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3ds max file as terrain

by Donnie Bugden · in Torque Game Engine · 10/30/2004 (3:46 pm) · 6 replies

I have been given a 3ds max file to use as terrain. Is it possible to use a 3ds max file as a terrain? Has anyone done this before and what are the steps I would need to take?

Thanks
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Torque 3D Owner Ted Southard
#1
10/30/2004 (3:51 pm)
I haven't heard of anyone exporting a terrain from a 3d application in a format other than something like jpg or png, so if you can somehow get a heightfield out of it, you can export it like that, but that seems like the only way.

Torque Owner Donnie Bugden
#2
10/30/2004 (4:05 pm)
Thanks I will look into doing it that way. I think I can generate a jpg or png from 3ds max. Then use that as my heightfield.

Torque 3D Owner Ted Southard
#3
10/30/2004 (4:13 pm)
Look at doing a Z-buffer(that's what it's called mostly, if memory serves) render from a top-down view, which should produce a nice grayscale heightfield.

Torque Owner Christopher T. Morrissey
#4
10/30/2004 (4:15 pm)
Take the terrain in max and UV Map Planar, rotate the map so it is intersecting the terrain at 90 deg, apply a gradient material to the map black at the bottom, white at the top. Then render to texture and it should map come out ok, or you can render from the top down but you may need to adjust the light settings, as you do not want any shadows cast.

Torque Owner Donnie Bugden
#5
10/31/2004 (6:48 pm)
I will give this a shot. Sounds much easier than I was expecting. This is going to save me a good deal of time, and also make our artist happy. Thanks again for your posts.

Associate Logan Foster
perPixel Studios
#6
10/31/2004 (7:06 pm)
Actually the key with doing this is to turn self illumination onto 100% with the gradient material that you apply to your terrain shape. This way lighting in the scene or from the camera view does not affect the bitmap.