Difference between revisions of "Mesh/Creating a mesh"

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{{Navbox/Mesh}}
{{Multi-lang}}
'''Creating and Converting Meshes:'''
{{Navbox/Mesh|tools}}__NOTOC__
You create mesh models using a third-party 3D modeling tool.  If you're a seasoned content creator, you may already be familiar with tools such as [http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=13567410 3ds Max], [http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=13577897 Maya], [http://www.blender.org/ Blender], or other popular professional tools; Google's [http://sketchup.google.com/ SketchUp] also provides a low barrier to entry for aspiring 3D modelers.  Any 3D modeling software will work, as long as it can output models in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collada COLLADA] (''.dae'') format. ''Note: Second Life uses COLLADA 1.4.''


* If you're a seasoned content creator, you probably already know about packages like 3D Studio, Maya, Blender, etc.
A list of software that has COLLADA support can be found at [http://www.collada.org/mediawiki/index.php/Portal:Products_directory COLLADA.org Products Directory]
* If not, you can try out [http://sketchup.google.com/ Google's SketchUp]
A very extensive list of 3d software can be found at [http://www.3dlinks.com/ 3Dlinks.com] under the software section. Which of either the COLLADA or 3Dlinks items
* The final output format you want is collada (.DAE). For now, you want to create single models, not whole scenes, as your DAE files.
will work with Second Life is not known, but at least it is a starting point to look.
* If you have models already and need an easy way to convert to collada (.DAE) files, you can try [http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?siteID=123112&id=10775855#section7 Autodesk's FBX Converter], which we prefer or [http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/ MeshLab].  
Note that with the FBX converter you may have to convert first to an intermediary format and then to DAE.


[[Category:Mesh]]
To learn more about some of the available 3D modeling tools, visit the [[Sculpted_Prims:_3d_Software_Guide|3D software guide]] created for use with [[Sculpted prims|sculpted prims]].  Most of the tools that work for sculpted prims should work with mesh, as long as they can export models in COLLADA format.
 
=== Collada(DAE) Supported Programs for Mesh===
Notes on mesh support for specific versions of various applications - please update if you have additional information:
{| {{Prettytable}}
|- {{Hl2}}
! Programs
! Bone
! UV Mapping
! Method
! Version
|-
|| 3ds Max || Yes || Yes || Import/Export via [http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?siteID=123112&id=10775920 FBX Plug-in ] || 2009 and up
|-
|| [http://www.inivis.com/ AC3D ] || No|| Yes || Import/Export || V6.7 and up
|-
|| Bentley's MicroStation || No || Yes || Import/Export || V8i and up
|-
|| [http://www.blender.org/ Blender ] || Yes || Yes || Import/Export || 2.49 and up
|-
|| Cinema 4D || Yes || Yes || Import/Export || R11 and up
|-
|| [http://www.daz3d.com/ DAZ 3D ] || Yes || Yes || Import/Export || 2.0 and up
|-
|| [http://www.fragmosoft.com/ Fragmotion ] || Yes || Yes || Import (Only Mesh)/Export via [http://www.fragmosoft.com/forum/index.php?topic=871.0 Collada exporter ] || 1.1.7 and up
|-
|| Lightwave || Yes || Yes || Import/Export || 9.5 and up
|-
|| Maya || Yes || Yes || Import/Export via [http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?siteID=123112&id=10775920 FBX Plug-in ] || 2009 and up
|-
|| [http://milkshape3d.com/ Milkshape 3D ] || ? || Yes || Export || ?
|-
|| [http://www.luxology.com/modo/features/modeling/index.aspx Modo] || No || Yes || Import/Export || modo 401, 501. 601. [http://sourceforge.net/projects/colladamodo/ Collada plugin on sourceforge.] 601 has Collada import/export.
|-
|| PhotoShop || No || ? || Direct open || Creative Suite 4 (11) and up
|-
|| [http://sketchup.google.com/ SketchUp ] || No || ? || Import/Export || 5.0 & 7.0 and up (6.0 was not supported)
|-
|| [http://www.wings3d.com/ Wings3D ] || No || Yes || Import/Export || 1.2 and up
|-
|| [https://www.meshmixer.com/ MeshMixer(FREE) ] || No || Yes || Import obj/Export obj,dae || 5.0 and up<ref>Autodesk ceased  further development on MeshMixer in September 2021, but it's still available as a free download; Windows version only.</ref>
|-
|| [http://kanae.net/secondlife/rokuro.html ROKURO(FREE) ] || No || C-SP || Export [http://kanaemesh-e.blogspot.com/2011/10/mr302-make-mesh-object-by-rokuro-30.html Tutorial] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYg7xrEEJ_k Video] || 3.0.9 and up
|-
|| [http://kanae.net/secondlife/rokuro_pro.html ROKURO Pro ] || No || C-SP || Export [http://kanaemesh-e.blogspot.com/2011/10/mp302-make-mesh-object-by-rokuro-pro-30.html Tutorial] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZCFzJ7jrZ8 Video] || 3.0.59 and up
|-
|| [http://kanae.net/secondlife/tatara.html TATARA ] || No || C-SP || Export [http://kanaemesh-e.blogspot.com/2011/10/mt602-make-mesh-object-by-tatara-60.html Tutorial] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT8Q0eMInUk Video] || 6.0.200 and up
|-
|| [http://kanae.net/secondlife/nomi.html NOMI ] || No || C-SP || Export [http://kanaemesh-e.blogspot.com/2011/10/mn402-make-mesh-object-by-nomi-40.html Tutorial] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5SQIVqH2TU Video] || 4.0.47 and up
|-
|| [http://kanae.net/secondlife/kumiki.html KUMIKI ] || No || C-SP || Export [http://kanaemesh-e.blogspot.com/2011/10/mk102-make-mesh-object-by-kumiki-10.html Tutorial] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRJNl0oRQGw Video] || 1.0.31 and up
|}
==== Notes ====
:'''C-SP:''' compatible with sculpted prim
{{References}}
 
===General Tips===
* For the best results, first try outputting individual models before trying whole 3D scenes.
* If you already have a library of 3D models and need a way to convert them to COLLADA format, try [http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?siteID=123112&id=10775855#section7 Autodesk's FBX Converter] (our preferred converter) or [http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/ MeshLab].
* Check out the [[Mesh/Troubleshooting|troubleshooting guide]] for more tips.
* Check out the [http://blog.machinimatrix.org/kettle-quest Kettle-Quest tutorials] for a comparison of Mesh vs. Sculpted Prims
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKejMyeQF_g SL Mesh Clothing/Avatar Scale Issue in Non-Mesh Viewers]
 
{{KBnote|If you use FBX converter, you may need to convert your models to an intermediate format, then to DAE, depending on the original format.}}

Latest revision as of 14:32, 29 November 2023

You create mesh models using a third-party 3D modeling tool. If you're a seasoned content creator, you may already be familiar with tools such as 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, or other popular professional tools; Google's SketchUp also provides a low barrier to entry for aspiring 3D modelers. Any 3D modeling software will work, as long as it can output models in COLLADA (.dae) format. Note: Second Life uses COLLADA 1.4.

A list of software that has COLLADA support can be found at COLLADA.org Products Directory A very extensive list of 3d software can be found at 3Dlinks.com under the software section. Which of either the COLLADA or 3Dlinks items will work with Second Life is not known, but at least it is a starting point to look.

To learn more about some of the available 3D modeling tools, visit the 3D software guide created for use with sculpted prims. Most of the tools that work for sculpted prims should work with mesh, as long as they can export models in COLLADA format.

Collada(DAE) Supported Programs for Mesh

Notes on mesh support for specific versions of various applications - please update if you have additional information:

Programs Bone UV Mapping Method Version
3ds Max Yes Yes Import/Export via FBX Plug-in 2009 and up
AC3D No Yes Import/Export V6.7 and up
Bentley's MicroStation No Yes Import/Export V8i and up
Blender Yes Yes Import/Export 2.49 and up
Cinema 4D Yes Yes Import/Export R11 and up
DAZ 3D Yes Yes Import/Export 2.0 and up
Fragmotion Yes Yes Import (Only Mesh)/Export via Collada exporter 1.1.7 and up
Lightwave Yes Yes Import/Export 9.5 and up
Maya Yes Yes Import/Export via FBX Plug-in 2009 and up
Milkshape 3D ? Yes Export ?
Modo No Yes Import/Export modo 401, 501. 601. Collada plugin on sourceforge. 601 has Collada import/export.
PhotoShop No ? Direct open Creative Suite 4 (11) and up
SketchUp No ? Import/Export 5.0 & 7.0 and up (6.0 was not supported)
Wings3D No Yes Import/Export 1.2 and up
MeshMixer(FREE) No Yes Import obj/Export obj,dae 5.0 and up[1]
ROKURO(FREE) No C-SP Export Tutorial Video 3.0.9 and up
ROKURO Pro No C-SP Export Tutorial Video 3.0.59 and up
TATARA No C-SP Export Tutorial Video 6.0.200 and up
NOMI No C-SP Export Tutorial Video 4.0.47 and up
KUMIKI No C-SP Export Tutorial Video 1.0.31 and up

Notes

C-SP: compatible with sculpted prim
  1. ↑ Autodesk ceased further development on MeshMixer in September 2021, but it's still available as a free download; Windows version only.

General Tips

KBnote.png Note: If you use FBX converter, you may need to convert your models to an intermediate format, then to DAE, depending on the original format.
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