I need to know how to make some very simple skin variations. I can't use Texture Select By ID because I need it to show up in the cutscene editor, which is how I'm recording videos.
I need a way to differentiate important characters. Very simple things like rank insignia on the shoulders or a small design on the chest/helmet. I can't just replace the textures obviously, so I need a model with the changes made already.
Basically, I either need someone to help me make a few (3-5) quick skins or walk me through the process so that I can do it myself. I would prefer to learn how to do all this stuff but 3DSMax is difficult and daunting.
There is a way to change the texture path used by a model without using 3ds max. You can open the .m3 file in a text editor, which will show all sorts of unreadable gibberish. However, when searching the text, you will see, that the only readable lines are the texture paths. You can easily make a copy of the .m3 file and make it use different textures this way.
But careful, you cannot change the length of the texture path, because the models use some sort of checksum, so just adding letters to the path will cause the model to malfunction. Replacing some letters works just fine (for example changing the path "Assets/Textures/Marine_Diffuse.dds" to something like "Assets/Textures/Marine_Diffus2.dds" does work, but "Assets/Textures/Marine_Diffuse_New.dds" does not).
Obviously, it is quite a dirty way to make it work and changing the texture path in Max would probably be better, but this way you can do it yourself easily in a text editor, also you don't have to worry about the export or import screwing up anything.
Also for small changes, you can try to change the Decals of a unit and maybe change Tint and/or Team Color or attach some models.
I need to know how to make some very simple skin variations. I can't use Texture Select By ID because I need it to show up in the cutscene editor, which is how I'm recording videos.
I need a way to differentiate important characters. Very simple things like rank insignia on the shoulders or a small design on the chest/helmet. I can't just replace the textures obviously, so I need a model with the changes made already.
Basically, I either need someone to help me make a few (3-5) quick skins or walk me through the process so that I can do it myself. I would prefer to learn how to do all this stuff but 3DSMax is difficult and daunting.
There is a way to change the texture path used by a model without using 3ds max. You can open the .m3 file in a text editor, which will show all sorts of unreadable gibberish. However, when searching the text, you will see, that the only readable lines are the texture paths. You can easily make a copy of the .m3 file and make it use different textures this way.
But careful, you cannot change the length of the texture path, because the models use some sort of checksum, so just adding letters to the path will cause the model to malfunction. Replacing some letters works just fine (for example changing the path "Assets/Textures/Marine_Diffuse.dds" to something like "Assets/Textures/Marine_Diffus2.dds" does work, but "Assets/Textures/Marine_Diffuse_New.dds" does not).
Obviously, it is quite a dirty way to make it work and changing the texture path in Max would probably be better, but this way you can do it yourself easily in a text editor, also you don't have to worry about the export or import screwing up anything.
Also for small changes, you can try to change the Decals of a unit and maybe change Tint and/or Team Color or attach some models.
Tint and team color don't work for my plot, and decals don't show up in the cutscene editor. Decals would've been my first choice.
So when I copy/open the marine file, the only texture paths I find are things like
Assets/Textures/Marine_Normal_Blood.dds Assets/Textures/Marine_Specular_Blood.dds
None of the normal textures that apply to the marine. Maybe I need to use a different text editor?
OK so those are actually the right files. I tried replacing the names like you said, but when I loaded it into the map the model doesn't load at all.
Yeah, sorry about the example, didn't actually check the file path :D
When I modify the model, it works, though. Used Notepad
++
but should work just as well with the default editor.Oh wow! thank you so much! I have notepad, I sincerely hope that helps it.
Edit: It does help!!!
Thank you again!