Posts by kreemerz

Quote from Sova Mods

Yes, sometimes the ZModeler3 textures have an invalid format that doesn't work with OpenIV for some reason, so try what I said above.

I used a format converter and changed them from DDS to PNG. And still getting this bizarre issue. I don't remember Zmodeler ever asking for so many updates. seemed like every other week or few days, the app was getting an update. I've been using Zmodeler for years and they've changed something, Never had this issue before.

Should I use some other format other than PNG?

Maybe choose something specific?

Quote from Sova Mods

I believe this happens when your textures are an invalid format when importing, saving in another program and re-importing should work.

I just export them from Zmodeler and import them into OpenIV. I dont change any format settings. Maybe I should?

Quote from Cj24

Those are the coronas ELS renders to make sure lights are still visible at higher distances. They're automatically placed at the axis of the extra, the color is chosen based on the color set for the extra in the VCF. You should move your axes to the position of the light itself. Note that even with properly placed axes, ELS coronas may be visible through mesh and pointing in the wrong direction, which is simply yet another shortcoming of ELS.

if I move the axis of the extra, it thusly moves the mesh where I don't want it. Not sure how to move the axis around where it does not also move the light.

Seems like some thing strange happens to my texture files when I export them from Zmodeler and import them into OpenIv.
Random textures get corrupted for some reason. Stripes on random textures

Anyone seen this? This is the first time I've ever seen this issue. Zmodeler has been getting a ton of updates lately, so something is screwy with this app now...

only happens with OpenIV importing the textures....

So they don't show up until you're far away from the model that has the ELS lights. But I don't know if there's anything I can do about them. Can I move them around? how?

I don't think I can delete them because they will delete the light.

I've worked on a ton of models. Never had an issue with the wheels.

I jumped into the game suddenly discovered the wheels were all wobbly.

What did I do? What do I need to do to fix it?

Does that hold the same for this? under the Texture Browser

Just wondering if it's safe to delete these files? I assumed that since it says "unused materials", that it's good to go ahead and delete them.

if it's okay to delete them, any thing I should keep in mind or be careful of when deleting them from here?

Quote from Pacific Pig

This issue is just caused by OpenIV not supporting the "type" of texture, as you can see in your first picture some are DXT5 some are other things which OpenIV can't use. The only way around this is to note the error files and then open them in an editing software and save them again under a dds format supported by OpenIV or a PNG and then import them again.

Personally I never just export every texture as it leads to things like this and the part textures a dev includes are intended for import and set up as proper format for colors to look correct. Most vehicle bases come with either a ytd or a DLC that contains the ytd, best way to ensure this doesn't happen is use the base vehicle's ytd and then import each part you used textures one at a time from the files provided by the part dev. This method will give you the least errors and the best quality textures intended by the part dev.

"...import each part you used textures one at a time from the files provided by the part dev..."

Hmmm... How do import each part texture one at a time?

Quote from kreemerz

"...import each part you used textures one at a time from the files provided by the part dev..."

Hmmm... How do import each part texture one at a time?

DXT5 is the most optimal format to import textures in?

Drives me crazy. Every now and then, I run into this issue. I'm not sure if I need to address it. or if I should ignore it.

But it does happen... sometimes it's just one file.

Or maybe I'm handling texture files wrong?

So when I finish building of the model, the first thing I do is export the 2 yft files.

Then I export the textures from the screen below or re-save the files.

Maybe that's not the best way to get the textures from all the other parts/groups?

Quote from Pacific Pig

I've never had issues making a bobble/wobble antenna work here are my personal workflow steps.
1. Import antenna and move into place
2. Break off the Antenna on all LODs from the base
3. Center the axis to the now lone antenna LODS
4. Using the Move Tool in Axis only mode drag the axis to the bottom of the antenna.
5. Copy the L0 anntena and convert it into a Dummy, rename it to the bobble/wobble name of your choice.
6. Now turn off all LODs at the top right and compound the Dummy, Double click the dummy and begin turning on the LODs and place the matching antenna LOD into the Antenna Dummy.
7. Once done with all LODs click the little lock next to the dummy name to ensure nothing else get sent to its compound. Done.

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Could you explain step 2? I'm not sure about that step.

Quote from Pacific Pig

I've never had issues making a bobble/wobble antenna work here are my personal workflow steps.
1. Import antenna and move into place
2. Break off the Antenna on all LODs from the base
3. Center the axis to the now lone antenna LODS
4. Using the Move Tool in Axis only mode drag the axis to the bottom of the antenna.
5. Copy the L0 anntena and convert it into a Dummy, rename it to the bobble/wobble name of your choice.
6. Now turn off all LODs at the top right and compound the Dummy, Double click the dummy and begin turning on the LODs and place the matching antenna LOD into the Antenna Dummy.
7. Once done with all LODs click the little lock next to the dummy name to ensure nothing else get sent to its compound. Done.

Display More

Well, it's clear that you know how to do it. I'm a not a pro at using Zmodeler. I'm still learning it, even after all these years.

anyone?

I have tried to merge bobble antennas into some of my existing Zmodeler projects. And 50% of the time, it works flawlessly. The antenna will wobble and bend without issue. But sometimes, the antenna will not wobble at all. It remains stiff.

Is there something I'm not importing? problem with the file name? any thing you can suggest I need to be careful of?

I've always wanted to know what I could do with that symbol.. does it help improve my lights?

does it help fix problems?

What does that L shape symbol do?

this does not happen often but OpenIV does on occasion not want to import the texture files I have saved in Zmodeler.

Here's my most recent screenshot of the failed import

I wish there was something in Zmodeler that could check the file to see where the issue is.

All I did was move some lights arounds. No merging. No importing of any resources.

Is there a way to check and see what the issue could be?

here's the ELS log... Yup. the firetruk is the model I'm, working on...

<FILEV> Found file: [ firetruk.xml ].

<FILEV> Verifying vehicle model name [ firetruk ].

(OK) Is valid vehicle model, assigned VMID [ 3 ].

Parsing file. *A crash before all clear indicates faulty VCF.*

VCF Description: Sample VCF

VCF Author: Luxart

(OK) Collected data from: 'ADMIN'.

(OK) Collected data from: 'INTERFACE'.

Oh... I see now... Bad VCF file.... duh.... back at work,...

I'm curious on how to add these lights... or more specifically how to make them light up. I have red ones I need to add on the rear bumper to be lit up while the engine is running. And I have amber (yellow) ones I need to add on the front top of the cab for the same reason.

I know how to add flashing lights as it's essentially cutting and pasting with ELS lights. But these lights are a little different. They aren't necessarily ELS. They need to stay on all the time while the engine is running.

Any suggestions?

I rotated the object that's in the middle photo. I rotated it 180 degrees. Still getting light shined in the wrong direction - had no impact.

It's like it's coming from something else. I'm not as skilled in Zmodeler as I would like.

So if it's a "dummy" that is causing the issue, I'm not sure how I could find the dummy to rotate.

Quote from Cj24

As you're using an extra, I'm assuming you're talking about ELS? If so, it's an ELS bug that happens whenever the dummy is positioned in the front of a car (negative Z-axis) and cannot be avoided.

I also tried to import a functioning extra 11 file into a model that I'm working on which normally works fine. But for some reason, it isn't working here in this model. it's like the light beam is coming from another extra 11 source.