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Modeling your 3D models.

INTRODUCTION

Racer's downloads provide you with software. The software allows you in a reasonable way to add content; cars and tracks for example. For this you'll need to create or import 3D models. But what software is available out there which fits Racer's content pipeline?

MODELING SOFTWARE

You can use a number of 3D modeling packages to create Racer content. Here is a list in order of (personal) preference, with detailed explanations below. If possible, use Max.

• 3D Studio Max (preferred)
• ZModeler
• Maya
• AC3D
• Blender

You can also choose to convert existing content. Note that a lot of content is copyrighted, so take the appropriate steps if you want to publish converted cars and/or tracks.

MODELING SOFTWARE - 3D STUDIO MAX

The tool most people use to create cars, and also tracks. Has lofting capabilities, and multi/sub materials that fit the TrackEd framework quite well. Before starting, check out the 'Using 3D Studio Max' document.

Exporting/importing can be done (and is recommended) using the ASE file format. More info on importing tracks can be found in the Tracked documentation (using Multi/sub materials with lofts is preferred).

Pros

• It's very flexible & versatile
• It exports to ASE, which Racer is most targeted at

Cons

• It cannot export to the DOF file format directly.
• It's relatively expensive.

MODELING SOFTWARE - ZMODELER

An excellent and FREE modeler to create cars. Use ZModeler 1, which is free and contains a native DOF import/export plugin. It is mainly used for designing cars; for tracks this tool may be a little less suited, although it seems to have been done by some for small tracks.

Download it from here. Note that you need version 1.7; the 2.x version is no longer free and doesn't contain a DOF import/export plugin.

Pros

• It's free

Cons

• It doesn't have the flexibility and options that professional packages have.

(From QuadCoreMax on the RaceDepartment forum): The best way to get your Maya models in Racer is:

• Keep all your meshes as it in your root scene (hundreds of pieces)
  
• create a max. of 32 mats inside Maya (Racer limitations) => split UV's as Racer wants it => windows, brake lights, body (for liveries) maps etc.
  
• clean history / freeze all
  
• export to fbx (depends on your 3DS Max version supporting different FBX exporters/importers)
  
• import fbx & export to ASE from Max as it
  
• open & optimize model in Modeler (optimize function, Shift-O)
  
• export to DOF
  
• enjoy a clean smoothed mesh

MODELING SOFTWARE - MAYA

I know very little about Maya, except that it's a professional package, like 3D Studio Max. It probably is nicely suited to creating cars. Stecki once used it to create some car masterpieces.

Pros

• It's a professional tool

Cons

• It's not free.

Exporting to DOF can be done using a couple of filters. Here are several:

• DOF exporter for Maya 3
• DOF exporter for Maya 4
• DOF exporter for Maya 4.5
• DOF exporter for Maya 5

If you know how to actually use these, drop me a line so I can update this part of the documentation.

MODELING SOFTWARE - AC3D

A package I haven't ever tried, but it seems to be ok, and available for Linux. Find it on the web here. Exporting to Racer (from Linux) however seems to be a matter of exporting to 3DS, booting into Windows, converting 3DS to DOF with ZModeler1.

Pros

• It runs on Linux

Cons

• It's not free.

MODELING SOFTWARE - BLENDER

This modeler, which originated on SGI's, is still alive and Open Source these days. Download it from here.

Pros

• It's free and open source

Cons

• Not widely used for Racer it seems

For an exporter for Blender (using Python) look here.

(last updated November 13, 2012 )