Wings Workflow


I'm starting to get a grip on this process, I think... but if somebody
wants to 'splain more about all the import/export options, I'd really
'preciate it!

Ah, very good.

I do one of two things with VRML. If I don't already have a Strata file
started to use the VRML file in, I just drag the VRML file onto the Strata
icon, Strata gives me a dialog with a scale factor (should initially be 72
or 720, I forget which)

72 is usually god enough. If you see small triangles rendering as black or
missing in your test renders, you need to use a larger scale factor. The
black triangles indicate that the distances are too small for Strata to
render, and a larger scale will get it into Strata's renderable size range.

Then you are ready to apply your smoothing value, usually a broad range of
values can work, but you will want to do test renders ( or just watch in
smooth shaded) to see what is best. Depending upon your model, 30-89° is
often a good place to start. Some models will have a specific range which
works best. If you have too low a value, you will see stepping in your
shading where you want smooth shading. If you see unwanted crumples and
bends in the surface, the value is probably too high. This is really easy to
get a feel for by taking a model and setting a wide range of values, and
seeing what happens. You can preview the effect by viewing in open GL
shaded.

Since the above method is for direct "open" your mesh will take the
smoothing value at the main modeling level of you Strata project.

The alternative is to "import" the model into an existing file. When you
import, you will get the same scale dialog initially, but after the model is
imported, it will be shown in your main working space, but what you see in
the working space is an instance, the model will have been made into a
shape, and to get to the raw mesh to apply smoothing, etc., you will need to
double-click it to get to the root for editing.

No need to convert to polymesh, it is a polymesh: you just need to find the
root shape.

That is the import/open dance. Not much to it, but maybe it is the
difference between opening and importing (open is direct open, import
creates a shape and instance) that you need to sort out.

You may also have questions about smoothing in Wings, if so, that's another
topic. One related Strata item, though, is that if you mesh is pretty crude,
you may need to enable "interpolate polygon mesh shadows" in your Strata
render. You really need to experiment and get a feel for this with your own
models.

--
Jean

Posted: Tue - November 2, 2004 at 04:35 PM          

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