Converting graphics to frm

[Karel]

Hello,

I'm looking for any helpful suggestions about converting models / images to frm and incorporating them in the game, specifically:

a) At what angles do you render the image? Any special useful settings for Blender? Colours?
b) Are there any usually successful but not obvious settings for gif2frm?
c) Correct critter / item positions, centring, size?
d) Any other suggestions.

To explain the situation: the person, who was in charge of this in our mod doesn't appear to work often and is literally pain in the a*** to collaborate with and of course, he 'doesn't remember how he converts models from Blender to frm, he just tries it'.

Technically, adding frm to the mapper is simple (or at least well documented), but rendering at the right angle and finding the right size and position takes days of experimenting, so I would like to avoid it as much as possible.

I would love to hear any practical suggestions or notes.

 

[Sirren67]

Hi Karel.
In blender 2.43 you can simply use the default camera. Hit view on the toolbar and choose the orthographic vew, then hit view again and select the camera: the model will be shown at rotation 3 (0/5, just like critters. Critters, scenery pieces and buildings share the same rotations.). At this point you simply have to rotate the model, add/subtract 60 degrees to the horizontal axe for each orientation(that's x in Anim8or). You don't need to tinker with the other axes. There should be a small window related to the model where you can enter exact axes values manually. The same probably goes for render size. I tinkered with the interface for a couple of minutes and got lost *again*, so I really can't help more under this point of view. I suggest you enquire at some blender users dedicated forums, as you can see things can get complicated in an eyeblink.
Critters/scenery pieces have to be centered with the tool you use to convert your graphics to .FRM. I don't know gif2frm, I use FrameAnimator. I suggest you use this one, it can load .gif (animated gifs too) and has a simple GUI, no command lines.
When you start FrameAnimor load your image,hit view and and then Hexes: this will show the hex grid under your graphics. Hit the cross at the right bottom corner of the window and drag(center) your image on the hex grid. Critter centering is a bit more complex, but these are the basics nonetheless.
I hope this helps, see you.

 

[Continuum]

I don't know anything about Blender, but... you should disable antialiasing, I think

 

[Karel]

Thank you for replies, obviously, I'm not searching answers for myself but for BGE artists who can work with Blender but just don't know the correct settings, but I believe we at least found the angles (via FIFE manual), so I will post it here as soon as I get the numbers...