3D Game Programming All in One

3D Game Programming All in One • By Kenneth C. Finney

Chapter 13Modeling with Milkshape

Modeling with Milkshape • Milkshape 3D • Low-cost 3D modeling tool • Supports plug-ins for importing and exporting models • Continual evolution of software adds new features

Modeling with Milkshape • Milkshape GUI • A window contains the program • The program contains frames • One frame contains viewports which display views • A view shows an object or scene from a particular angle • Another frame contains the modeling toolbox

Modeling with Milkshape • Milkshape GUI • Upper-Left Viewport : Front View • Upper-Right Viewport : Right View • Lower-Right Viewport : 3D View • Lower-Left Viewport : Top View

Modeling with Milkshape • Milkshape GUI • Toolbox tabs: • Model tab • Groups tab • Materials tab • (Joints tab missing from book illustration)

Modeling with Milkshape • Navigating in Views • To move around in wire-frame views, click-drag the cursor while holding the Control key • To zoom in or out, click-drag with the Shift key (except in Select mode) • Use mouse wheel to zoom also

Modeling with Milkshape • View Scale & Orientation • In the front view: • X-axis: positive going up • Y-axis: positive to the right • Z-axis: positive to the front • Right-handed coordinate system

Modeling with Milkshape • View Scale & Orientation • Become familiar with model scale and axis orientation and how they relate to in-game appearance • Calibrate your model scene scale • The Left Viewport in Milkshape is used as the Right View in Torque

Modeling with Milkshape • Lab 3:The Soup Can Revisited • Work with a simple shape primitive—a cylinder • Assign a material • Export as a Wavefront obj file to unwrap

Modeling with Milkshape • UV Unwrapping • UVMapper is used to work with exported can • Refer to Chapter 9 for more discussion of UV Unwrapping

Modeling with Milkshape • Lab 4:UVMapper • Learn to use obj model exported from Milkshape • See how to generate unwrapped layout template for pre-existing skin • Learn to export new unwrapped version of model as obj file • Learn how to import obj file into Milkshape

Modeling with Milkshape • Lab 5:Enhancing the Soup Can • Practice modifying a Milkshape model • Alter the Soup Can to have an opened lid • Practice exporting a Milkshape model with the ms2dtsExporter

Modeling with Milkshape • Menus • File • Save, open, import, & export files • Edit • Select, duplicate, undo, redo, hide, unhide • Vertex • Vertex snapping, welding, mirroring, modify vertices

Modeling with Milkshape • Menus • Face • Reverse, divide, smoothing, winding • Animate • Set, delete, copy, paste keyframes • Tools • Access plugins and user tools • Window • Window selection, display adjustment

Modeling with Milkshape • Toolbox • Model tab • Create and modify vertices, faces, cylinders, spheres, and boxes • Groups tab • Organize polygons visually or logically

Modeling with Milkshape • Toolbox • Materials tab • Create and modify materials using textures • Joints tab • Select and assign joints for skeletons

Modeling with Milkshape • Preferences • Viewport tab • Adjust viewport settings • Misc tab • Adjust animation, joint, & autosave settings

Modeling with Milkshape • UVMapper • File Menu • Edit Menu • Help Menu

Modeling with Milkshape • UVMapper • File Menu • Load models • Import UV coordinate data • Save models • Export UV coordinates

Modeling with Milkshape • UVMapper • Edit menu • Adjust settings • Vertex tools • Select and Assign to groups • Rotate • Create UV Maps

Modeling with Milkshape • UVMapper • Help menu • Obtain stats about model • Hotkey help

Summary • Milkshape is well-featured shareware modeling tool • Pay attention to side view variation between Milkshape and Torque • Calibrate model scale when starting • Use plug-ins for more features • UVMapper integrates with Milkshape via .obj files

3D Game Programming All in One