#HELP – Vistapro to 3ds
23 messages in this thread
HELP
I am trying to render vistapro landscapes in 3ds. Vistapro has a nice
utility called makepath which allows you to create animation paths
for the camera. It has features like collision detection, banking,
and acceleration. It exports as ascii file of camera x,y,z
coordinates and bank angle but no target information.
I am trying to use the data in 3ds.
I have tried to created a dummy vue file of the same number of frames and
replaced the camera x,y,z with the vistapro data. I set the target to the same
coordinates as the following frames camera position, that way the camera is
always pointing straight ahead.
HERS THE PROBLEM!!!
The path is simple, go straight, bank left, go straight. Before it banks left
it banks right then jerks left. It sounds like a continuity problem but vue
files can only be run from the command line and setting the continuity to 0 in
my prj file doesn't seem to make a difference.
I dont think there is a problem with my data.
The vistapro animation doesn't have this problem.
CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME?
Or does somebody have a better idea of how to incorporation vistapro paths into
3ds.
Or does somebody know of a better way to do good animation paths like this
instead of using vistapro.
THANK YOU
Steve Fielding
I've been trying to do the same thing. I sent Jonas a .vue file
and its subsequent .scr file (using vue2scr utility in Vistapro) to
see if he could find something in common, no response yet. Would
love a scr2vue utility! Could you tell me how you get a .scr file to
ASCII? Do you have R4 and its scripting capabilities? Let me know
if you figure this out.
Paul D. Sanford [LEVEL 5]
75144,2354
So far I basically did my scr to vue process by hand using macros to
record keystrokes but if I can get this to work writing a program to
do this should be no trouble and if I do it I'd be glad to give you a
copy. But I don't know if this continuity problem can be overidden
from the command line , If that is the problem. Another possible
solution is to convert the script file to a dxf file the load it in
3ds. The advantage is you could manipulate it in 3ds, disavantage is
no banking and how could you adjust banking when every frame is a
keyframe which is what would happen I think ?
I have a scr2vue utility , I will upload it in the utilities
directory.. I don't know if it works. I really didn't try it. John
wrote it for me when I had asked him for it a few months ago..
Fred:
Thanks! I remember John working on it, but I didn't know how far
he got with it.
Hi Paul,
<< to see if he could find something in common, no response yet… >>
I haven't gotten to it yet.. Sorry. My in basket is growing in leaps
and bounds while I sit here at home sicker than a dog..
Argh… I feel for you during your massive cold. Stay in bed and get lots of
rest!
– G
>> I haven't gotten to it yet.. Sorry. My in basket is growing in leaps and
bounds while I sit here at home sicker than a dog.. <<
Put me low on your list, I won't need a solution for several
weeks, and can work around it if need be. Take care of yourself!
Paul
P.S. Do people really get sick in California? Our lows are already
in the 20s here in North Dakota. My dad's girlfriend from Orange
County, CA complains if it isn't sunny and 72 when she's here! <g>
Hi Paul,
<< P.S. Do people really get sick in California? >>
sure do.. my itchy, runny eyes and this thunker cough are real..
Paul,
>> My dad's girlfriend from Orange County, CA complains if it isn't
sunny and 72 when she's here! <g> <<
I live in Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA and the weather is very
pleasant (low 80's). There were semi-naked, people on the beach this
afternoon …
>> There were semi-naked, people on the beach this afternoon … <<
I've seen a lot of naked and semi-naked people in my time…
you'd need to specify if any of them were good looking for me to
decide if you were bragging or complaining. I, for one, have seen no
naked people today, and maybe that's good. <g> I did see a former
(female) co-worker naked last weekend in the hot tub, however. That
_was_ good!
>> I live in Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA and the weather is very
pleasant (low 80's). <<
That's near my dad's girlfriend's place. If she was naked on the
beach I offer my condolences…
>> semi-naked people … you'd need to specify if any of them were
good looking for me to decide if you were bragging or complaining <<
no, not really. Not my type, anyway. They were mainly, large, hairy
men. I'm more into buxom, exotic females <G>.
>> That's near my dad's girlfriend's place. If she was naked on the beach I
offer my condolences… <<
ROFL! You're wicked <g>.
>> I did see a former (female) co-worker naked last weekend
Was that a former female? Or a former co-worker? <g>
>> Was that a former female? Or a former co-worker? <g> <<
Ha! Actually, she _is_ pretty butched-up… very short hair and
nearly six feet tall. She has this 39" circumference thing going on
though… (sigh).
Frankly, "gentlemen", I find your comments misplaced and offensive.
CR >> Frankly, "gentlemen", I find your comments misplaced and offensive. <<
I assume you are referring to this type of message:
PS >> She has this 39" circumference thing going on though… (sigh). <<
My friend is not offended by my awareness or appreciation of her
body, she would not let me see her naked if she was. I see how
perhaps someone else may be offended to hear about it. I do
apologize for not excusing this thread to Take 5.
Hi Paul,
<< I do apologize for not excusing this thread to Take 5. >>
[forum cop hat on]
yea.. I really like it when all of you take, take-5 message
types, to take-5 on your own.. 🙂 [forum cop hat off]
Bombard your cold with vitamin C. Wade's health tip of the day. Hope
you feel better.
Thanks Wade!
Here is one way I have used with success to combine Vistapro
Landscapes with 3DS Scenes, it does however require that you generate
the path with 3DS, even though MAKEPATH is cool, 3DS ultimately gives
more fine control of the path, particularly if you can use the TEMPO
IPAS.
Step 1: From Vistapro, Export your DEM as a DXF – use a lower poly
size to reduce the DXF resolution (if time & memory are at a
premium).
Step 2: In 3DS, load the DXF and use the mesh as a reference for
creating/editing your Camera path and placing 3DS Objects relative to
the Topography. Use Paths/Follow to create banking etc.
Step3: When happy with the Camera path, create a .VUE file for that
Camera
Step4: Use VUE2SCR to convert the .VUE file to a Vistapro .SCR file.
Step5: Render the Background images at required resolution/size with Vistapro
by running the Script.
Step6: Back in 3DS, In KeyFramer, Hide the Landscape mesh and render
the final composite scene in one pass by using your Vistapro
generated frames as either Backgounds (sequential images or a .FL?
file), or use Video Post with the Vistapro frames as a queue entry
above the KF scene.
For the lighting, it is fairly easy to note the "Sun" position you set
in 3DS and match it with the lighting panel in Vistapro. VUE2SCR will
include the Focal Lengths of the 3DS Camera as it converts if you
wish.
This method has worked well for me even though it would be nice to use
the "ground hugging" path generation of MAKEPATH. Perhaps one could
use the Landscape Mesh within 3DS and use PLACE or SCATTER to
generate Camera/Target Position Key references at measured distances
above the Surface.
Let me know if you need more details.
Looks like John wrote a scr2vue for Fred. Fred posted that he
will upload it. Don't hesitate to give a shout if you have any
VistaPro questions. I watch this forum nightly and will alert John if
there's anything that anyone needs.
I know a guy who has done spectacular work combining vistapro
landscapes with 3ds animation (camera moves). I used to know the
process, but its been a while. His name is Kyle McKisick, he goes to
Ohio State, and I believe he browses this forum regularly… Try to
find him!? good luck.