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SORT and Skin Modifier don't mix?!

by Will Sanders · in Artist Corner · 07/08/2003 (10:24 pm) · 4 replies

I have correctly exported my model with transparancies with the SORT method... I have correctly exported the same model after adding bones and using the Skin Modifier. However... when I add SORT:: to the same model after applying the skin modifier, 3DS MAX crashes before it completes the task.

For example, when I normally get this:
Adding node translation at time 0 for node "bodymesh3".
  translation:     x=10.62144, y=6.03519, z=48.74164
---------------------------------

Adding 0 sequences...

Generating skin "bodymesh3".

Vertex, bone, & weight data:

Vertex 0
  Bone 0, weight = 1.000, name =  "BoneA"
Vertex 1
  Bone 0, weight = 1.000, name =  "BoneA"

after adding SORT::, it will stop at this:

Adding node translation at time 0 for node "bodymesh3".
  translation:     x=10.62144, y=6.03519, z=48.74164
---------------------------------

Adding 0 sequences...

So does this mean that SORT:: cannot be used on anything that uses a Skin modifier?!
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Torque Owner Joe Maruschak
#1
07/08/2003 (10:28 pm)
Sort: was not designed to be used with deformable meshes.

Torque Owner Will Sanders
Default Studio Name
#2
07/09/2003 (3:46 am)
So if I wanted my mesh that had transparancy to render correctly and do an animation, is there any method I could use?

Torque Owner Joe Maruschak
#3
07/09/2003 (6:51 am)
The best approach is to make the skin NON transparent, and make the transparent portions spearate linked shapes.

Or just try it and see what happens and then try to fix the problem after it pops up.

The SORT stuff is designed to pre sort the polygons (often times splitting polygons) so that they sort correclty. As a mesh attached to bones moves, presorting the polys is not going to fix the problem.

Torque Owner Will Sanders
Default Studio Name
#4
07/09/2003 (10:19 am)
Yeah, that would be ideal. Unfortunately, the only part of my mesh that is animated is the part with transparent textures. :/ All it is really is a rotating wheel. I figure since I can get it in game and rotate around it fine when it's exprted as a static shape, then I should be able to export it as a shape with a rotating animation. I could be more creative with it and rotate it in the script, but I was hoping for a quicker/easier solition. :'(

Thanks for the clearification (and quick replies), Joe!