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Autodesk Multimedia Forum · Autodesk 3D Studio

materials

7 messages in this thread

#127563From: john h grabauOct 6, 1994 6:06 PM

Hi, I am new to 3DS and plan to make some material libraries this weekend. My questions are: 1. Regarding the best way to organize one, what is a good way to name materials to allow for future derivations? 2. What is the advantage of using one file format over another as provided in Texture Universe (TGA vs GIF)? . . . I thought it could be the color bit translation (24bit-> 256 color 3. Best way to avoid fliping between CD-disks with source files or will texture universe be able to handle all my needs Thanks, jhg

#127625From: Jonas Ruikis [ADESK]Oct 6, 1994 10:30 PM

Hi John, << 1. Regarding the best way to organize one, what is a good way to name materials to allow for future derivations? >> There's no universal answer here. Libraries are very personalized. However, you can embed into the texture map images multiple keywords so that you could create specific searches using an image browser. << 2. What is the advantage of using one file format over another as provided in Texture Universe (TGA vs GIF)? . . . I thought it could be the color bit translation (24bit-> 256 color >> One advantage is disk space utilization with GIF's vs TGA's. << 3. Best way to avoid fliping between CD-disks with source files or will texture universe be able to handle all my needs >> You may end up copying the texture maps off of several seperate CD's into one project specific directory on your hard drive.

#127641From: Don LandisOct 6, 1994 11:22 PM

I find myself designing a special MLI file for each project (read client project) When I'm through I just archive the project including the mli onto my archive QIC-80 and date it for future reference. I have a whole collection of these tapes dating back to the first job I did on 3DS r1. I only keep the default MLI on my system.

#127745From: Gayle G de N, SAVANTESOct 7, 1994 2:01 PM

Hi John – Buy Steven Elliott et al's book "Inside 3D Studio" and live your life by it! Crown books and Kroch&Brentano's have it. If only this book had been around when I started, my materials libraries are not all that would have begun better organized! There is a really lucid discussion specifically of setting up materials libraries, pros and cons of different file types, memory requirements and materials/mapping, and the hows and whys of tileable maps – it's wonderful. Gayle G de N, SAVANTES

#127753From: john h grabauOct 7, 1994 3:18 PM

Thanks Jonas, Don and Gayle! You know it has been along time since I felt this type of excitement to learn a(nother) program. Next week I am going to a week-long conferance at Lake Placid dealing with analytical cytometry (measuring stuff in cells). I am anxious to see if others are using 3-d animation to present science topics/info (besides NASA and some defense contractors) at that level of info exchange (ie not broadcast). Many in my research lab at Wright-Patterson AFB thought the jump to color overheads made in-house was a revolutionary event last year (compared to B&W photocopied . . . boring!!). I have great expectations for 3DS! thanks again, jhg

#127857From: Gayle G de N, SAVANTESOct 8, 1994 9:14 AM

John, Stay in touch with me. SAVANTES' business is science education and medical illustration and I may have a pretty good handle on the kind of things you may be trying to illustrate. Gayle G de N, SAVANTES (FWIW, Ph.d. in Neurobiology)

#127952From: Phillip L. MillerOct 9, 1994 9:18 AM

Glad you like the book! – Phil