Difference between revisions of "LFS Editor/Modeller"

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{{Infobox vehicle mods}}
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{{Infobox LFS Editor}}
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{{Under construction}}
 
  
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The Modeller is a part of the [[LFS Editor]]. It is used to edit the 3D model, which includes editing the mesh and applying textures.
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'''Modeller''' is a part of the [[LFS Editor]]. It is used to edit the 3D model, which includes editing the mesh and applying textures.
  
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For user guides and walkthroughs for various modeller features, see [[Modeller Guides]].
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== Requirements ==
  
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== Requirements ==
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To be able to use the modeller, you must have an [[S3 License|S3 license]]. To get the S3 license, you can visit the [https://www.lfs.net/shop/licenseselect LFS shop page].
 +
 
 +
== Entering the modeller ==
  
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To be able to use the modeller, you must have an S3 license. To get the S3 license, you can visit the [https://www.lfs.net/shop/licenseselect LFS shop page].
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First, follow the [[../Installation|instructions]] how to download and install the [[LFS Editor]].
  
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== Starting the modeller ==
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Once you have the editor installed and run the LFS Editor application, you will be presented with the entry screen.
  
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First, follow the [[LFS Editor#Downloading|instructions]] how to download and install the [[LFS Editor]].
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Click the {{button|Modeller}} button to enter the Modeller.
  
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[[image:LFS Editor welcome screen.jpg|thumb|LFS Editor entry screen]]
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[[image:LFS Editor welcome screen.jpg|thumb|none|LFS Editor entry screen]]
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[[image:LFS Modeller - start screen.png|thumb|Modeller start screen - standalone mode]]
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[[image:LFS Modeller - start screen.png|thumb|none|Modeller start screen - standalone mode]]
  
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Once you have the editor installed and run the LFS Editor application, you will be presented with the entry screen. Click the {{button|Modeller}} button to enter the Modeller.
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The modeller can also be entered from the [[Vehicle Editor]] by pressing {{key press|E}} or clicking the {{old button|Edit|#a1a1ff}} button on the right hand side of the vehicle editor.
  
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The modeller can also be entered from the [[Vehicle Editor]] by pressing {{key press|E}} or clicking the {{old button|E - Edit Model|#a1a1ff}} button on the right hand side of the vehicle editor.
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[[image:LFS vehicle editor showcase.jpg|thumb|none|Modeller with a car loaded through [[Vehicle Editor]]]]
  
 
== General modeller tips ==
 
== General modeller tips ==
  
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* The list of colours at the bottom left in 'tri' mode is a different view of the list of mappings in 'map' mode.
 
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* When you select a triangle, its colour is selected in the bottom left list. If the list is long, click {{old button|cols : X|#ffffa1}} to bring the selected colour onto screen.
 
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* In 'subob' mode you can select a subobject with {{key press|Ctrl|click}} while pointing at one of its surfaces.
 
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* In 'tri' mode, {{key press|Ctrl|click}} adds or removes triangles from the selection. {{key press|Alt|click}} starts a new selection (one triangle).
 
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* In the special view modes (like groups or mappings) the group select feature ({{key press|Ctrl|Shift|click}}) does a flood select within the group.
 
 
* Press {{key press|Shift|F}} to temporarily hide the editor buttons.
 
* Press {{key press|Shift|F}} to temporarily hide the editor buttons.
 
* To reduce clutter, use {{old button|hide selected|#ffffa1}} to temporarily hide points and triangles, then {{old button|unhide all|#a1ffa1}} to show the again.
 
* To reduce clutter, use {{old button|hide selected|#ffffa1}} to temporarily hide points and triangles, then {{old button|unhide all|#a1ffa1}} to show the again.
  
 
== User interface ==
 
== User interface ==
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When you open the Modeller, the user interface looks as follows:
 
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[[File:LFS Editor modeller user interface.jpg]]
 
  
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The interface consists of the following parts:
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The modeller interface consists of the following parts:
  
 
# 3D model view
 
# 3D model view
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# editing mode selector
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# [[#Editing modes|editing mode selector]]
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# editing mode specific controls
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# [[#Editing modes|editing mode specific controls]]
 
# [[#Load / save object|load / save object]]
 
# [[#Load / save object|load / save object]]
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# modeller [[Modeller#View modes|view modes]] & view options
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# [[LFS Editor/Modeller/Special View Modes|special view modes]] and [[#View options|view options]]
 
# [[LFS Editor User Interface#View controls|common editor view controls]]
 
# [[LFS Editor User Interface#View controls|common editor view controls]]
  
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== View modes ==
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[[File:LFS Editor modeller user interface.jpg|600px]]
 +
 
 +
== Vehicle model structure ==
 +
 
 +
Modeller uses 3D meshes to represent the vehicle model in 3D space. All meshes are built from three basic structures - points, edges and triangles.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:LFS editor mesh parts.jpg|600px]]
 +
 
 +
=== Points ===
 +
 
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The most elementary part of a 3D model is the point (also referred to as a vertex) which is a single point in 3D space. Points are represented in the 3D viewport in [[/Point Mode|point mode]] as small square buttons.
  
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In the bottom right part of the screen, you can choose different view modes of the model:
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=== Edges ===
  
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[[image:LFS_Editor_Modeller_view_modes.jpg|Modeller view modes]]
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An edge always connects two points by a straight line. They are used to construct triangles. Edges are represented in 3D viewport in [[/Triangle Mode|triangle]] and [[/Point Mode|point]] modes as thin lines.
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<br>
 
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<br>
 
  
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=== Triangles ===
  
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{| class="wikitable"
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Triangles (often abbreviated to tris) are used to build the actual surface of the object. They are what you see when you render the mesh. If this area does not contain a face, it will simply be transparent or nonexistent in the actual model.
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|+ View mode buttons
 
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|-
 
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| {{old button|layers|#a1a1ff}}
 
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|
 
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Each colour represents triangles assigned to a particular layer. You can toggle layers on/off by clicking the layer buttons in the top left part of the screen.
 
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|-
 
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| {{old button|wire|#a1a1ff}}
 
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|
 
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Shows the edges as a wireframe. The edges can have different colours:
 
  
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* grey - two triangles share the edge. This is the normal condition for most edges in an object.
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A triangle is defined as the area between three points, with an edge on every side.
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* red - an unshared edge - only one triangle uses this edge.
 
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* cyan - three triangles share the edge.
 
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* orange - four triangles share the edge.
 
  
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When you see an edge that is not grey, it may be intentional or it may draw your attention to a bug in the model. There are reasons to have unshared edges or multiple shared edges in some cases. But if it is not intentional, it may indicate a modelling error such as:
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== Editing modes ==
  
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* A double built triangle - this would appear as a cyan triangle where you expect grey triangles.
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Buttons for switching editing modes are located at the top left of the screen. You can also press {{key press|1}} to {{key press|8}} on your keyboard to switch between the modes.
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* A triangle connected to the wrong vertex - could cause unshared edges.
 
  
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It's good to click wire mode occasionally and if you see edges that are not grey, make sure that you know the reason for them and that they are as intended.
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{| class="wikitable"
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| style="text-align: center" | {{old button|subob}}||[[/Subobject Mode/]]
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|-
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| style="text-align: center" | {{old button|tri}}||[[/Triangle Mode/]]
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{old button|mappings|#a1a1ff}}
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| style="text-align: center" | {{old button|point}}||[[/Point Mode/]]
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|
 
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Each colour represents a different mapping.
 
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{old button|flat|#a1a1ff}}
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| style="text-align: center" | {{old button|build}}||[[/Build Mode/]]
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|
 
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Flat shading of the triangles without being smoothed.
 
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{old button|groups|#a1a1ff}}
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| style="text-align: center" | {{old button|map}}||[[/Texture Mapping Mode/]]
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|
 
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Smoothing groups. The boundaries between different smoothing groups usually have a sharp edge. All triangles within one smoothing group have artificial smoothing applied.
 
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For more information on how to assign triangles to a smoothing group, refer to the [[LFS_Editor_Guides#Smoothing_groups|Smoothing groups modeller guide]].
 
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{old button|gouraud|#a1a1ff}}
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| style="text-align: center" | {{old button|cutout}}||[[/Texture Cutout Mode/]]
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|
 
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The default rendering of the model with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouraud_shading gouraud shading] applied. This is how the car should appear in game.
 
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{old button|n.c.level|#a1a1ff}}
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| style="text-align: center" | {{old button|page}}||[[/Texture Page Mode/]]
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|
 
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Normal contribution levels. Each triangle meeting at a vertex, within the same smoothing group, contributes to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_(geometry) normal] of that surface at that vertex. In fact, large triangles have a larger contribution. So for example you could make a simple "hardback book" shaped object and most of the apparent curvature would be on the spine of that book. But the spine would still be contributing to the normals, so the front and back faces of the "book" would still be a little curved. If, however, you set the normal contribution level" of the spine to zero, then the spine would not contribute to the normals at all. Then the front and back face of the book would look totally flat.
 
 
|-
 
|-
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| {{old button|l.r.swap|#a1a1ff}}
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| style="text-align: center" | {{old button|view}}||[[/View Mode/]]
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|
 
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Driver swap modes. The triangles can have different colours:
 
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* grey - applied to mirrored triangles, which do not have any swapping
 
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* blue (static) - do not change sides when driver side is swapped
 
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* red (swap) - change sides when driver side is swapped
 
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In this mode, you can set driver swap modes to triangles by going to the {{old button|tri|#c9c9c9}} mode, selecing one or more triangles and clicking one of the swap mode buttons in the top right corner.
 
 
|}
 
|}
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<gallery widths="300px" heights="170px">
 
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LFS Editor Modeller layers mode.jpg|Layers
 
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LFS Editor Modeller wire mode.jpg|Wireframe
 
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LFS Editor Modeller mappings view.jpg|Mappings
 
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LFS Editor Modeller NC level mode.jpg|Normal contribution levels
 
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LFS Editor Modeller gouraud mode.jpg|Gouraud
 
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LFS Editor Modeller flat mode.jpg|Flat
 
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LFS Editor Modeller groups mode.jpg|Smoothing groups
 
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LFS Editor Modeller L.R. swap mode.jpg|Left/right swap
 
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</gallery>
 
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=== Groups ===
 
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[[Image:LFS Editor smoothing group tri mode.jpg|thumb|Groups mode in combination with tri mode]]
 
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{{see also|LFS Editor Guides#Smoothing groups}}
 
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When you switch to the groups view mode and select {{old button|tri}} mode, an additional set of buttons will be shown in the top right corner of the screen.
 
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Each smoothing group is represented by a number and a distinct colour.
 
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[[Image:LFS Editor smoothing group buttons.jpg|Smoothing group buttons]]
 
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If needed, you can create new groups by clicking the {{old button|new group (N)|#ffffa1}} button, where N is the number of the group to be created.
 
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You can create up to 23 groups for the model.
 
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When you select a group which is not assigned to any triangles, a {{old button|delete|#EA927E}} button appears at the top, allowing you to delete unused groups:
 
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[[Image:LFS Editor smoothing group delete button.jpg|Delete group button]]
 
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When you press and hold {{key press|Ctrl}}, the labels of the group buttons will say {{old button|all}}. If you click one of them, all triangles assigned to that group will be selected.
 
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[[Image:LFS Editor smoothing group all buttons.jpg|Select all buttons]]
 
  
 
== Load / save object ==
 
== Load / save object ==
  
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{{see also|LFS Editor Guides#Loading a model}}
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{{see also|LFS Editor/Guides/Loading & Saving a Model in Modeller|Loading a model into LFS Editor}}
  
 
At the bottom left of the screen, there is a set of buttons used to load or save an object in the Modeller.
 
At the bottom left of the screen, there is a set of buttons used to load or save an object in the Modeller.
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|-
 
|-
 
| {{old button|skin}}{{old button|XFG_DEFAULT}} || Click the skin name (e.g. XFG_DEFAULT) to select a JPG image in data\skins to use as a skin in the editor
 
| {{old button|skin}}{{old button|XFG_DEFAULT}} || Click the skin name (e.g. XFG_DEFAULT) to select a JPG image in data\skins to use as a skin in the editor
 +
|-
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| {{old button|OBJ|#ffffa1}} || Load an [[Loading_a_model_into_LFS_Editor#Loading_an_external_3D_model|OBJ file]] from data\obj
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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 +
== Special view modes ==
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 +
{{main article|LFS Editor/Modeller/Special View Modes|Special View Modes}}
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== View options ==
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{{Under construction}}
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;Show main
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:
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;Show subobs
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:
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;Show wheels
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:
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;Show hidden
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:
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;Normals
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:
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;Test L.R.swap
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:
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;Wire overlay
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:
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{{Shared repository category|LFS Modeller screenshots}}
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[[Category:LFS Editor|{{SUBPAGENAME}}]]

Latest revision as of 07:26, 15 June 2024

LFS Editor
Vehicle Mods

Modeller is a part of the LFS Editor. It is used to edit the 3D model, which includes editing the mesh and applying textures.

Requirements

To be able to use the modeller, you must have an S3 license. To get the S3 license, you can visit the LFS shop page.

Entering the modeller

First, follow the instructions how to download and install the LFS Editor.

Once you have the editor installed and run the LFS Editor application, you will be presented with the entry screen.

Click the Modeller button to enter the Modeller.

LFS Editor entry screen
Modeller start screen - standalone mode

The modeller can also be entered from the Vehicle Editor by pressing E or clicking the Edit button on the right hand side of the vehicle editor.

Modeller with a car loaded through Vehicle Editor

General modeller tips

  • Press ⇧ Shift + F to temporarily hide the editor buttons.
  • To reduce clutter, use hide selected to temporarily hide points and triangles, then unhide all to show the again.

User interface

The modeller interface consists of the following parts:

  1. 3D model view
  2. editing mode selector
  3. editing mode specific controls
  4. load / save object
  5. special view modes and view options
  6. common editor view controls

LFS Editor modeller user interface.jpg

Vehicle model structure

Modeller uses 3D meshes to represent the vehicle model in 3D space. All meshes are built from three basic structures - points, edges and triangles.

LFS editor mesh parts.jpg

Points

The most elementary part of a 3D model is the point (also referred to as a vertex) which is a single point in 3D space. Points are represented in the 3D viewport in point mode as small square buttons.

Edges

An edge always connects two points by a straight line. They are used to construct triangles. Edges are represented in 3D viewport in triangle and point modes as thin lines.

Triangles

Triangles (often abbreviated to tris) are used to build the actual surface of the object. They are what you see when you render the mesh. If this area does not contain a face, it will simply be transparent or nonexistent in the actual model.

A triangle is defined as the area between three points, with an edge on every side.

Editing modes

Buttons for switching editing modes are located at the top left of the screen. You can also press 1 to 8 on your keyboard to switch between the modes.

subob Subobject Mode
tri Triangle Mode
point Point Mode
build Build Mode
map Texture Mapping Mode
cutout Texture Cutout Mode
page Texture Page Mode
view View Mode

Load / save object

At the bottom left of the screen, there is a set of buttons used to load or save an object in the Modeller.

Modeller load and save objects.jpg

If you have an subobject selected, another row of buttons appears, allowing you to load or save the current subobject.

Load / save object buttons
subobject Indicates that a subobject is currently selected
load Load a new subobject, replacing the selected subobject
save Save the current subobject as an object in data\3dob
main object The name of the main object
LOAD Load a new object from data\3dob
SAVE Load the main object to data\3dob
skinXFG_DEFAULT Click the skin name (e.g. XFG_DEFAULT) to select a JPG image in data\skins to use as a skin in the editor
OBJ Load an OBJ file from data\obj

Special view modes

Main article: Special View Modes

View options

TemplateIconUnderConstruction.png This page or section is being initially created, or is in the process of an expansion or major restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it.
Show main
Show subobs
Show wheels
Show hidden
Normals
Test L.R.swap
Wire overlay
Gallery icon.png

Shared repository has media related to LFS Modeller screenshots.

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