FSDeveloper Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Blender2FSX Toolset manual

2014-01-16T07:45:39Z

Captx-6562: /* Exporter errors */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}
'''Blender2FSX Toolset''' is an addon for the 3D-modelling application [http://www.blender.org/download/ Blender]. This Wiki page is intended to introduce the reader to the use of Blender2FSX to export models created in Blender for use in Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and shows some things to consider when modelling for FSX in Blender. It is NOT a generic tutorial on how to build models in Blender. Blender2FSX is currently in BETA-phase, later support for P3Dv2 is planned. The current support thread is located [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428090 here].

== Requirements ==
* Windows XP, Vista or 7, (Windows 8 untested)
* Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK ''with SP2 or Acceleration''
* and obviously, Blender (current version at time of writing is 2.69).

== Installing Blender2FSX ==
* Download the latest [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16569&d=1388852636 Blender2FSX.zip].
* Under Windows Vista, 7: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
* Under Windows XP: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_01.jpg|frame|Activating Blender2FSX]]
Alternatively, you can unzip the file and place its extracted contents in the aforementioned locations. Note that the ''Appdata'' folder in Win7 is hidden. To activate the Toolset in Blender,
* Start Blender
* Go to ''File>User Preferences''. Click the "Addons" button. Click the "Testing" button under "Supported level" on the left side of the window (Note: this will change once beta testing is finished).
* If Blender2FSX was correctly installed as described above, you should now see the three addons
**'''3DView: FSX Materials''',
**'''3DView: FSX Toolset''' and
**'''Import-Export: DirectX X format for FSX'''.
* Tick the checkboxes to the right of all three of them.
* Click "Save User Settings" at the bottom left of the window.

Blender2FSX is now activated. You can deactivate Blender2FSX at any time by unticking the checkboxes to the right side of the addons or by deleting the files from Blender's addon folder. You can also refer to the Blender Wiki about [http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Extensions/Python/Add-Ons addons].

You can now check that Blender2FSX was correctly activated. In Blender's "Default" workspace, in the 3DView, in the Toolshelf on the left side of the viewport (press T), you should see three additional Tools right below Rigid Body Tools (assuming default install of Blender):
* FSX Animation Tool
* FSX Attachpoint Tool
* FSX File Properties
Likewise, under "Properties" (right hand side of the default workspace), '''Object''' context, should appear a rollout "FSX Properties" underneath "Custom Properties" and in the '''Material''' context, a "FSX Material Params" rollout should be shown (scroll down). Under ''File>Export'', there should now be an option "DirectX for FSX(.x)".

= The Tools =
This section describes the functionality of the tools included with Blender2FSX.

Note: It is recommended that you '''read the FSX SDK documentation''', section "'''Modeling SDK'''", as Blender2FSX closely emulates the functionality of the ACES Toolsets for gmax/3DSMax provided with and described in the SDK. There is a lot to be found there that is beyond the scope of this Wiki page.

== Getting started: FSX File Properties ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_02.jpg|thumb|File Properties Tool]]
'''FSX File Properties''' is a tool located in Blender's Toolshelf in the 3DView, which can be accessed by pressing '''T''' on the keyboard. You might want to scroll down a bit to see it. It serves two purposes:

* First thing to do '''when starting a new Blender session''' is to '''click the "Initialize Toolset"''' Button. This tells Blender where the FSX SDK is installed and populates the other tools with fresh data from the modeldef.xml file. Whenever changing an entry in the modeldef.xml, make sure to reinitialize the toolset to reflect the changes in Blender.
* Each model for FSX needs a GUID (Globally Unique IDentifier) and a friendly name. So, before exporting your model, you should give it a "friendly name" which should only contain ASCII characters. This name is entered in the field "Friendly Name". You should also assign a GUID either by entering it directly in the GUID field (i.e. if generated externally) or by clicking '''Generate GUID'''. Saving your file once done will write the GUID and friendly to the .blend file.

You can now start building your model.

== LODs ==
Organizing your model/scene becomes necessary as it grows larger and includes different LODs (levels of detail). I will suggest one way of doing it. First:

'''How to export an LOD?'''

To export an LOD (let's take LOD_400 as an example), create/add an Empty at the origin (0,0,0) of your scene, rename that empty "''friendly_name''_LOD_400", replacing ''friendly_name'' with your model's friendly name, and make it a parent to all root level objects that should go into LOD_400. Repeat for LOD_100, LOD_50 etc.

'''Using layers'''

To keep your scene tidy, you can make use of Blender's layers to isolate LODs from each other. You could for example create all objects of LOD_400 in layer 1, LOD_100 in layer 2 etc. All you have to do is add an empty at (0,0,0) in each layer, and in the end add an Empty named ''friendly_name'', make that a parent to all LOD_XXX empties, to obtain a hierarchy with Empty ''friendly_name'' as the root of your scene. You can use the outliner to get a good overview of your scene hierarchy and edit it from there.

== FSX Animation Tool ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_03.jpg|thumb|left|Animation Tool]]
'''FSX Animation Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. Similarly to ACES' animation manager in gmax/3DSMax, it is used to "tag" animated objects in the scene, so that the animation can then be processed by the XToMdl tool. Open the tool by clicking on the black triangle/arrow to the left. If the toolset was previously initialized (see "Getting started" above), the list window should be populated with animation entries (i.e Ambient, Ambient2, etc.). To tag an object, do the following:
* Keyframe-animate your object. For "Ambient" type animations, the range is defined by you; for aircraft parts, the range is defined in the SDK (example: the rudder would have a range of 0-100 frames, with keyframes at least at 0, 50 and 100).
* In the list window, scroll down to the animation entry corresponding to the animated part, select it (marked blue) and,
* With your object selected, click '''Assign'''. The object is now tagged with the animation entry. An object can only be tagged with one animation entry!
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_04.jpg|thumb|right|FSX Properties]]
You can check which tag has been assigned to the object by going to the "Properties" Panel, object context, FSX Properties rollout: it shows an "Animation Tag" field, a "Length" field which displays the animation range as defined in the modeldef.xml (or 0 in case of "Ambient" type animations; use this to cross-check with your object's animation range) and a '''Clear''' button used to untag the object's animation. You can untag all objects in the scene at once by clicking the '''Clear All''' button in the FSX Animation Tool. ''Be careful, this can not be undone!''

''Hint: Instead of scrolling down the list to find an animation entry, you can use the "search" feature of the list window. Acces it by clicking the small "+" at the bottom left of the list window. Enter a search string/phrase in the search box and hit "Enter".''

=== Skinned animations ===

Skinned animations are partially supported at the moment (2014/01/16), meaning that only one animation tag can be used per armature. This will be fixed in a future release, to allow for each bone to carry an animation tag. For skinned animations to work, use an armature modifier with '''Vertex groups''', envelopes won't work. You can use weight painting to define the influence of bones on the vertices. To assign a tag to a bone/armature,
* Go into Pose mode
* Select the bone you want to tag
* In the FSX Animation Tool, select the animation entry you want to use
* Click '''Assign'''
For bones, the FSX Properties are located in the '''bone''' context of the Properties panel.

== FSX Attachpoint Tool ==
'''FSX Attachpoint Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. It works analogously to ACES' Attachpoint Tool, with the difference that it doesn't support Library objects and Empties. An attachpoint is a piece of geometry (i.e. an object) to which an effect, a visibility condition, a mouse rectangle (or clickspot), a "platform" property or a "nocrash" property can be "attached". Combinations thereof can be applied to a single object. Refer to the SDK's document "Using modeling Tools: The Attach Tool" of the Modeling SDK for an in-depth description of the functionality of the different options.

'''Effects'''

To attach an effect to an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Effect" checkbox in the Attachpoint Tool. Options for "Effect" should automatically rollout at the bottom of the tool.
* In the "Name" field, enter a name for your attachpoint. Care must be taken, as '''attachpoint names must be unique''' throughout the model/scene!
* In the "Effect" field, enter the filename (''without extension .fx'') of the effect you want to attach. The available effects can be found in the main FSX folder, subfolder "Effects".
* In the "Param" field, a list of parameters for the effect can be set, as described in the SDK (i.e. DAY=1;DAWN=0 etc.).
* When all is set, click the '''Attach''' button.

[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_05.jpg|frame|Attachpoint Tool]]
'''Visibility'''

To set a visibility condition on an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Visibility" checkbox
* Choose a Visibility tag from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Mouse Rectangle'''

To make an object clickable in the sim:
* Select the object
* Tick the "MouseRect" checkbox
* Select a MouseRect/Clickspot definition from the list window
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Platform'''

To define a platform:
* Select the platform object
* Tick the "Platform" checkbox
* In the "Name" field, enter a '''unique(!)''' name for the attachpoint (i.e. a name that has not been used before).
* Choose a platform type from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''No Crash'''

To exclude an object from crash detection:
* Select the object
* Tick the "No Crash" checkbox
* When all is set, click "Attach"

'''Clear Attachpoint'''

To clear an object from its attachpoint, click the '''Clear''' button with the object selected.

=== Example: Landing light ===
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_06.jpg|thumb|Attachpoint Tool: Adding a landing light effect]]
There is a minor difference when adding a landing light compared to ACES tools in gmax/3DSMax. After creating your geometry (a simple triangle/polygon object), set the transform orientation to "Local" and rotate the object so that its positive '''Z-axis''' points in the desired direction of the light beam. Now setup the attachpoint tool:
* Check "Effect" and "Visibility", uncheck everything else.
* Enter a name for the attachpoint ('''attachpt_landing_4''' in the example in the picture)
* Enter the effect's filename without the .fx extension, i.e. '''fx_landing'''
* Under Visibility, choose "'''general_light'''".
* Click '''Attach'''
That's it! You've just added a landing light to your model.

= FSX Materials =
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_07.jpg|frame|FSX Material: Texture slots]]
This section describes how FSX Materials are integrated into Blender. For a description of the parameters and their functionalities, refer to SDK document "FSX Material" of the Modeling SDK. All the parameters are simply replicated in the '''FSX Material Params''' rollout in the Properties panel in Blender. Currently unsupported features are ''detail texture'' and ''fresnel ramp''. These will be added in a future release. It is also worth mentioning that you have to use "normal" materials, as Blender2FSX doesn't support node materials.

== Texture maps ==
The main difference from Blender to gmax/Max with regard to FSX materials is the way texture maps are handled. To create a texture in Blender, select the Material under the '''material''' context of the Properties panel, then go to the '''texture''' context of the Properties panel.
* Select a free slot in the list at the top of the panel
* Click "New". The panel will populate with options.
* Choose type "Image or Movie"
* Choose the image source file for your texture
* Under Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV" (you can specify the UV layer as an option)
* Now in the "Influence" rollout, for a
** '''diffuse''' map: tick the Diffuse:Color checkbox, untick everything else.
** '''specular''' map: tick Specular:Intensity, untick everything else.
** '''emissive''' map: tick Shading:Emit, untick everything else.
** '''bump''' map: tick Geometry:Normal, untick everything else.
By "untick everything else", I mean that in order to have the correct diffuse map for example, no other texture in the same material should have Diffuse:color ticked in the Influence rollout. You are free to play with the different options, as long as you make sure that only one texture has the crucial option ticked. An exception to this rule are virtual cockpit textures (see below).

[[Image:Envmap_blender.jpg|thumb|left|Environment map for Blender]]
'''Environment maps'''

For EnvMaps, the texture type is "Environment Map" instead of "Image or Movie". Blender2FSX automatically recognises EnvMaps as long as the type is set correctly. The setups of EnvMaps differ from Blender to FSX. In order to see the same reflection in Blender renders as in the sim, you will have to reorganize the EnvMap (a.k.a Cube map) as shown in the picture to the left.

== Virtual cockpit textures ==

Virtual cockpit textures are created in the panel.cfg file. Their size is determined by the size_mm and pixel_size entries of the corresponding [VCockpitXX] section, where the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture is also defined.

In your virtual cockpit, you need to map polygons that will display gauges to the virtual cockpit texture. For this purpose, you need to create a '''dummy''' texture that reflects the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture. The following is taken from the panel.cfg of the default C172 (©Microsoft):
<pre>[VCockpit02]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$C172s_2
background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=Cessna!Heading_Indicator, 0, 0,163,162</pre>
To make a dummy texture from this VCockpit texture, we would create a '''512x512''' (see size_mm=) texture sheet and name it '''$C172s_2''' (see texture=) and save it with our favourite paint program. The $-sign at the beginning of the name is important: it tells FSX and Blender2FSX that this is a virtual cockpit texture. We would now proceed to place copies of the gauge artwork on the sheet at the positions defined in the panel.cfg. In this example, we could place the background bitmap of the Heading_Indicator gauge at the top-left corner (0,0) and make sure it's 163 by 162 pixels wide. We would then save the texture (as .png or something else) and head back to Blender.

Back in Blender:
* Create a material for the gauge polygon and name it something sensible like "material_VC_1".
* Under the FSX Material Params rollout, tick the "Is Virtual cockpit texture" checkbox (scroll all the way to the bottom)
* Add a texture for material_VC_1, type= "Image or Movie"
* Point the file source to the newly created $C172s_2.png dummy texture
* Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV"
* Influence: tick Diffuse:Color '''and''' (if you don't use a separate emissive texture for night lighting) Shading:Emit
* Go to the UV/Image Editor and unwrap your polygon
* Map it to the dummy texture
Your gauge polygon is now ready for export.

= Exporting to FSX =

Calling the exporter module of Blender2FSX is straightforward: Go to ''File>Export>DirectX for FSX(.x)''. The main window will change to a file selection dialog, with a box to enter the filename at the top and export options displayed at the bottom left of the window.

== Export options ==
The export options are pretty much self-explanatory. Nevertheless...

'''Export selection'''
Use this option if you want to export only a part of your scene.

In my case, I generally keep layers with the finished work separated from layers with garbage (from boolean operations and such) and helper objects. I also use a lot of Empties (to correct my animations in Blender) that I don't need and want to export. So at export time, I set my "finished" layers to be visible and then ''Select>Select All By Type>Mesh'' and choose '''Export selection'''.

'''Apply modifiers'''
This tells Blender2FSX to apply all modifiers (except armature modifiers) on exporting.

This is internal to the export process, so your scene objects will retain their modifiers. Leaving this unchecked will result in having the meshes show up as if there were no modifiers on the stack.

'''Export animations''' will generate the creation of a .xanim file along with the .x file. It contains all the animations information of the scene.

'''Skinned mesh''' enables the export of animated armatures.

'''Export MDL''' creates a ''filename.MDL'' file in the folder where your ''filename.x'' file is created. This .MDL file can be directly copied to an aircraft's model folder.

'''Log Verbose''' causes the exporter to run in Debug mode. Debug messages are output to the Blender system console which can be accessed via ''Window>Toggle system console''.

== Exporter errors ==

On occasions, the exporter might quit with an error. For example when:
* There is no friendly name or GUID set. Obviously, you have to set a friendly name and GUID first.
* The exporter can't find the modeldef.xml or the XToMdl.exe. These have to be in the ''Modeling SDK\bin'' folder and ''Modeling SDK\3DSM7\plugins'' folder respectively. Don't move them away from there. It can also occur that your registry entry "SdkRootDir" points to an obsolete file (maybe after a failed/corrupted installation attempt of the SDK); in that case, clean your registry.

In case the exporter throws an error that you can't figure out, feel free to report it in the support thread.

----
FSDeveloper is a great place with lots of knowledgeable people who help each other whenever they can. I have learned so much on these forums, thank you all for that. I also want to thank the gurus over at [http://blenderartists.org/forum/forum.php blenderartists.org] who got me started on python scripting by patiently answering my noobish questions. And Chris Foster who wrote the official DirectX exporter for Blender. I want to thank the community for keeping me motivated in the accomplishment of this Toolset. May it grow and become better over time. Thank you for reading... [[User:Captx-6562|Captx-6562]]

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Manuals]]

Blender2FSX Toolset manual

2014-01-16T07:28:55Z

Captx-6562: /* Exporter errors */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}
'''Blender2FSX Toolset''' is an addon for the 3D-modelling application [http://www.blender.org/download/ Blender]. This Wiki page is intended to introduce the reader to the use of Blender2FSX to export models created in Blender for use in Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and shows some things to consider when modelling for FSX in Blender. It is NOT a generic tutorial on how to build models in Blender. Blender2FSX is currently in BETA-phase, later support for P3Dv2 is planned. The current support thread is located [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428090 here].

== Requirements ==
* Windows XP, Vista or 7, (Windows 8 untested)
* Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK ''with SP2 or Acceleration''
* and obviously, Blender (current version at time of writing is 2.69).

== Installing Blender2FSX ==
* Download the latest [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16569&d=1388852636 Blender2FSX.zip].
* Under Windows Vista, 7: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
* Under Windows XP: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_01.jpg|frame|Activating Blender2FSX]]
Alternatively, you can unzip the file and place its extracted contents in the aforementioned locations. Note that the ''Appdata'' folder in Win7 is hidden. To activate the Toolset in Blender,
* Start Blender
* Go to ''File>User Preferences''. Click the "Addons" button. Click the "Testing" button under "Supported level" on the left side of the window (Note: this will change once beta testing is finished).
* If Blender2FSX was correctly installed as described above, you should now see the three addons
**'''3DView: FSX Materials''',
**'''3DView: FSX Toolset''' and
**'''Import-Export: DirectX X format for FSX'''.
* Tick the checkboxes to the right of all three of them.
* Click "Save User Settings" at the bottom left of the window.

Blender2FSX is now activated. You can deactivate Blender2FSX at any time by unticking the checkboxes to the right side of the addons or by deleting the files from Blender's addon folder. You can also refer to the Blender Wiki about [http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Extensions/Python/Add-Ons addons].

You can now check that Blender2FSX was correctly activated. In Blender's "Default" workspace, in the 3DView, in the Toolshelf on the left side of the viewport (press T), you should see three additional Tools right below Rigid Body Tools (assuming default install of Blender):
* FSX Animation Tool
* FSX Attachpoint Tool
* FSX File Properties
Likewise, under "Properties" (right hand side of the default workspace), '''Object''' context, should appear a rollout "FSX Properties" underneath "Custom Properties" and in the '''Material''' context, a "FSX Material Params" rollout should be shown (scroll down). Under ''File>Export'', there should now be an option "DirectX for FSX(.x)".

= The Tools =
This section describes the functionality of the tools included with Blender2FSX.

Note: It is recommended that you '''read the FSX SDK documentation''', section "'''Modeling SDK'''", as Blender2FSX closely emulates the functionality of the ACES Toolsets for gmax/3DSMax provided with and described in the SDK. There is a lot to be found there that is beyond the scope of this Wiki page.

== Getting started: FSX File Properties ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_02.jpg|thumb|File Properties Tool]]
'''FSX File Properties''' is a tool located in Blender's Toolshelf in the 3DView, which can be accessed by pressing '''T''' on the keyboard. You might want to scroll down a bit to see it. It serves two purposes:

* First thing to do '''when starting a new Blender session''' is to '''click the "Initialize Toolset"''' Button. This tells Blender where the FSX SDK is installed and populates the other tools with fresh data from the modeldef.xml file. Whenever changing an entry in the modeldef.xml, make sure to reinitialize the toolset to reflect the changes in Blender.
* Each model for FSX needs a GUID (Globally Unique IDentifier) and a friendly name. So, before exporting your model, you should give it a "friendly name" which should only contain ASCII characters. This name is entered in the field "Friendly Name". You should also assign a GUID either by entering it directly in the GUID field (i.e. if generated externally) or by clicking '''Generate GUID'''. Saving your file once done will write the GUID and friendly to the .blend file.

You can now start building your model.

== LODs ==
Organizing your model/scene becomes necessary as it grows larger and includes different LODs (levels of detail). I will suggest one way of doing it. First:

'''How to export an LOD?'''

To export an LOD (let's take LOD_400 as an example), create/add an Empty at the origin (0,0,0) of your scene, rename that empty "''friendly_name''_LOD_400", replacing ''friendly_name'' with your model's friendly name, and make it a parent to all root level objects that should go into LOD_400. Repeat for LOD_100, LOD_50 etc.

'''Using layers'''

To keep your scene tidy, you can make use of Blender's layers to isolate LODs from each other. You could for example create all objects of LOD_400 in layer 1, LOD_100 in layer 2 etc. All you have to do is add an empty at (0,0,0) in each layer, and in the end add an Empty named ''friendly_name'', make that a parent to all LOD_XXX empties, to obtain a hierarchy with Empty ''friendly_name'' as the root of your scene. You can use the outliner to get a good overview of your scene hierarchy and edit it from there.

== FSX Animation Tool ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_03.jpg|thumb|left|Animation Tool]]
'''FSX Animation Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. Similarly to ACES' animation manager in gmax/3DSMax, it is used to "tag" animated objects in the scene, so that the animation can then be processed by the XToMdl tool. Open the tool by clicking on the black triangle/arrow to the left. If the toolset was previously initialized (see "Getting started" above), the list window should be populated with animation entries (i.e Ambient, Ambient2, etc.). To tag an object, do the following:
* Keyframe-animate your object. For "Ambient" type animations, the range is defined by you; for aircraft parts, the range is defined in the SDK (example: the rudder would have a range of 0-100 frames, with keyframes at least at 0, 50 and 100).
* In the list window, scroll down to the animation entry corresponding to the animated part, select it (marked blue) and,
* With your object selected, click '''Assign'''. The object is now tagged with the animation entry. An object can only be tagged with one animation entry!
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_04.jpg|thumb|right|FSX Properties]]
You can check which tag has been assigned to the object by going to the "Properties" Panel, object context, FSX Properties rollout: it shows an "Animation Tag" field, a "Length" field which displays the animation range as defined in the modeldef.xml (or 0 in case of "Ambient" type animations; use this to cross-check with your object's animation range) and a '''Clear''' button used to untag the object's animation. You can untag all objects in the scene at once by clicking the '''Clear All''' button in the FSX Animation Tool. ''Be careful, this can not be undone!''

''Hint: Instead of scrolling down the list to find an animation entry, you can use the "search" feature of the list window. Acces it by clicking the small "+" at the bottom left of the list window. Enter a search string/phrase in the search box and hit "Enter".''

=== Skinned animations ===

Skinned animations are partially supported at the moment (2014/01/16), meaning that only one animation tag can be used per armature. This will be fixed in a future release, to allow for each bone to carry an animation tag. For skinned animations to work, use an armature modifier with '''Vertex groups''', envelopes won't work. You can use weight painting to define the influence of bones on the vertices. To assign a tag to a bone/armature,
* Go into Pose mode
* Select the bone you want to tag
* In the FSX Animation Tool, select the animation entry you want to use
* Click '''Assign'''
For bones, the FSX Properties are located in the '''bone''' context of the Properties panel.

== FSX Attachpoint Tool ==
'''FSX Attachpoint Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. It works analogously to ACES' Attachpoint Tool, with the difference that it doesn't support Library objects and Empties. An attachpoint is a piece of geometry (i.e. an object) to which an effect, a visibility condition, a mouse rectangle (or clickspot), a "platform" property or a "nocrash" property can be "attached". Combinations thereof can be applied to a single object. Refer to the SDK's document "Using modeling Tools: The Attach Tool" of the Modeling SDK for an in-depth description of the functionality of the different options.

'''Effects'''

To attach an effect to an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Effect" checkbox in the Attachpoint Tool. Options for "Effect" should automatically rollout at the bottom of the tool.
* In the "Name" field, enter a name for your attachpoint. Care must be taken, as '''attachpoint names must be unique''' throughout the model/scene!
* In the "Effect" field, enter the filename (''without extension .fx'') of the effect you want to attach. The available effects can be found in the main FSX folder, subfolder "Effects".
* In the "Param" field, a list of parameters for the effect can be set, as described in the SDK (i.e. DAY=1;DAWN=0 etc.).
* When all is set, click the '''Attach''' button.

[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_05.jpg|frame|Attachpoint Tool]]
'''Visibility'''

To set a visibility condition on an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Visibility" checkbox
* Choose a Visibility tag from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Mouse Rectangle'''

To make an object clickable in the sim:
* Select the object
* Tick the "MouseRect" checkbox
* Select a MouseRect/Clickspot definition from the list window
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Platform'''

To define a platform:
* Select the platform object
* Tick the "Platform" checkbox
* In the "Name" field, enter a '''unique(!)''' name for the attachpoint (i.e. a name that has not been used before).
* Choose a platform type from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''No Crash'''

To exclude an object from crash detection:
* Select the object
* Tick the "No Crash" checkbox
* When all is set, click "Attach"

'''Clear Attachpoint'''

To clear an object from its attachpoint, click the '''Clear''' button with the object selected.

=== Example: Landing light ===
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_06.jpg|thumb|Attachpoint Tool: Adding a landing light effect]]
There is a minor difference when adding a landing light compared to ACES tools in gmax/3DSMax. After creating your geometry (a simple triangle/polygon object), set the transform orientation to "Local" and rotate the object so that its positive '''Z-axis''' points in the desired direction of the light beam. Now setup the attachpoint tool:
* Check "Effect" and "Visibility", uncheck everything else.
* Enter a name for the attachpoint ('''attachpt_landing_4''' in the example in the picture)
* Enter the effect's filename without the .fx extension, i.e. '''fx_landing'''
* Under Visibility, choose "'''general_light'''".
* Click '''Attach'''
That's it! You've just added a landing light to your model.

= FSX Materials =
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_07.jpg|frame|FSX Material: Texture slots]]
This section describes how FSX Materials are integrated into Blender. For a description of the parameters and their functionalities, refer to SDK document "FSX Material" of the Modeling SDK. All the parameters are simply replicated in the '''FSX Material Params''' rollout in the Properties panel in Blender. Currently unsupported features are ''detail texture'' and ''fresnel ramp''. These will be added in a future release. It is also worth mentioning that you have to use "normal" materials, as Blender2FSX doesn't support node materials.

== Texture maps ==
The main difference from Blender to gmax/Max with regard to FSX materials is the way texture maps are handled. To create a texture in Blender, select the Material under the '''material''' context of the Properties panel, then go to the '''texture''' context of the Properties panel.
* Select a free slot in the list at the top of the panel
* Click "New". The panel will populate with options.
* Choose type "Image or Movie"
* Choose the image source file for your texture
* Under Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV" (you can specify the UV layer as an option)
* Now in the "Influence" rollout, for a
** '''diffuse''' map: tick the Diffuse:Color checkbox, untick everything else.
** '''specular''' map: tick Specular:Intensity, untick everything else.
** '''emissive''' map: tick Shading:Emit, untick everything else.
** '''bump''' map: tick Geometry:Normal, untick everything else.
By "untick everything else", I mean that in order to have the correct diffuse map for example, no other texture in the same material should have Diffuse:color ticked in the Influence rollout. You are free to play with the different options, as long as you make sure that only one texture has the crucial option ticked. An exception to this rule are virtual cockpit textures (see below).

[[Image:Envmap_blender.jpg|thumb|left|Environment map for Blender]]
'''Environment maps'''

For EnvMaps, the texture type is "Environment Map" instead of "Image or Movie". Blender2FSX automatically recognises EnvMaps as long as the type is set correctly. The setups of EnvMaps differ from Blender to FSX. In order to see the same reflection in Blender renders as in the sim, you will have to reorganize the EnvMap (a.k.a Cube map) as shown in the picture to the left.

== Virtual cockpit textures ==

Virtual cockpit textures are created in the panel.cfg file. Their size is determined by the size_mm and pixel_size entries of the corresponding [VCockpitXX] section, where the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture is also defined.

In your virtual cockpit, you need to map polygons that will display gauges to the virtual cockpit texture. For this purpose, you need to create a '''dummy''' texture that reflects the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture. The following is taken from the panel.cfg of the default C172 (©Microsoft):
<pre>[VCockpit02]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$C172s_2
background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=Cessna!Heading_Indicator, 0, 0,163,162</pre>
To make a dummy texture from this VCockpit texture, we would create a '''512x512''' (see size_mm=) texture sheet and name it '''$C172s_2''' (see texture=) and save it with our favourite paint program. The $-sign at the beginning of the name is important: it tells FSX and Blender2FSX that this is a virtual cockpit texture. We would now proceed to place copies of the gauge artwork on the sheet at the positions defined in the panel.cfg. In this example, we could place the background bitmap of the Heading_Indicator gauge at the top-left corner (0,0) and make sure it's 163 by 162 pixels wide. We would then save the texture (as .png or something else) and head back to Blender.

Back in Blender:
* Create a material for the gauge polygon and name it something sensible like "material_VC_1".
* Under the FSX Material Params rollout, tick the "Is Virtual cockpit texture" checkbox (scroll all the way to the bottom)
* Add a texture for material_VC_1, type= "Image or Movie"
* Point the file source to the newly created $C172s_2.png dummy texture
* Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV"
* Influence: tick Diffuse:Color '''and''' (if you don't use a separate emissive texture for night lighting) Shading:Emit
* Go to the UV/Image Editor and unwrap your polygon
* Map it to the dummy texture
Your gauge polygon is now ready for export.

= Exporting to FSX =

Calling the exporter module of Blender2FSX is straightforward: Go to ''File>Export>DirectX for FSX(.x)''. The main window will change to a file selection dialog, with a box to enter the filename at the top and export options displayed at the bottom left of the window.

== Export options ==
The export options are pretty much self-explanatory. Nevertheless...

'''Export selection'''
Use this option if you want to export only a part of your scene.

In my case, I generally keep layers with the finished work separated from layers with garbage (from boolean operations and such) and helper objects. I also use a lot of Empties (to correct my animations in Blender) that I don't need and want to export. So at export time, I set my "finished" layers to be visible and then ''Select>Select All By Type>Mesh'' and choose '''Export selection'''.

'''Apply modifiers'''
This tells Blender2FSX to apply all modifiers (except armature modifiers) on exporting.

This is internal to the export process, so your scene objects will retain their modifiers. Leaving this unchecked will result in having the meshes show up as if there were no modifiers on the stack.

'''Export animations''' will generate the creation of a .xanim file along with the .x file. It contains all the animations information of the scene.

'''Skinned mesh''' enables the export of animated armatures.

'''Export MDL''' creates a ''filename.MDL'' file in the folder where your ''filename.x'' file is created. This .MDL file can be directly copied to an aircraft's model folder.

'''Log Verbose''' causes the exporter to run in Debug mode. Debug messages are output to the Blender system console which can be accessed via ''Window>Toggle system console''.

== Exporter errors ==

On occasions, the exporter might quit with an error. For example when:
* There is no friendly name or GUID set. Obviously, you have to set a friendly name and GUID first.
* The exporter can't find the modeldef.xml or the XToMdl.exe. These have to be in the ''Modeling SDK\bin'' folder and ''Modeling SDK\3DSM7\plugins'' folder respectively. Don't move them away from there. It can also occur that your registry entry "SdkRootDir" points to an obsolete file (maybe after a failed/corrupted installation attempt of the SDK); in that case, clean your registry.

In case the exporter throws an error that you can't figure out, feel free to report it in the support thread.

----
FSDeveloper is a great place with lots of knowledgeable people who help each other whenever they can. I have learned so much on these forums, thank you all for that. I also want to thank the gurus over at [http://blenderartists.org/forum/forum.php blenderartists.org] who got me started on python scripting by patiently answering my noobish questions. And Chris Foster who wrote the official DirectX exporter for Blender. I want to thank the community for keeping me motivated in the accomplishment of this Toolset. May it grow and become better over time. [[User:Captx-6562|Captx-6562]]

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Manuals]]

Blender2FSX Toolset manual

2014-01-16T07:23:42Z

Captx-6562: /* Exporting to FSX */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}
'''Blender2FSX Toolset''' is an addon for the 3D-modelling application [http://www.blender.org/download/ Blender]. This Wiki page is intended to introduce the reader to the use of Blender2FSX to export models created in Blender for use in Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and shows some things to consider when modelling for FSX in Blender. It is NOT a generic tutorial on how to build models in Blender. Blender2FSX is currently in BETA-phase, later support for P3Dv2 is planned. The current support thread is located [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428090 here].

== Requirements ==
* Windows XP, Vista or 7, (Windows 8 untested)
* Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK ''with SP2 or Acceleration''
* and obviously, Blender (current version at time of writing is 2.69).

== Installing Blender2FSX ==
* Download the latest [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16569&d=1388852636 Blender2FSX.zip].
* Under Windows Vista, 7: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
* Under Windows XP: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_01.jpg|frame|Activating Blender2FSX]]
Alternatively, you can unzip the file and place its extracted contents in the aforementioned locations. Note that the ''Appdata'' folder in Win7 is hidden. To activate the Toolset in Blender,
* Start Blender
* Go to ''File>User Preferences''. Click the "Addons" button. Click the "Testing" button under "Supported level" on the left side of the window (Note: this will change once beta testing is finished).
* If Blender2FSX was correctly installed as described above, you should now see the three addons
**'''3DView: FSX Materials''',
**'''3DView: FSX Toolset''' and
**'''Import-Export: DirectX X format for FSX'''.
* Tick the checkboxes to the right of all three of them.
* Click "Save User Settings" at the bottom left of the window.

Blender2FSX is now activated. You can deactivate Blender2FSX at any time by unticking the checkboxes to the right side of the addons or by deleting the files from Blender's addon folder. You can also refer to the Blender Wiki about [http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Extensions/Python/Add-Ons addons].

You can now check that Blender2FSX was correctly activated. In Blender's "Default" workspace, in the 3DView, in the Toolshelf on the left side of the viewport (press T), you should see three additional Tools right below Rigid Body Tools (assuming default install of Blender):
* FSX Animation Tool
* FSX Attachpoint Tool
* FSX File Properties
Likewise, under "Properties" (right hand side of the default workspace), '''Object''' context, should appear a rollout "FSX Properties" underneath "Custom Properties" and in the '''Material''' context, a "FSX Material Params" rollout should be shown (scroll down). Under ''File>Export'', there should now be an option "DirectX for FSX(.x)".

= The Tools =
This section describes the functionality of the tools included with Blender2FSX.

Note: It is recommended that you '''read the FSX SDK documentation''', section "'''Modeling SDK'''", as Blender2FSX closely emulates the functionality of the ACES Toolsets for gmax/3DSMax provided with and described in the SDK. There is a lot to be found there that is beyond the scope of this Wiki page.

== Getting started: FSX File Properties ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_02.jpg|thumb|File Properties Tool]]
'''FSX File Properties''' is a tool located in Blender's Toolshelf in the 3DView, which can be accessed by pressing '''T''' on the keyboard. You might want to scroll down a bit to see it. It serves two purposes:

* First thing to do '''when starting a new Blender session''' is to '''click the "Initialize Toolset"''' Button. This tells Blender where the FSX SDK is installed and populates the other tools with fresh data from the modeldef.xml file. Whenever changing an entry in the modeldef.xml, make sure to reinitialize the toolset to reflect the changes in Blender.
* Each model for FSX needs a GUID (Globally Unique IDentifier) and a friendly name. So, before exporting your model, you should give it a "friendly name" which should only contain ASCII characters. This name is entered in the field "Friendly Name". You should also assign a GUID either by entering it directly in the GUID field (i.e. if generated externally) or by clicking '''Generate GUID'''. Saving your file once done will write the GUID and friendly to the .blend file.

You can now start building your model.

== LODs ==
Organizing your model/scene becomes necessary as it grows larger and includes different LODs (levels of detail). I will suggest one way of doing it. First:

'''How to export an LOD?'''

To export an LOD (let's take LOD_400 as an example), create/add an Empty at the origin (0,0,0) of your scene, rename that empty "''friendly_name''_LOD_400", replacing ''friendly_name'' with your model's friendly name, and make it a parent to all root level objects that should go into LOD_400. Repeat for LOD_100, LOD_50 etc.

'''Using layers'''

To keep your scene tidy, you can make use of Blender's layers to isolate LODs from each other. You could for example create all objects of LOD_400 in layer 1, LOD_100 in layer 2 etc. All you have to do is add an empty at (0,0,0) in each layer, and in the end add an Empty named ''friendly_name'', make that a parent to all LOD_XXX empties, to obtain a hierarchy with Empty ''friendly_name'' as the root of your scene. You can use the outliner to get a good overview of your scene hierarchy and edit it from there.

== FSX Animation Tool ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_03.jpg|thumb|left|Animation Tool]]
'''FSX Animation Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. Similarly to ACES' animation manager in gmax/3DSMax, it is used to "tag" animated objects in the scene, so that the animation can then be processed by the XToMdl tool. Open the tool by clicking on the black triangle/arrow to the left. If the toolset was previously initialized (see "Getting started" above), the list window should be populated with animation entries (i.e Ambient, Ambient2, etc.). To tag an object, do the following:
* Keyframe-animate your object. For "Ambient" type animations, the range is defined by you; for aircraft parts, the range is defined in the SDK (example: the rudder would have a range of 0-100 frames, with keyframes at least at 0, 50 and 100).
* In the list window, scroll down to the animation entry corresponding to the animated part, select it (marked blue) and,
* With your object selected, click '''Assign'''. The object is now tagged with the animation entry. An object can only be tagged with one animation entry!
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_04.jpg|thumb|right|FSX Properties]]
You can check which tag has been assigned to the object by going to the "Properties" Panel, object context, FSX Properties rollout: it shows an "Animation Tag" field, a "Length" field which displays the animation range as defined in the modeldef.xml (or 0 in case of "Ambient" type animations; use this to cross-check with your object's animation range) and a '''Clear''' button used to untag the object's animation. You can untag all objects in the scene at once by clicking the '''Clear All''' button in the FSX Animation Tool. ''Be careful, this can not be undone!''

''Hint: Instead of scrolling down the list to find an animation entry, you can use the "search" feature of the list window. Acces it by clicking the small "+" at the bottom left of the list window. Enter a search string/phrase in the search box and hit "Enter".''

=== Skinned animations ===

Skinned animations are partially supported at the moment (2014/01/16), meaning that only one animation tag can be used per armature. This will be fixed in a future release, to allow for each bone to carry an animation tag. For skinned animations to work, use an armature modifier with '''Vertex groups''', envelopes won't work. You can use weight painting to define the influence of bones on the vertices. To assign a tag to a bone/armature,
* Go into Pose mode
* Select the bone you want to tag
* In the FSX Animation Tool, select the animation entry you want to use
* Click '''Assign'''
For bones, the FSX Properties are located in the '''bone''' context of the Properties panel.

== FSX Attachpoint Tool ==
'''FSX Attachpoint Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. It works analogously to ACES' Attachpoint Tool, with the difference that it doesn't support Library objects and Empties. An attachpoint is a piece of geometry (i.e. an object) to which an effect, a visibility condition, a mouse rectangle (or clickspot), a "platform" property or a "nocrash" property can be "attached". Combinations thereof can be applied to a single object. Refer to the SDK's document "Using modeling Tools: The Attach Tool" of the Modeling SDK for an in-depth description of the functionality of the different options.

'''Effects'''

To attach an effect to an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Effect" checkbox in the Attachpoint Tool. Options for "Effect" should automatically rollout at the bottom of the tool.
* In the "Name" field, enter a name for your attachpoint. Care must be taken, as '''attachpoint names must be unique''' throughout the model/scene!
* In the "Effect" field, enter the filename (''without extension .fx'') of the effect you want to attach. The available effects can be found in the main FSX folder, subfolder "Effects".
* In the "Param" field, a list of parameters for the effect can be set, as described in the SDK (i.e. DAY=1;DAWN=0 etc.).
* When all is set, click the '''Attach''' button.

[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_05.jpg|frame|Attachpoint Tool]]
'''Visibility'''

To set a visibility condition on an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Visibility" checkbox
* Choose a Visibility tag from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Mouse Rectangle'''

To make an object clickable in the sim:
* Select the object
* Tick the "MouseRect" checkbox
* Select a MouseRect/Clickspot definition from the list window
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Platform'''

To define a platform:
* Select the platform object
* Tick the "Platform" checkbox
* In the "Name" field, enter a '''unique(!)''' name for the attachpoint (i.e. a name that has not been used before).
* Choose a platform type from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''No Crash'''

To exclude an object from crash detection:
* Select the object
* Tick the "No Crash" checkbox
* When all is set, click "Attach"

'''Clear Attachpoint'''

To clear an object from its attachpoint, click the '''Clear''' button with the object selected.

=== Example: Landing light ===
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_06.jpg|thumb|Attachpoint Tool: Adding a landing light effect]]
There is a minor difference when adding a landing light compared to ACES tools in gmax/3DSMax. After creating your geometry (a simple triangle/polygon object), set the transform orientation to "Local" and rotate the object so that its positive '''Z-axis''' points in the desired direction of the light beam. Now setup the attachpoint tool:
* Check "Effect" and "Visibility", uncheck everything else.
* Enter a name for the attachpoint ('''attachpt_landing_4''' in the example in the picture)
* Enter the effect's filename without the .fx extension, i.e. '''fx_landing'''
* Under Visibility, choose "'''general_light'''".
* Click '''Attach'''
That's it! You've just added a landing light to your model.

= FSX Materials =
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_07.jpg|frame|FSX Material: Texture slots]]
This section describes how FSX Materials are integrated into Blender. For a description of the parameters and their functionalities, refer to SDK document "FSX Material" of the Modeling SDK. All the parameters are simply replicated in the '''FSX Material Params''' rollout in the Properties panel in Blender. Currently unsupported features are ''detail texture'' and ''fresnel ramp''. These will be added in a future release. It is also worth mentioning that you have to use "normal" materials, as Blender2FSX doesn't support node materials.

== Texture maps ==
The main difference from Blender to gmax/Max with regard to FSX materials is the way texture maps are handled. To create a texture in Blender, select the Material under the '''material''' context of the Properties panel, then go to the '''texture''' context of the Properties panel.
* Select a free slot in the list at the top of the panel
* Click "New". The panel will populate with options.
* Choose type "Image or Movie"
* Choose the image source file for your texture
* Under Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV" (you can specify the UV layer as an option)
* Now in the "Influence" rollout, for a
** '''diffuse''' map: tick the Diffuse:Color checkbox, untick everything else.
** '''specular''' map: tick Specular:Intensity, untick everything else.
** '''emissive''' map: tick Shading:Emit, untick everything else.
** '''bump''' map: tick Geometry:Normal, untick everything else.
By "untick everything else", I mean that in order to have the correct diffuse map for example, no other texture in the same material should have Diffuse:color ticked in the Influence rollout. You are free to play with the different options, as long as you make sure that only one texture has the crucial option ticked. An exception to this rule are virtual cockpit textures (see below).

[[Image:Envmap_blender.jpg|thumb|left|Environment map for Blender]]
'''Environment maps'''

For EnvMaps, the texture type is "Environment Map" instead of "Image or Movie". Blender2FSX automatically recognises EnvMaps as long as the type is set correctly. The setups of EnvMaps differ from Blender to FSX. In order to see the same reflection in Blender renders as in the sim, you will have to reorganize the EnvMap (a.k.a Cube map) as shown in the picture to the left.

== Virtual cockpit textures ==

Virtual cockpit textures are created in the panel.cfg file. Their size is determined by the size_mm and pixel_size entries of the corresponding [VCockpitXX] section, where the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture is also defined.

In your virtual cockpit, you need to map polygons that will display gauges to the virtual cockpit texture. For this purpose, you need to create a '''dummy''' texture that reflects the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture. The following is taken from the panel.cfg of the default C172 (©Microsoft):
<pre>[VCockpit02]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$C172s_2
background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=Cessna!Heading_Indicator, 0, 0,163,162</pre>
To make a dummy texture from this VCockpit texture, we would create a '''512x512''' (see size_mm=) texture sheet and name it '''$C172s_2''' (see texture=) and save it with our favourite paint program. The $-sign at the beginning of the name is important: it tells FSX and Blender2FSX that this is a virtual cockpit texture. We would now proceed to place copies of the gauge artwork on the sheet at the positions defined in the panel.cfg. In this example, we could place the background bitmap of the Heading_Indicator gauge at the top-left corner (0,0) and make sure it's 163 by 162 pixels wide. We would then save the texture (as .png or something else) and head back to Blender.

Back in Blender:
* Create a material for the gauge polygon and name it something sensible like "material_VC_1".
* Under the FSX Material Params rollout, tick the "Is Virtual cockpit texture" checkbox (scroll all the way to the bottom)
* Add a texture for material_VC_1, type= "Image or Movie"
* Point the file source to the newly created $C172s_2.png dummy texture
* Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV"
* Influence: tick Diffuse:Color '''and''' (if you don't use a separate emissive texture for night lighting) Shading:Emit
* Go to the UV/Image Editor and unwrap your polygon
* Map it to the dummy texture
Your gauge polygon is now ready for export.

= Exporting to FSX =

Calling the exporter module of Blender2FSX is straightforward: Go to ''File>Export>DirectX for FSX(.x)''. The main window will change to a file selection dialog, with a box to enter the filename at the top and export options displayed at the bottom left of the window.

== Export options ==
The export options are pretty much self-explanatory. Nevertheless...

'''Export selection'''
Use this option if you want to export only a part of your scene.

In my case, I generally keep layers with the finished work separated from layers with garbage (from boolean operations and such) and helper objects. I also use a lot of Empties (to correct my animations in Blender) that I don't need and want to export. So at export time, I set my "finished" layers to be visible and then ''Select>Select All By Type>Mesh'' and choose '''Export selection'''.

'''Apply modifiers'''
This tells Blender2FSX to apply all modifiers (except armature modifiers) on exporting.

This is internal to the export process, so your scene objects will retain their modifiers. Leaving this unchecked will result in having the meshes show up as if there were no modifiers on the stack.

'''Export animations''' will generate the creation of a .xanim file along with the .x file. It contains all the animations information of the scene.

'''Skinned mesh''' enables the export of animated armatures.

'''Export MDL''' creates a ''filename.MDL'' file in the folder where your ''filename.x'' file is created. This .MDL file can be directly copied to an aircraft's model folder.

'''Log Verbose''' causes the exporter to run in Debug mode. Debug messages are output to the Blender system console which can be accessed via ''Window>Toggle system console''.

== Exporter errors ==

On occasions, the exporter might quit with an error. For example when:
* There is no friendly name or GUID set. Obviously, you have to set a friendly name and GUID first.
* The exporter can't find the modeldef.xml or the XToMdl.exe. These have to be in the ''Modeling SDK\bin'' folder and ''Modeling SDK\3DSM7\plugins'' folder respectively. Don't move them away from there. It can also occur that your registry entry "SdkRootDir" points to an obsolete file (maybe after a failed/corrupted installation attempt of the SDK); in that case, clean your registry.

In case the exporter throws an error that you can't figure out, feel free to report it in the support thread.

----
FSDeveloper is a great place with lots of knowledgeable people who help each other whenever they can. I have learned so much on these forums, thank you all for that. I also want to thank the gurus over at [http://blenderartists.org/forum/forum.php blenderartists.org] who got me started on python scripting by patiently answering my noobish questions. And Chris Foster who wrote the official DirectX exporter for Blender. I want to thank the community for keeping me motivated in the accomplishment of this Toolset. May it grow and become better over time.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Manuals]]

Blender2FSX Toolset manual

2014-01-16T06:12:13Z

Captx-6562: /* Texture maps */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}
'''Blender2FSX Toolset''' is an addon for the 3D-modelling application [http://www.blender.org/download/ Blender]. This Wiki page is intended to introduce the reader to the use of Blender2FSX to export models created in Blender for use in Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and shows some things to consider when modelling for FSX in Blender. It is NOT a generic tutorial on how to build models in Blender. Blender2FSX is currently in BETA-phase, later support for P3Dv2 is planned. The current support thread is located [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428090 here].

== Requirements ==
* Windows XP, Vista or 7, (Windows 8 untested)
* Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK ''with SP2 or Acceleration''
* and obviously, Blender (current version at time of writing is 2.69).

== Installing Blender2FSX ==
* Download the latest [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16569&d=1388852636 Blender2FSX.zip].
* Under Windows Vista, 7: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
* Under Windows XP: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_01.jpg|frame|Activating Blender2FSX]]
Alternatively, you can unzip the file and place its extracted contents in the aforementioned locations. Note that the ''Appdata'' folder in Win7 is hidden. To activate the Toolset in Blender,
* Start Blender
* Go to ''File>User Preferences''. Click the "Addons" button. Click the "Testing" button under "Supported level" on the left side of the window (Note: this will change once beta testing is finished).
* If Blender2FSX was correctly installed as described above, you should now see the three addons
**'''3DView: FSX Materials''',
**'''3DView: FSX Toolset''' and
**'''Import-Export: DirectX X format for FSX'''.
* Tick the checkboxes to the right of all three of them.
* Click "Save User Settings" at the bottom left of the window.

Blender2FSX is now activated. You can deactivate Blender2FSX at any time by unticking the checkboxes to the right side of the addons or by deleting the files from Blender's addon folder. You can also refer to the Blender Wiki about [http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Extensions/Python/Add-Ons addons].

You can now check that Blender2FSX was correctly activated. In Blender's "Default" workspace, in the 3DView, in the Toolshelf on the left side of the viewport (press T), you should see three additional Tools right below Rigid Body Tools (assuming default install of Blender):
* FSX Animation Tool
* FSX Attachpoint Tool
* FSX File Properties
Likewise, under "Properties" (right hand side of the default workspace), '''Object''' context, should appear a rollout "FSX Properties" underneath "Custom Properties" and in the '''Material''' context, a "FSX Material Params" rollout should be shown (scroll down). Under ''File>Export'', there should now be an option "DirectX for FSX(.x)".

= The Tools =
This section describes the functionality of the tools included with Blender2FSX.

Note: It is recommended that you '''read the FSX SDK documentation''', section "'''Modeling SDK'''", as Blender2FSX closely emulates the functionality of the ACES Toolsets for gmax/3DSMax provided with and described in the SDK. There is a lot to be found there that is beyond the scope of this Wiki page.

== Getting started: FSX File Properties ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_02.jpg|thumb|File Properties Tool]]
'''FSX File Properties''' is a tool located in Blender's Toolshelf in the 3DView, which can be accessed by pressing '''T''' on the keyboard. You might want to scroll down a bit to see it. It serves two purposes:

* First thing to do '''when starting a new Blender session''' is to '''click the "Initialize Toolset"''' Button. This tells Blender where the FSX SDK is installed and populates the other tools with fresh data from the modeldef.xml file. Whenever changing an entry in the modeldef.xml, make sure to reinitialize the toolset to reflect the changes in Blender.
* Each model for FSX needs a GUID (Globally Unique IDentifier) and a friendly name. So, before exporting your model, you should give it a "friendly name" which should only contain ASCII characters. This name is entered in the field "Friendly Name". You should also assign a GUID either by entering it directly in the GUID field (i.e. if generated externally) or by clicking '''Generate GUID'''. Saving your file once done will write the GUID and friendly to the .blend file.

You can now start building your model.

== LODs ==
Organizing your model/scene becomes necessary as it grows larger and includes different LODs (levels of detail). I will suggest one way of doing it. First:

'''How to export an LOD?'''

To export an LOD (let's take LOD_400 as an example), create/add an Empty at the origin (0,0,0) of your scene, rename that empty "''friendly_name''_LOD_400", replacing ''friendly_name'' with your model's friendly name, and make it a parent to all root level objects that should go into LOD_400. Repeat for LOD_100, LOD_50 etc.

'''Using layers'''

To keep your scene tidy, you can make use of Blender's layers to isolate LODs from each other. You could for example create all objects of LOD_400 in layer 1, LOD_100 in layer 2 etc. All you have to do is add an empty at (0,0,0) in each layer, and in the end add an Empty named ''friendly_name'', make that a parent to all LOD_XXX empties, to obtain a hierarchy with Empty ''friendly_name'' as the root of your scene. You can use the outliner to get a good overview of your scene hierarchy and edit it from there.

== FSX Animation Tool ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_03.jpg|thumb|left|Animation Tool]]
'''FSX Animation Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. Similarly to ACES' animation manager in gmax/3DSMax, it is used to "tag" animated objects in the scene, so that the animation can then be processed by the XToMdl tool. Open the tool by clicking on the black triangle/arrow to the left. If the toolset was previously initialized (see "Getting started" above), the list window should be populated with animation entries (i.e Ambient, Ambient2, etc.). To tag an object, do the following:
* Keyframe-animate your object. For "Ambient" type animations, the range is defined by you; for aircraft parts, the range is defined in the SDK (example: the rudder would have a range of 0-100 frames, with keyframes at least at 0, 50 and 100).
* In the list window, scroll down to the animation entry corresponding to the animated part, select it (marked blue) and,
* With your object selected, click '''Assign'''. The object is now tagged with the animation entry. An object can only be tagged with one animation entry!
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_04.jpg|thumb|right|FSX Properties]]
You can check which tag has been assigned to the object by going to the "Properties" Panel, object context, FSX Properties rollout: it shows an "Animation Tag" field, a "Length" field which displays the animation range as defined in the modeldef.xml (or 0 in case of "Ambient" type animations; use this to cross-check with your object's animation range) and a '''Clear''' button used to untag the object's animation. You can untag all objects in the scene at once by clicking the '''Clear All''' button in the FSX Animation Tool. ''Be careful, this can not be undone!''

''Hint: Instead of scrolling down the list to find an animation entry, you can use the "search" feature of the list window. Acces it by clicking the small "+" at the bottom left of the list window. Enter a search string/phrase in the search box and hit "Enter".''

=== Skinned animations ===

Skinned animations are partially supported at the moment (2014/01/16), meaning that only one animation tag can be used per armature. This will be fixed in a future release, to allow for each bone to carry an animation tag. For skinned animations to work, use an armature modifier with '''Vertex groups''', envelopes won't work. You can use weight painting to define the influence of bones on the vertices. To assign a tag to a bone/armature,
* Go into Pose mode
* Select the bone you want to tag
* In the FSX Animation Tool, select the animation entry you want to use
* Click '''Assign'''
For bones, the FSX Properties are located in the '''bone''' context of the Properties panel.

== FSX Attachpoint Tool ==
'''FSX Attachpoint Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. It works analogously to ACES' Attachpoint Tool, with the difference that it doesn't support Library objects and Empties. An attachpoint is a piece of geometry (i.e. an object) to which an effect, a visibility condition, a mouse rectangle (or clickspot), a "platform" property or a "nocrash" property can be "attached". Combinations thereof can be applied to a single object. Refer to the SDK's document "Using modeling Tools: The Attach Tool" of the Modeling SDK for an in-depth description of the functionality of the different options.

'''Effects'''

To attach an effect to an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Effect" checkbox in the Attachpoint Tool. Options for "Effect" should automatically rollout at the bottom of the tool.
* In the "Name" field, enter a name for your attachpoint. Care must be taken, as '''attachpoint names must be unique''' throughout the model/scene!
* In the "Effect" field, enter the filename (''without extension .fx'') of the effect you want to attach. The available effects can be found in the main FSX folder, subfolder "Effects".
* In the "Param" field, a list of parameters for the effect can be set, as described in the SDK (i.e. DAY=1;DAWN=0 etc.).
* When all is set, click the '''Attach''' button.

[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_05.jpg|frame|Attachpoint Tool]]
'''Visibility'''

To set a visibility condition on an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Visibility" checkbox
* Choose a Visibility tag from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Mouse Rectangle'''

To make an object clickable in the sim:
* Select the object
* Tick the "MouseRect" checkbox
* Select a MouseRect/Clickspot definition from the list window
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Platform'''

To define a platform:
* Select the platform object
* Tick the "Platform" checkbox
* In the "Name" field, enter a '''unique(!)''' name for the attachpoint (i.e. a name that has not been used before).
* Choose a platform type from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''No Crash'''

To exclude an object from crash detection:
* Select the object
* Tick the "No Crash" checkbox
* When all is set, click "Attach"

'''Clear Attachpoint'''

To clear an object from its attachpoint, click the '''Clear''' button with the object selected.

=== Example: Landing light ===
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_06.jpg|thumb|Attachpoint Tool: Adding a landing light effect]]
There is a minor difference when adding a landing light compared to ACES tools in gmax/3DSMax. After creating your geometry (a simple triangle/polygon object), set the transform orientation to "Local" and rotate the object so that its positive '''Z-axis''' points in the desired direction of the light beam. Now setup the attachpoint tool:
* Check "Effect" and "Visibility", uncheck everything else.
* Enter a name for the attachpoint ('''attachpt_landing_4''' in the example in the picture)
* Enter the effect's filename without the .fx extension, i.e. '''fx_landing'''
* Under Visibility, choose "'''general_light'''".
* Click '''Attach'''
That's it! You've just added a landing light to your model.

= FSX Materials =
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_07.jpg|frame|FSX Material: Texture slots]]
This section describes how FSX Materials are integrated into Blender. For a description of the parameters and their functionalities, refer to SDK document "FSX Material" of the Modeling SDK. All the parameters are simply replicated in the '''FSX Material Params''' rollout in the Properties panel in Blender. Currently unsupported features are ''detail texture'' and ''fresnel ramp''. These will be added in a future release. It is also worth mentioning that you have to use "normal" materials, as Blender2FSX doesn't support node materials.

== Texture maps ==
The main difference from Blender to gmax/Max with regard to FSX materials is the way texture maps are handled. To create a texture in Blender, select the Material under the '''material''' context of the Properties panel, then go to the '''texture''' context of the Properties panel.
* Select a free slot in the list at the top of the panel
* Click "New". The panel will populate with options.
* Choose type "Image or Movie"
* Choose the image source file for your texture
* Under Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV" (you can specify the UV layer as an option)
* Now in the "Influence" rollout, for a
** '''diffuse''' map: tick the Diffuse:Color checkbox, untick everything else.
** '''specular''' map: tick Specular:Intensity, untick everything else.
** '''emissive''' map: tick Shading:Emit, untick everything else.
** '''bump''' map: tick Geometry:Normal, untick everything else.
By "untick everything else", I mean that in order to have the correct diffuse map for example, no other texture in the same material should have Diffuse:color ticked in the Influence rollout. You are free to play with the different options, as long as you make sure that only one texture has the crucial option ticked. An exception to this rule are virtual cockpit textures (see below).

[[Image:Envmap_blender.jpg|thumb|left|Environment map for Blender]]
'''Environment maps'''

For EnvMaps, the texture type is "Environment Map" instead of "Image or Movie". Blender2FSX automatically recognises EnvMaps as long as the type is set correctly. The setups of EnvMaps differ from Blender to FSX. In order to see the same reflection in Blender renders as in the sim, you will have to reorganize the EnvMap (a.k.a Cube map) as shown in the picture to the left.

== Virtual cockpit textures ==

Virtual cockpit textures are created in the panel.cfg file. Their size is determined by the size_mm and pixel_size entries of the corresponding [VCockpitXX] section, where the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture is also defined.

In your virtual cockpit, you need to map polygons that will display gauges to the virtual cockpit texture. For this purpose, you need to create a '''dummy''' texture that reflects the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture. The following is taken from the panel.cfg of the default C172 (©Microsoft):
<pre>[VCockpit02]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$C172s_2
background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=Cessna!Heading_Indicator, 0, 0,163,162</pre>
To make a dummy texture from this VCockpit texture, we would create a '''512x512''' (see size_mm=) texture sheet and name it '''$C172s_2''' (see texture=) and save it with our favourite paint program. The $-sign at the beginning of the name is important: it tells FSX and Blender2FSX that this is a virtual cockpit texture. We would now proceed to place copies of the gauge artwork on the sheet at the positions defined in the panel.cfg. In this example, we could place the background bitmap of the Heading_Indicator gauge at the top-left corner (0,0) and make sure it's 163 by 162 pixels wide. We would then save the texture (as .png or something else) and head back to Blender.

Back in Blender:
* Create a material for the gauge polygon and name it something sensible like "material_VC_1".
* Under the FSX Material Params rollout, tick the "Is Virtual cockpit texture" checkbox (scroll all the way to the bottom)
* Add a texture for material_VC_1, type= "Image or Movie"
* Point the file source to the newly created $C172s_2.png dummy texture
* Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV"
* Influence: tick Diffuse:Color '''and''' (if you don't use a separate emissive texture for night lighting) Shading:Emit
* Go to the UV/Image Editor and unwrap your polygon
* Map it to the dummy texture
Your gauge polygon is now ready for export.

= Exporting to FSX =

TO BE CONTINUED...

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Manuals]]

Blender2FSX Toolset manual

2014-01-16T05:38:31Z

Captx-6562: /* Virtual cockpit textures */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}
'''Blender2FSX Toolset''' is an addon for the 3D-modelling application [http://www.blender.org/download/ Blender]. This Wiki page is intended to introduce the reader to the use of Blender2FSX to export models created in Blender for use in Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and shows some things to consider when modelling for FSX in Blender. It is NOT a generic tutorial on how to build models in Blender. Blender2FSX is currently in BETA-phase, later support for P3Dv2 is planned. The current support thread is located [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428090 here].

== Requirements ==
* Windows XP, Vista or 7, (Windows 8 untested)
* Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK ''with SP2 or Acceleration''
* and obviously, Blender (current version at time of writing is 2.69).

== Installing Blender2FSX ==
* Download the latest [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16569&d=1388852636 Blender2FSX.zip].
* Under Windows Vista, 7: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
* Under Windows XP: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_01.jpg|frame|Activating Blender2FSX]]
Alternatively, you can unzip the file and place its extracted contents in the aforementioned locations. Note that the ''Appdata'' folder in Win7 is hidden. To activate the Toolset in Blender,
* Start Blender
* Go to ''File>User Preferences''. Click the "Addons" button. Click the "Testing" button under "Supported level" on the left side of the window (Note: this will change once beta testing is finished).
* If Blender2FSX was correctly installed as described above, you should now see the three addons
**'''3DView: FSX Materials''',
**'''3DView: FSX Toolset''' and
**'''Import-Export: DirectX X format for FSX'''.
* Tick the checkboxes to the right of all three of them.
* Click "Save User Settings" at the bottom left of the window.

Blender2FSX is now activated. You can deactivate Blender2FSX at any time by unticking the checkboxes to the right side of the addons or by deleting the files from Blender's addon folder. You can also refer to the Blender Wiki about [http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Extensions/Python/Add-Ons addons].

You can now check that Blender2FSX was correctly activated. In Blender's "Default" workspace, in the 3DView, in the Toolshelf on the left side of the viewport (press T), you should see three additional Tools right below Rigid Body Tools (assuming default install of Blender):
* FSX Animation Tool
* FSX Attachpoint Tool
* FSX File Properties
Likewise, under "Properties" (right hand side of the default workspace), '''Object''' context, should appear a rollout "FSX Properties" underneath "Custom Properties" and in the '''Material''' context, a "FSX Material Params" rollout should be shown (scroll down). Under ''File>Export'', there should now be an option "DirectX for FSX(.x)".

= The Tools =
This section describes the functionality of the tools included with Blender2FSX.

Note: It is recommended that you '''read the FSX SDK documentation''', section "'''Modeling SDK'''", as Blender2FSX closely emulates the functionality of the ACES Toolsets for gmax/3DSMax provided with and described in the SDK. There is a lot to be found there that is beyond the scope of this Wiki page.

== Getting started: FSX File Properties ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_02.jpg|thumb|File Properties Tool]]
'''FSX File Properties''' is a tool located in Blender's Toolshelf in the 3DView, which can be accessed by pressing '''T''' on the keyboard. You might want to scroll down a bit to see it. It serves two purposes:

* First thing to do '''when starting a new Blender session''' is to '''click the "Initialize Toolset"''' Button. This tells Blender where the FSX SDK is installed and populates the other tools with fresh data from the modeldef.xml file. Whenever changing an entry in the modeldef.xml, make sure to reinitialize the toolset to reflect the changes in Blender.
* Each model for FSX needs a GUID (Globally Unique IDentifier) and a friendly name. So, before exporting your model, you should give it a "friendly name" which should only contain ASCII characters. This name is entered in the field "Friendly Name". You should also assign a GUID either by entering it directly in the GUID field (i.e. if generated externally) or by clicking '''Generate GUID'''. Saving your file once done will write the GUID and friendly to the .blend file.

You can now start building your model.

== LODs ==
Organizing your model/scene becomes necessary as it grows larger and includes different LODs (levels of detail). I will suggest one way of doing it. First:

'''How to export an LOD?'''

To export an LOD (let's take LOD_400 as an example), create/add an Empty at the origin (0,0,0) of your scene, rename that empty "''friendly_name''_LOD_400", replacing ''friendly_name'' with your model's friendly name, and make it a parent to all root level objects that should go into LOD_400. Repeat for LOD_100, LOD_50 etc.

'''Using layers'''

To keep your scene tidy, you can make use of Blender's layers to isolate LODs from each other. You could for example create all objects of LOD_400 in layer 1, LOD_100 in layer 2 etc. All you have to do is add an empty at (0,0,0) in each layer, and in the end add an Empty named ''friendly_name'', make that a parent to all LOD_XXX empties, to obtain a hierarchy with Empty ''friendly_name'' as the root of your scene. You can use the outliner to get a good overview of your scene hierarchy and edit it from there.

== FSX Animation Tool ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_03.jpg|thumb|left|Animation Tool]]
'''FSX Animation Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. Similarly to ACES' animation manager in gmax/3DSMax, it is used to "tag" animated objects in the scene, so that the animation can then be processed by the XToMdl tool. Open the tool by clicking on the black triangle/arrow to the left. If the toolset was previously initialized (see "Getting started" above), the list window should be populated with animation entries (i.e Ambient, Ambient2, etc.). To tag an object, do the following:
* Keyframe-animate your object. For "Ambient" type animations, the range is defined by you; for aircraft parts, the range is defined in the SDK (example: the rudder would have a range of 0-100 frames, with keyframes at least at 0, 50 and 100).
* In the list window, scroll down to the animation entry corresponding to the animated part, select it (marked blue) and,
* With your object selected, click '''Assign'''. The object is now tagged with the animation entry. An object can only be tagged with one animation entry!
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_04.jpg|thumb|right|FSX Properties]]
You can check which tag has been assigned to the object by going to the "Properties" Panel, object context, FSX Properties rollout: it shows an "Animation Tag" field, a "Length" field which displays the animation range as defined in the modeldef.xml (or 0 in case of "Ambient" type animations; use this to cross-check with your object's animation range) and a '''Clear''' button used to untag the object's animation. You can untag all objects in the scene at once by clicking the '''Clear All''' button in the FSX Animation Tool. ''Be careful, this can not be undone!''

''Hint: Instead of scrolling down the list to find an animation entry, you can use the "search" feature of the list window. Acces it by clicking the small "+" at the bottom left of the list window. Enter a search string/phrase in the search box and hit "Enter".''

=== Skinned animations ===

Skinned animations are partially supported at the moment (2014/01/16), meaning that only one animation tag can be used per armature. This will be fixed in a future release, to allow for each bone to carry an animation tag. For skinned animations to work, use an armature modifier with '''Vertex groups''', envelopes won't work. You can use weight painting to define the influence of bones on the vertices. To assign a tag to a bone/armature,
* Go into Pose mode
* Select the bone you want to tag
* In the FSX Animation Tool, select the animation entry you want to use
* Click '''Assign'''
For bones, the FSX Properties are located in the '''bone''' context of the Properties panel.

== FSX Attachpoint Tool ==
'''FSX Attachpoint Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. It works analogously to ACES' Attachpoint Tool, with the difference that it doesn't support Library objects and Empties. An attachpoint is a piece of geometry (i.e. an object) to which an effect, a visibility condition, a mouse rectangle (or clickspot), a "platform" property or a "nocrash" property can be "attached". Combinations thereof can be applied to a single object. Refer to the SDK's document "Using modeling Tools: The Attach Tool" of the Modeling SDK for an in-depth description of the functionality of the different options.

'''Effects'''

To attach an effect to an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Effect" checkbox in the Attachpoint Tool. Options for "Effect" should automatically rollout at the bottom of the tool.
* In the "Name" field, enter a name for your attachpoint. Care must be taken, as '''attachpoint names must be unique''' throughout the model/scene!
* In the "Effect" field, enter the filename (''without extension .fx'') of the effect you want to attach. The available effects can be found in the main FSX folder, subfolder "Effects".
* In the "Param" field, a list of parameters for the effect can be set, as described in the SDK (i.e. DAY=1;DAWN=0 etc.).
* When all is set, click the '''Attach''' button.

[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_05.jpg|frame|Attachpoint Tool]]
'''Visibility'''

To set a visibility condition on an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Visibility" checkbox
* Choose a Visibility tag from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Mouse Rectangle'''

To make an object clickable in the sim:
* Select the object
* Tick the "MouseRect" checkbox
* Select a MouseRect/Clickspot definition from the list window
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Platform'''

To define a platform:
* Select the platform object
* Tick the "Platform" checkbox
* In the "Name" field, enter a '''unique(!)''' name for the attachpoint (i.e. a name that has not been used before).
* Choose a platform type from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''No Crash'''

To exclude an object from crash detection:
* Select the object
* Tick the "No Crash" checkbox
* When all is set, click "Attach"

'''Clear Attachpoint'''

To clear an object from its attachpoint, click the '''Clear''' button with the object selected.

=== Example: Landing light ===
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_06.jpg|thumb|Attachpoint Tool: Adding a landing light effect]]
There is a minor difference when adding a landing light compared to ACES tools in gmax/3DSMax. After creating your geometry (a simple triangle/polygon object), set the transform orientation to "Local" and rotate the object so that its positive '''Z-axis''' points in the desired direction of the light beam. Now setup the attachpoint tool:
* Check "Effect" and "Visibility", uncheck everything else.
* Enter a name for the attachpoint ('''attachpt_landing_4''' in the example in the picture)
* Enter the effect's filename without the .fx extension, i.e. '''fx_landing'''
* Under Visibility, choose "'''general_light'''".
* Click '''Attach'''
That's it! You've just added a landing light to your model.

= FSX Materials =
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_07.jpg|frame|FSX Material: Texture slots]]
This section describes how FSX Materials are integrated into Blender. For a description of the parameters and their functionalities, refer to SDK document "FSX Material" of the Modeling SDK. All the parameters are simply replicated in the '''FSX Material Params''' rollout in the Properties panel in Blender. Currently unsupported features are ''detail texture'' and ''fresnel ramp''. These will be added in a future release. It is also worth mentioning that you have to use "normal" materials, as Blender2FSX doesn't support node materials.

== Texture maps ==
The main difference from Blender to gmax/Max with regard to FSX materials is the way texture maps are handled. To create a texture in Blender, select the Material under the '''material''' context of the Properties panel, then go to the '''texture''' context of the Properties panel.
* Select a free slot in the list at the top of the panel
* Click "New". The panel will populate with options.
* Choose type "Image or Movie"
* Under Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV" (you can specify the UV layer as an option)
* Now in the "Influence" rollout, for a
** '''diffuse''' map: tick the Diffuse:Color checkbox, untick everything else.
** '''specular''' map: tick Specular:Intensity, untick everything else.
** '''emissive''' map: tick Shading:Emit, untick everything else.
** '''bump''' map: tick Geometry:Normal, untick everything else.
By "untick everything else", I mean that in order to have the correct diffuse map for example, no other texture in the same material should have Diffuse:color ticked in the Influence rollout. You are free to play with the different options, as long as you make sure that only one texture has the crucial option ticked. An exception to this rule are virtual cockpit textures (see below).

[[Image:Envmap_blender.jpg|thumb|left|Environment map for Blender]]
'''Environment maps'''

For EnvMaps, the texture type is "Environment Map" instead of "Image or Movie". Blender2FSX automatically recognises EnvMaps as long as the type is set correctly. The setups of EnvMaps differ from Blender to FSX. In order to see the same reflection in Blender renders as in the sim, you will have to reorganize the EnvMap (a.k.a Cube map) as shown in the picture to the left.

== Virtual cockpit textures ==

Virtual cockpit textures are created in the panel.cfg file. Their size is determined by the size_mm and pixel_size entries of the corresponding [VCockpitXX] section, where the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture is also defined.

In your virtual cockpit, you need to map polygons that will display gauges to the virtual cockpit texture. For this purpose, you need to create a '''dummy''' texture that reflects the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture. The following is taken from the panel.cfg of the default C172 (©Microsoft):
<pre>[VCockpit02]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$C172s_2
background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=Cessna!Heading_Indicator, 0, 0,163,162</pre>
To make a dummy texture from this VCockpit texture, we would create a '''512x512''' (see size_mm=) texture sheet and name it '''$C172s_2''' (see texture=) and save it with our favourite paint program. The $-sign at the beginning of the name is important: it tells FSX and Blender2FSX that this is a virtual cockpit texture. We would now proceed to place copies of the gauge artwork on the sheet at the positions defined in the panel.cfg. In this example, we could place the background bitmap of the Heading_Indicator gauge at the top-left corner (0,0) and make sure it's 163 by 162 pixels wide. We would then save the texture (as .png or something else) and head back to Blender.

Back in Blender:
* Create a material for the gauge polygon and name it something sensible like "material_VC_1".
* Under the FSX Material Params rollout, tick the "Is Virtual cockpit texture" checkbox (scroll all the way to the bottom)
* Add a texture for material_VC_1, type= "Image or Movie"
* Point the file source to the newly created $C172s_2.png dummy texture
* Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV"
* Influence: tick Diffuse:Color '''and''' (if you don't use a separate emissive texture for night lighting) Shading:Emit
* Go to the UV/Image Editor and unwrap your polygon
* Map it to the dummy texture
Your gauge polygon is now ready for export.

= Exporting to FSX =

TO BE CONTINUED...

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Manuals]]

Blender2FSX Toolset manual

2014-01-16T05:00:07Z

Captx-6562: HOWTO use Blender2FSX Toolset to export models from Blender to Microsoft Flight Simulator X

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}
'''Blender2FSX Toolset''' is an addon for the 3D-modelling application [http://www.blender.org/download/ Blender]. This Wiki page is intended to introduce the reader to the use of Blender2FSX to export models created in Blender for use in Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and shows some things to consider when modelling for FSX in Blender. It is NOT a generic tutorial on how to build models in Blender. Blender2FSX is currently in BETA-phase, later support for P3Dv2 is planned. The current support thread is located [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428090 here].

== Requirements ==
* Windows XP, Vista or 7, (Windows 8 untested)
* Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK ''with SP2 or Acceleration''
* and obviously, Blender (current version at time of writing is 2.69).

== Installing Blender2FSX ==
* Download the latest [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16569&d=1388852636 Blender2FSX.zip].
* Under Windows Vista, 7: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
* Under Windows XP: Place the .zip file here: "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons".
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_01.jpg|frame|Activating Blender2FSX]]
Alternatively, you can unzip the file and place its extracted contents in the aforementioned locations. Note that the ''Appdata'' folder in Win7 is hidden. To activate the Toolset in Blender,
* Start Blender
* Go to ''File>User Preferences''. Click the "Addons" button. Click the "Testing" button under "Supported level" on the left side of the window (Note: this will change once beta testing is finished).
* If Blender2FSX was correctly installed as described above, you should now see the three addons
**'''3DView: FSX Materials''',
**'''3DView: FSX Toolset''' and
**'''Import-Export: DirectX X format for FSX'''.
* Tick the checkboxes to the right of all three of them.
* Click "Save User Settings" at the bottom left of the window.

Blender2FSX is now activated. You can deactivate Blender2FSX at any time by unticking the checkboxes to the right side of the addons or by deleting the files from Blender's addon folder. You can also refer to the Blender Wiki about [http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Extensions/Python/Add-Ons addons].

You can now check that Blender2FSX was correctly activated. In Blender's "Default" workspace, in the 3DView, in the Toolshelf on the left side of the viewport (press T), you should see three additional Tools right below Rigid Body Tools (assuming default install of Blender):
* FSX Animation Tool
* FSX Attachpoint Tool
* FSX File Properties
Likewise, under "Properties" (right hand side of the default workspace), '''Object''' context, should appear a rollout "FSX Properties" underneath "Custom Properties" and in the '''Material''' context, a "FSX Material Params" rollout should be shown (scroll down). Under ''File>Export'', there should now be an option "DirectX for FSX(.x)".

= The Tools =
This section describes the functionality of the tools included with Blender2FSX.

Note: It is recommended that you '''read the FSX SDK documentation''', section "'''Modeling SDK'''", as Blender2FSX closely emulates the functionality of the ACES Toolsets for gmax/3DSMax provided with and described in the SDK. There is a lot to be found there that is beyond the scope of this Wiki page.

== Getting started: FSX File Properties ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_02.jpg|thumb|File Properties Tool]]
'''FSX File Properties''' is a tool located in Blender's Toolshelf in the 3DView, which can be accessed by pressing '''T''' on the keyboard. You might want to scroll down a bit to see it. It serves two purposes:

* First thing to do '''when starting a new Blender session''' is to '''click the "Initialize Toolset"''' Button. This tells Blender where the FSX SDK is installed and populates the other tools with fresh data from the modeldef.xml file. Whenever changing an entry in the modeldef.xml, make sure to reinitialize the toolset to reflect the changes in Blender.
* Each model for FSX needs a GUID (Globally Unique IDentifier) and a friendly name. So, before exporting your model, you should give it a "friendly name" which should only contain ASCII characters. This name is entered in the field "Friendly Name". You should also assign a GUID either by entering it directly in the GUID field (i.e. if generated externally) or by clicking '''Generate GUID'''. Saving your file once done will write the GUID and friendly to the .blend file.

You can now start building your model.

== LODs ==
Organizing your model/scene becomes necessary as it grows larger and includes different LODs (levels of detail). I will suggest one way of doing it. First:

'''How to export an LOD?'''

To export an LOD (let's take LOD_400 as an example), create/add an Empty at the origin (0,0,0) of your scene, rename that empty "''friendly_name''_LOD_400", replacing ''friendly_name'' with your model's friendly name, and make it a parent to all root level objects that should go into LOD_400. Repeat for LOD_100, LOD_50 etc.

'''Using layers'''

To keep your scene tidy, you can make use of Blender's layers to isolate LODs from each other. You could for example create all objects of LOD_400 in layer 1, LOD_100 in layer 2 etc. All you have to do is add an empty at (0,0,0) in each layer, and in the end add an Empty named ''friendly_name'', make that a parent to all LOD_XXX empties, to obtain a hierarchy with Empty ''friendly_name'' as the root of your scene. You can use the outliner to get a good overview of your scene hierarchy and edit it from there.

== FSX Animation Tool ==
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_03.jpg|thumb|left|Animation Tool]]
'''FSX Animation Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. Similarly to ACES' animation manager in gmax/3DSMax, it is used to "tag" animated objects in the scene, so that the animation can then be processed by the XToMdl tool. Open the tool by clicking on the black triangle/arrow to the left. If the toolset was previously initialized (see "Getting started" above), the list window should be populated with animation entries (i.e Ambient, Ambient2, etc.). To tag an object, do the following:
* Keyframe-animate your object. For "Ambient" type animations, the range is defined by you; for aircraft parts, the range is defined in the SDK (example: the rudder would have a range of 0-100 frames, with keyframes at least at 0, 50 and 100).
* In the list window, scroll down to the animation entry corresponding to the animated part, select it (marked blue) and,
* With your object selected, click '''Assign'''. The object is now tagged with the animation entry. An object can only be tagged with one animation entry!
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_04.jpg|thumb|right|FSX Properties]]
You can check which tag has been assigned to the object by going to the "Properties" Panel, object context, FSX Properties rollout: it shows an "Animation Tag" field, a "Length" field which displays the animation range as defined in the modeldef.xml (or 0 in case of "Ambient" type animations; use this to cross-check with your object's animation range) and a '''Clear''' button used to untag the object's animation. You can untag all objects in the scene at once by clicking the '''Clear All''' button in the FSX Animation Tool. ''Be careful, this can not be undone!''

''Hint: Instead of scrolling down the list to find an animation entry, you can use the "search" feature of the list window. Acces it by clicking the small "+" at the bottom left of the list window. Enter a search string/phrase in the search box and hit "Enter".''

=== Skinned animations ===

Skinned animations are partially supported at the moment (2014/01/16), meaning that only one animation tag can be used per armature. This will be fixed in a future release, to allow for each bone to carry an animation tag. For skinned animations to work, use an armature modifier with '''Vertex groups''', envelopes won't work. You can use weight painting to define the influence of bones on the vertices. To assign a tag to a bone/armature,
* Go into Pose mode
* Select the bone you want to tag
* In the FSX Animation Tool, select the animation entry you want to use
* Click '''Assign'''
For bones, the FSX Properties are located in the '''bone''' context of the Properties panel.

== FSX Attachpoint Tool ==
'''FSX Attachpoint Tool''' is also located in Blender's Toolshelf. It works analogously to ACES' Attachpoint Tool, with the difference that it doesn't support Library objects and Empties. An attachpoint is a piece of geometry (i.e. an object) to which an effect, a visibility condition, a mouse rectangle (or clickspot), a "platform" property or a "nocrash" property can be "attached". Combinations thereof can be applied to a single object. Refer to the SDK's document "Using modeling Tools: The Attach Tool" of the Modeling SDK for an in-depth description of the functionality of the different options.

'''Effects'''

To attach an effect to an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Effect" checkbox in the Attachpoint Tool. Options for "Effect" should automatically rollout at the bottom of the tool.
* In the "Name" field, enter a name for your attachpoint. Care must be taken, as '''attachpoint names must be unique''' throughout the model/scene!
* In the "Effect" field, enter the filename (''without extension .fx'') of the effect you want to attach. The available effects can be found in the main FSX folder, subfolder "Effects".
* In the "Param" field, a list of parameters for the effect can be set, as described in the SDK (i.e. DAY=1;DAWN=0 etc.).
* When all is set, click the '''Attach''' button.

[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_05.jpg|frame|Attachpoint Tool]]
'''Visibility'''

To set a visibility condition on an object:
* Select the object
* Tick the "Visibility" checkbox
* Choose a Visibility tag from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Mouse Rectangle'''

To make an object clickable in the sim:
* Select the object
* Tick the "MouseRect" checkbox
* Select a MouseRect/Clickspot definition from the list window
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''Platform'''

To define a platform:
* Select the platform object
* Tick the "Platform" checkbox
* In the "Name" field, enter a '''unique(!)''' name for the attachpoint (i.e. a name that has not been used before).
* Choose a platform type from the dropdown
* When all is set, click '''Attach'''

'''No Crash'''

To exclude an object from crash detection:
* Select the object
* Tick the "No Crash" checkbox
* When all is set, click "Attach"

'''Clear Attachpoint'''

To clear an object from its attachpoint, click the '''Clear''' button with the object selected.

=== Example: Landing light ===
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_06.jpg|thumb|Attachpoint Tool: Adding a landing light effect]]
There is a minor difference when adding a landing light compared to ACES tools in gmax/3DSMax. After creating your geometry (a simple triangle/polygon object), set the transform orientation to "Local" and rotate the object so that its positive '''Z-axis''' points in the desired direction of the light beam. Now setup the attachpoint tool:
* Check "Effect" and "Visibility", uncheck everything else.
* Enter a name for the attachpoint ('''attachpt_landing_4''' in the example in the picture)
* Enter the effect's filename without the .fx extension, i.e. '''fx_landing'''
* Under Visibility, choose "'''general_light'''".
* Click '''Attach'''
That's it! You've just added a landing light to your model.

= FSX Materials =
[[Image:Blender2FSX_manual_07.jpg|frame|FSX Material: Texture slots]]
This section describes how FSX Materials are integrated into Blender. For a description of the parameters and their functionalities, refer to SDK document "FSX Material" of the Modeling SDK. All the parameters are simply replicated in the '''FSX Material Params''' rollout in the Properties panel in Blender. Currently unsupported features are ''detail texture'' and ''fresnel ramp''. These will be added in a future release. It is also worth mentioning that you have to use "normal" materials, as Blender2FSX doesn't support node materials.

== Texture maps ==
The main difference from Blender to gmax/Max with regard to FSX materials is the way texture maps are handled. To create a texture in Blender, select the Material under the '''material''' context of the Properties panel, then go to the '''texture''' context of the Properties panel.
* Select a free slot in the list at the top of the panel
* Click "New". The panel will populate with options.
* Choose type "Image or Movie"
* Under Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV" (you can specify the UV layer as an option)
* Now in the "Influence" rollout, for a
** '''diffuse''' map: tick the Diffuse:Color checkbox, untick everything else.
** '''specular''' map: tick Specular:Intensity, untick everything else.
** '''emissive''' map: tick Shading:Emit, untick everything else.
** '''bump''' map: tick Geometry:Normal, untick everything else.
By "untick everything else", I mean that in order to have the correct diffuse map for example, no other texture in the same material should have Diffuse:color ticked in the Influence rollout. You are free to play with the different options, as long as you make sure that only one texture has the crucial option ticked. An exception to this rule are virtual cockpit textures (see below).

[[Image:Envmap_blender.jpg|thumb|left|Environment map for Blender]]
'''Environment maps'''

For EnvMaps, the texture type is "Environment Map" instead of "Image or Movie". Blender2FSX automatically recognises EnvMaps as long as the type is set correctly. The setups of EnvMaps differ from Blender to FSX. In order to see the same reflection in Blender renders as in the sim, you will have to reorganize the EnvMap (a.k.a Cube map) as shown in the picture to the left.

== Virtual cockpit textures ==

Virtual cockpit textures are created in the panel.cfg file. Their size is determined by the size_mm and pixel_size entries of the corresponding [VCockpitXX] section, where the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture is also defined.

In your virtual cockpit, you need to map polygons that will display gauges to the virtual cockpit texture. For this purpose, you need to create a '''dummy''' texture that reflects the arrangement of the gauges on the VC texture. The following is taken from the panel.cfg of the default C172 (©Microsoft):
<pre>[VCockpit02]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$C172s_2
background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=Cessna!Heading_Indicator, 0, 0,163,162</pre>
To make a dummy texture from this VCockpit texture, we would create a '''512x512''' (see size_mm=) texture sheet and name it '''$C172s_2''' (see texture=) and save it with our favourite paint program. The $-sign at the beginning of the name is important: it tells FSX and Blender2FSX that this is a virtual cockpit texture. We would now proceed to place copies of the gauge artwork on the sheet at the positions defined in the panel.cfg. In this example, we could place the background bitmap of the Heading_Indicator gauge at the top-left corner (0,0) and make sure it's 163 by 162 pixels wide. We would then save the texture (as .png or something else) and head back to Blender.

Back in Blender:
* Create a material for the gauge polygon and name it something sensible like "material_VC_1".
* Under the FSX Material Params rollout, tick the "Is Virtual cockpit texture" checkbox (scroll all the way to the bottom)
* Add a texture for material_VC_1, type= "Image or Movie"
* Point the file source to the newly created $C172s_2.png dummy texture
* Mapping:Coordinates, choose "UV"
* Influence: tick Diffuse:Color '''and''' (if you don't use a separate emissive texture for night lighting) Shading:Emit
* Go to the UV/Image Editor and unwrap your polygon
* Map it to the dummy texture
Your virtual cockpit texture is now ready for export.

= Exporting to FSX =

TO BE CONTINUED...

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Manuals]]

File:Envmap blender.jpg

2014-01-16T04:00:06Z

Captx-6562: Blender2FSX: Envmap order for Blender

Blender2FSX: Envmap order for Blender

File:Blender2FSX manual 07.jpg

2014-01-16T03:24:11Z

Captx-6562: Blender2FSX: Textures

Blender2FSX: Textures

File:Blender2FSX manual 06.jpg

2014-01-16T01:23:38Z

Captx-6562: Blender2FSX: Adding a landing light Attachpoint

Blender2FSX: Adding a landing light Attachpoint

File:Blender2FSX manual 05.jpg

2014-01-16T00:23:51Z

Captx-6562: Blender2FSX: FSX AttachPoint Tool

Blender2FSX: FSX AttachPoint Tool

File:Blender2FSX manual 04.jpg

2014-01-16T00:00:14Z

Captx-6562: Blender2FSX: FSX Properties

Blender2FSX: FSX Properties

File:Blender2FSX manual 03.jpg

2014-01-15T23:46:51Z

Captx-6562: Blender2FSX: FSX Animation Tool

Blender2FSX: FSX Animation Tool

File:Blender2FSX manual 02.jpg

2014-01-15T21:45:13Z

Captx-6562: Blender2FSX: File Properties Tool

Blender2FSX: File Properties Tool

File:Blender2FSX manual 01.jpg

2014-01-15T20:37:53Z

Captx-6562: Blender's User Preferences Window with Blender2FSX.

Blender's User Preferences Window with Blender2FSX.

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-27T02:45:14Z

Captx-6562:

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform all your greyscale heightmaps in ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" maps (.DDS DXT5). For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [[Normal map creation]] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin, nor the SDK's imagetool to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one. For a quick overview of the tool, take the [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOCUMENTATION.MapZone2Tour tour] on their website.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. In the library dialog box, select "''New\New''" and hit ''Edit'' (or double-click) to open the editor. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# [[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|right|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]][[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]][[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]]Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Adjust the colour sliders to match ('''R=0, G=255, B=255, A=63'''), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate the red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to ('''R=255, G=0, B=0, A=255''').
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' .
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5).

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-27T02:10:08Z

Captx-6562: /* Generating the normal map */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform all your greyscale heightmaps in ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" maps (.DDS DXT5). For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [[Normal map creation]] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin, nor the SDK's imagetool to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one. For a quick overview of the tool, take the [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOCUMENTATION.MapZone2Tour tour] on their website.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. In the library dialog box, select "''New\New''" and hit ''Edit'' (or double-click) to open the editor. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Adjust the colour sliders to match ('''R=0, G=255, B=255, A=63'''), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate the red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to ('''R=255, G=0, B=0, A=255''').
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-27T01:31:34Z

Captx-6562: /* Generating the normal map */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform all your greyscale heightmaps in ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" maps (.DDS DXT5). For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [[Normal map creation]] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin, nor the SDK's imagetool to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one. For a quick overview of the tool, take the [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOCUMENTATION.MapZone2Tour tour] on their website.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Adjust the colour sliders to match ('''R=0, G=255, B=255, A=63'''), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate the red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to ('''R=255, G=0, B=0, A=255''').
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-26T10:54:49Z

Captx-6562:

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform all your greyscale heightmaps in ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" maps (.DDS DXT5). For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [[Normal map creation]] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin, nor the SDK's imagetool to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Adjust the colour sliders to match ('''R=0, G=255, B=255, A=63'''), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate the red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to ('''R=255, G=0, B=0, A=255''').
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-26T10:53:00Z

Captx-6562: /* Converting to FSX "bump" map */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform all your greyscale heightmaps in ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" maps (.DDS DXT5). For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Normal_map_creation Normal map creation] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin, nor the SDK's imagetool to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Adjust the colour sliders to match ('''R=0, G=255, B=255, A=63'''), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate the red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to ('''R=255, G=0, B=0, A=255''').
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-26T00:00:54Z

Captx-6562: /* Requirements */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform all your greyscale heightmaps in ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" maps (.DDS DXT5). For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Normal_map_creation Normal map creation] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin, nor the SDK's imagetool to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Crank up the sliders of green and blue channels to max (R=0, G=255, B=255), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate its red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to the inverse of the last step (R=255, G=0, B=0).
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-26T00:00:30Z

Captx-6562: /* Requirements */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform all your greyscale heightmaps in ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" maps (.DDS DXT5). For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Normal_map_creation Normal map creation] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin, nor the SDK's imagetool, to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Crank up the sliders of green and blue channels to max (R=0, G=255, B=255), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate its red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to the inverse of the last step (R=255, G=0, B=0).
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-25T23:58:11Z

Captx-6562:

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform all your greyscale heightmaps in ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" maps (.DDS DXT5). For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Normal_map_creation Normal map creation] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Crank up the sliders of green and blue channels to max (R=0, G=255, B=255), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate its red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to the inverse of the last step (R=255, G=0, B=0).
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-25T22:12:11Z

Captx-6562: /* Converting to FSX "bump" map */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform your greyscale heightmap in a ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" map. For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Normal_map_creation Normal map creation] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Crank up the sliders of green and blue channels to max (R=0, G=255, B=255), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate its red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to the inverse of the last step (R=255, G=0, B=0).
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT''. Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-25T21:42:59Z

Captx-6562: /* Converting to FSX "bump" map */

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform your greyscale heightmap in a ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" map. For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Normal_map_creation Normal map creation] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Crank up the sliders of green and blue channels to max (R=0, G=255, B=255), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate its red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to the inverse of the last step (R=255, G=0, B=0).
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''OK''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT". Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back here for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-25T12:41:10Z

Captx-6562:

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform your greyscale heightmap in a ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" map. For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Normal_map_creation Normal map creation] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Crank up the sliders of green and blue channels to max (R=0, G=255, B=255), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate its red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to the inverse of the last step (R=255, G=0, B=0).
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''Close''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT". Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

[[Category:Aircraft Design]]
[[Category:Scenery Design]]
[[category:Texturing]]

Normal maps using MapZone

2010-02-25T12:39:06Z

Captx-6562: Using MapZone to create bump maps for FSX

{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
| FSXI = false
| FSXA = true
| FSX = true
| FS2004 = false
| FS2002 = false
| FS2000 = false
| FS98 = false
}}

MapZone is a free, powerful texture processing tool from Allegorithmic. This tutorial will show you how to setup MapZone to transform your greyscale heightmap in a ready-to-use FSX-format "bump" map. For basic info on FSX bump-mapping, refer to Arno's [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Normal_map_creation Normal map creation] page.

== Requirements ==

* [http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/?PAGE=DOWNLOAD Mapzone 2.6]
All you need is your greyscale heightmap, preferably saved in a lossless format (i.e. 24-bit .BMP), and MapZone 2.5 or higher... Since you don't need any NVIDIA or other plugin to generate the normal map, just save your artwork in it's current state in your favorite photo editing tool in either one of .BMP, .JPG or .PNG formats.

== Generating the normal map ==

Basically, you build up a flowchart by interconnecting image processing nodes, each one transforming it's input before passing the result to the next one.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 1.jpg|Mapzone interface]]

Install and fire up MapZone. The interface has two main areas: top is the '''graph view''' (where you place the nodes), bottom is the '''view frame''' (displays result of the selected node).

# Right-click somewhere in the graph view. Point and select ->"''New filter''"->"''Bitmap import''". This will add an entry node where we can load our heightmap.
# Select the node by double-clicking (or right-click->"''Open (Display)''") to display it's '''options''' in a bar beneath the graph view. Click on the "''Size''"-button (256x256) and set to the size of your texture ('''Fig. 1'''). Check the "''default''" box (all the subsequent nodes are created with default size). Click "''OK''" to confirm.[[Image:Normal map mapzone 2.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import options]]
# Now as in step 1., add a ->"''New FX-Map''"->"''FX Filter to FX-Map''" node and connect the output from the first node to its input (drag-drop the small triangle).
# Right-click the new node and point-select "''Connect to new''"->"''Normal Map''". This node generates a "standard" normal map as used by most rendering engines out there. From here on, it's almost all about converting it into the FSX-format "bump" map. You can always rearrange the nodes in the graph view by drag-and-drop. Saving your progress (''File->Save As...'') is a good idea at this point...
# Let's see what we are doing and load our heightmap into MapZone via the "''Bitmap Import''" node. Click the "''Bitmap File''"-button (options bar, far left) displaying "'''[None...]'''" and browse to your file.

[[Image:Normal map mapzone 3.jpg|thumb|Fig. 2 - Normal Map options]]
Next, we can tweak the ''Normal Map''-node's options, meaning '''filter strength''' and '''intensity''' ('''Fig. 2'''). These are displayed in the options bar beneath the graph view when the node is selected (so, select it!). Play around a little and watch the effect in the view frame. ''Depending on the contrast of your heightmap'', you will have to adjust the settings to achieve a very subtle effect. You can still scale the effect in the material settings in max/gmax. Alas, finding suitable personal settings is a matter of trial and error, as with the NVIDIA-plugin.

== Converting to FSX "bump" map ==

# Next, add a ''Uniform Color'' FX Filter in the graph view, right-click it and ''Connect to new->[Uniform] Mix''. When prompted, choose ''Connect to 'Input [2]' ''; that's the lower input. Connect the output of the ''Normal Map'' node to 'Input [1]' (the upper input).
# Select the ''Uniform Mix'' and set it's '''Blending Mode''' to ''Sub.'' (subtract).
# Drag a selection marquee around both the "''Uniform''" nodes you just inserted, right-click one of them and ''Clone Selection '''[keep input links]'''''. Arrange the clones somewhere underneath.
# Select the upper ''Uniform Color'' node and in the options bar, click the color swatch (default black). Crank up the sliders of green and blue channels to max (R=0, G=255, B=255), so as to subtract these channels from the normal map and isolate its red channel in the upper Mix node.
# Select the lower ''Uniform Color'' node and set the color to the inverse of the last step (R=255, G=0, B=0).
# Add a ''New FX-Map''->''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node right next to the upper ''Uniform Mix'' node and connect the output of the latter to the input of the former.
# Right-click the lower ''Mix'' node and ''Connect to new...''->''Alpha''. Join the output of the ''FX Filter to FX-Map'' node to the greyscale (top) input of ''Alpha''.
# Select ''Alpha'' and toggle '''Combine Alpha''' to '''Replace Alpha''' ('''Fig. 3'''). [[Image:Normal map mapzone 4.jpg|thumb|Fig. 3 - Alpha option settings]] Open the '''Transforms'''-dialog box for ''greyscale input'' and click ''Vertical Mirror'' '''once''' ('''Fig. 4'''), then confirm ''Close''. Repeat this for ''Colour input [1]'' [[Image:Normal map mapzone 5.jpg|thumb|Fig. 4 - Flipping the map vertically]].
# Right-click the ''Alpha'' node in the graph view and ''Connect to New''->''OUTPUT''. Choose a name for the output node and confirm.
# Right-click the ''OUTPUT'' node and ''Choose the TEXTURE FORMAT". Check ''Limit mipmap levels'' and ''Compress via D3D functions'' and confirm (Fig. 5)[[Image:Normal map mapzone 6.jpg|thumb|Fig. 5 - OUTPUT settings]].

Save your progress and you are ready to export your FSX bump map. To do so, Right-click the ''OUTPUT''-node and ''Export bitmap...''

That's it for now. Look back for an update on how to setup the texture library of your FS-project for Mapzone to automatically refresh all DDS-textures.

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Fig. 1 - Bitmap Import Options

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