so the strainer posts would appear on every field that grows. This is another case where RL cannot be truly recreated in SC4 and compromises have to be made. You could make your winery and fields as eye candy lots and then make them exactly how you wish but to make a growable farm and a reward is not so easy without compromise.
Quote from: BarbyW on January 02, 2010, 01:19:10 AM
(BTW couchpotato is a her ;D not a he)
um...yeah oops &ops Melinda, not really a guys name is it :D
Thanks for the info there Barby :thumbsup: I'm starting to understand how these work now. The only problem I have with the BLS version (and many farms in SC) is that they look a field of boxes, not long rows of vines. I assume/hope that orientation of the tiles can be controlled, and then if I extend the vines a bit it might better convey the impression of continuous rows?
In regards to adding the bare prop and modifying the tractor, any further advice on how to start?
Also my winter version has individual vine, post and weed props (many more than four) is this a problem and should I be putting it all together in gmax as one piece like the original ones are?
Ok so this is a work in progress but I've had a go at a 1 by 1 vine LOT that joined together gives the impression of continuous rows. All of this is dependent on absolute orientation control which I'm hoping exists. The current post arrangement, and vine textures and probably base texture will all be changed but I'm getting closer.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FopRkT.png&hash=b3d2cb15554cce0bbe74e635b3a8bbadccd6ce89)
Rather than a triple post I'll just add my update here.
This is version 2, it's slowly improving, still nothing like couchpotato's original (despite using the same vines)
I have used an alpha map for the leaves in this version as well as a new texture and post arrangement. Still not liking the posts themselves but am still focused on getting the textures for the vines, trunks and ground right.
I will also add another vine to each side of the tile to make the rows join up.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2Fyp9jC.png&hash=f1d8eb7bf7845e3b39ed959e1c392ee06dcdf3e2) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FM3ykb.png&hash=064da0e666c43f8fa0d0e8f1b2b1aac58bb79da8)
I like the colors on your last picture but there are an awful lot of posts there.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi127.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp132%2Fmcauslandm%2Fbourgogne-france.jpg&hash=c078da809ae74bc8187bf053e1fc2bb260006591)
Also, sent you an alpha leaf image to try.
Thanks couchpotato,
I don't have a better shot of our vineyards at hand but the way vineyards are laid out locally is three vines between each post, with 1.5m between each vine resulting in posts every 6m. The frequency with which I have laid them out isn't too far off this, but there are something like 5 or 6 vines between each post. I don't really know how to compromise here. Should I enlarge the vines? Do I decrease the frequency of the posts by 33% like you increase the size of buildings (which would result in even more vines between each post?)
I think the posts are too fat & too tall, looking at the established vines in the back of my photo the posts aren't really visible during summer.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FbjEDW.jpg&hash=2adb547e17af1e5067ab2cfb535052be57e1682a)
I have also included versions of the leaf texture and alpha that I used on the last version. I don't know why it didn't work, I'll try again with your leaf.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FCf9B8.png&hash=1b9374b37a30652fc756491ff9995c7a2681e89c) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FVUw3D.jpg&hash=b2c981ad1c2b18e4bdb44b49eabb784f88b25555)
thingfishs, you will never get a completely RL version of what you are trying to do. You have to compromise within the limits if the game. Remember that if you want growable fields then you are limited to a 1x1 field size which will limit the realism of the vines. Unfortunately you cannot make a field to grow with some having less posts or no posts at the end. Although different fields can be attached to a farm only one will gorw at a time. The only alternative is by making ploppable eye candy fields.
Hi Barby,
I think you misunderstand what I'm doing. What I've created is a 1x1 lot, I'm not suggesting making multiple versions with different post arrangements, just debating how I will arrange the posts within my 1x1. However I've realised adding further vines to the edge of the LOT to make the rows seamless isn't going to work, as can be seen in this shot, when they are arranged right next to the winery the vines actually stick through the wall.
I know I am bound by the limitations of the game, I just don't know what all those limits are yet. Please don't feel that I am ignoring your advice, it's just going to take me a while to fully understand it all.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FCkj7y.jpg&hash=4b5d0e1ae461a3268224b048b929417286baa431)
Quote from: thingfishs on January 05, 2010, 02:29:45 AM
Thanks couchpotato,
I have also included versions of the leaf texture and alpha that I used on the last version. I don't know why it didn't work, I'll try again with your leaf.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FCf9B8.png&hash=1b9374b37a30652fc756491ff9995c7a2681e89c) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FVUw3D.jpg&hash=b2c981ad1c2b18e4bdb44b49eabb784f88b25555)
Your leaf texture looks great. Maybe BAT is just being difficult which it's known to do. ???
Well I tried again (with the alpha map) and couldn't perceive any change so I've gone back to your model couchpotato. (maybe I'm doing something wrong, I'll post some photos next time to show you how I am applying it)
As I've said I've been trying to arrange the 1x1 field so it better represents continuous rows, with some success.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FemgcY.png&hash=6919e74dce8fc7a812e2b7264ae52707e5ef6874)
This first image shows two different attempts, the patch circled in red is closer to what I am trying to avoid, the second one in blue is, from this angle at least, closer to what I am trying to achieve. (plus an example of it in autumn/fall mode)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2F3SeJB.png&hash=695aa4d06a2de0f524ae31dc5337570b1fe09c25)
But from this view it's still boxy, not as bad as the earlier version but if it can be improved still I'm keen. Because of the way couchpotato's prop is laid out (with posts on each end) it's hard to avoid the box effect. With my version I was able to avoid it (more so) but they look pretty poor compared to couchpotato's. I will keep trying to improve my version, but if anyone has any thoughts on any of this please let me know.
Okay, so I haven't given up on making my own version of the grapevines. In case I'm doing something wrong regarding the alpha maps which I'm told aren't working, I'll show how I am applying them:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FK57TU.jpg&hash=0dfcd69dda9c35c5a446982f3d43d7d6a1741da5)
first I am selecting all the leaves
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FbjdO9.jpg&hash=f406bb146bbd78a45df0ac9c779506119379f9e8)
then physically dragging the texture into the material editor (if I do it the normal way, by clicking new, the maps control goes away)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FzLkvv.jpg&hash=85947d1c4b99b0f851270d29a056b2f0ea5f9421)
then I am applying the alpha in the maps section, that's it.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FCSj1f.jpg&hash=54966ad5fb0ec97422394f25b57f689c38596f37)
Also a couple of shots of my latest attempt. This version is essentially seamless from both angles, but is missing posts at the end (and still looks amateurish, but I think is improving)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FxVEV6.jpg&hash=42267d058549c055cbf1b192dcaa537e263b3255)
I've had a go at replicating couchpotato's effect of "floating leaves" that really makes her model look like the real thing, but I've still got ways to go.
Something else I've noticed when comparing hers to mine is how much bigger hers are. When I try to access non-uniform scale to stretch them up a bit (which seems to me the thing to do, tell me if there's a better way) and I change the z axis value, it only changes the z axis placement of the model without distorting it at all. ()what()
I have tested alpha map, it works fine good leafs
Don't know why you have a bad effet with it &Thk/(
I tested those grape vines and they're the ones I used. Here's how I applied the textures
The opacity bitmap slot holds the black and white image. Anything covered in black is hidden while the white areas will allow the diffuse color.
The Diffuse bitmap slot can be any color you want for your leaves... it doesn't have to be a leaf shape.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi127.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp132%2Fmcauslandm%2FAlpha-step1.jpg&hash=d8496c6ba25fc8b1d4fe9f8379bf1ea9968cb8d7)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi127.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp132%2Fmcauslandm%2FAlpha_step2.jpg&hash=a880cf6b5db5cc4e2cf9f2fb45473f9b7cbd6d3f)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi127.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp132%2Fmcauslandm%2FAlpha_step3.jpg&hash=d64dbfa7da3cdfadc677c16962e7ceb5d5d8245e)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi127.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp132%2Fmcauslandm%2FAlpha_step4.jpg&hash=ee1560cc34537d460afc1caf62cbdbd00ec212ef)
That graduated green is the texture used on my grape vines. Found it finally. 2004 was a long time ago.
Thanks Lynn :thumbsup:,
I've had another go and it seems to have worked somewhat, this is the result this time:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2F8KT4s.jpg&hash=1360a7a8e1dd96aa27a1e8bfc41926ec51d65d61) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FEwCTI.jpg&hash=640adc4bb31bcf63167332a87eac898f12131620)
The changes I made were entering the alpha map via the opacity bit that you circled (as opposed to the one in the maps drop-down - don't know if there's any difference), as well as using your suggested texture type (rather than my leaf) and your (narrower) leaf alpha map. (oh, and I checked the two-sided box) I can certainly see more of the trunks so it's obviously doing something, but is still a long way from looking like yours. Why is the bright part of the texture centered in the middle? Am I not supposed to select all the bushes and then apply the texture, will doing it one bush at a time avoid this?
Also any advice for how best to achieve your floating leaf effect?
-I noticed in my material editor I only have the one ball, not the six you have in your shot, how come? Also do you know how to make my coloured axis pointers come back?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FdR9IS.png&hash=d25256bdeedf2b5817b0fcd87af8fa5df226c91a)
The building lot looks really good. :thumbsup:
I was using 3ds max instead of Gmax. When you apply the UVmap did you choose face for the leaves?
Try this texture instead of that really light colored one
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi127.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp132%2Fmcauslandm%2FGrapeMJB.jpg&hash=fd3dd66edb525e928e11a571bf29fc911f92fb48)
Thanks couchpotato :thumbsup:
I tried that texture but the result was initially too olive but after some greenification in PS I was happy with the result. I have tried using face in the map controls but found it reduced the overall thickness of the foliage too much, they are currently just in box mode. I reordered the vines and made a second version so the tiling wouldn't be so obvious but there's still one lighter coloured bush causing problems. I think these are actually starting to look half decent, what do you think?
I have also got two varieties of weeds to add realism on ground level, including your "spiney plant", which has come in handy, it's not so easy finding little green props. (there's glamour in weeds too... :))
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FC82a6.jpg&hash=536c01588b365a656a50ea8b7b6e5a32f59e3160) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FPQVys.jpg&hash=f1ed6d3c146a90a5c9ac261076eb4a9eb39de8e9)
I sorted out the lighter bush issue, I had made a couple of single vine versions as well to fill in gaps but they were still textured with the previous version. So here they are now...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FIZgPd.jpg&hash=c06336cef301b9378637b4f047e03dfd3fec6053) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FAZID6.jpg&hash=1c164b06a92abb5d46bb8c7e8bbe357e0370ce71)
Well things are getting close to being finished with the winery so I have diverted all further progress with the vineyards to my BAT thread: http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=9362.new#new, Thanks to everyone with their help with the vines. :thumbsup: