Using Blender to Create a Trainz Asset - Preparation

Transcription

1 Using Blender to Create a Trainz Asset - Preparation Project Folder It's a good idea to create a folder for each project to keep the various files associated with a project together. The folder can be placed anywhere including on the desktop but keep in mind that Blender by default does not store all of the information it needs in its own file but rather links to other files (e.g., texture files). It is important that these links are not broken by moving files around or deleting them. So, lets first create a folder for our project (I m going to place mine on the desktop as I plan on keeping it only temporarily). Create a folder on the Desktop and name it Stone_Wall_Project. Texture File We will need a stone texture to apply to our Blender model so let s get that before we start modelling. There are several sources of free texture files available on the Internet. I like to use CGTextures. You have to sign up (user name, name and address) to be able to download the files but since you will probably want to access them in the future go ahead and sign up if you haven t already. I have chosen the BrickGroutless0031_9_M file. It is called brick but it looks more like stone to me. Open your browser and navigate to CGTextures ( Select "Brick" from the Menu on the left, then "Rounded" from the Submenu. Click on the upper right image "BrickRound0109 (Texture: #52966)" or l8d34 Page 1 of 5.

2 Download the medium size (1.3 MB) file BrickRound0109_7_M.jpg in the upper right corner to your project folder. Open idraw, set the Canvas Size to 1024 x 1024 pixels and frame with guides. Drag the BrickRound0109_7_M.jpg file from your project folder into idraw. Page 2 of 5.

3 Increase the size of the image then crop to 1024 x 1024 pixels. Click on the File Menu and select Save as and save the file with the filename Texture, and the file type.tiff to your project folder. Page 3 of 5.

4 Keyboard Shortcuts Its been said that Blender is designed to use your right hand on the mouse and your left hand on the keyboard. That is, for speed and simplicity, it is intended that you use keyboard shortcuts. So where possible I will use them here. Below is an abridged list arranged alphabetically of keyboard shortcuts used in the following projects. Here is a more complete list of keyboard shortcuts arranged by function. Page 4 of 5.

5 BlenderKeyboard Shortcuts OM = Object Mode only EM = Edit Mode only Keys Mode Action A B Shift + C Shift + D Select all / Deselect all Border select (marquee select) 3D Cursor to origin Duplicate E EM Extrude region F EM Create Edge (2 vertices selected) Face (3+ verticies selected) G H Alt + H Move (Grab) Hide selected Unhide all L EM Select Linked Components M OM Move object to a different layer N Properties Panel toggle P EM Separate CTRL + Q CTRL + Alt + Q Quit Blender Quad View toggle R Rotate Alt + R OM Clear rotation CTRL + R EM Loop Cut S Scale Alt + S OM Reset Scale T Object Tools Panel toggle U EM UV Mapping menu W OM Specials menu W EM Specials menu (varies per object) X Constrain global X axis transform Y Constrain global Y axis transform Y EM Split Vertex / Edge / Face Z Z CTRL + Z CTRL + Shift + Z NUM 0 NUM / NUM 1 NUM 3 NUM 7 NUM 5 CTRL + NUM 1 CTRL + NUM 3 CTRL + NUM 7 NUM 4/NUM 6 NUM 2/NUM 8 Constrain global Z axis transform Solid / Wireframe toggle Undo Redo Active camera view Global/Local view toggle Front view Side view Top view Perspective/Orthographic view toggle Back view Other side view Bottom view Rotate view left/right in iterations Rotate view up/down in iterations Tab Object Mode / Edit Mode toggle CTRL + Tab EM Mesh Select Mode menu CTRL + LMB drag Lasso select F12 Shift + F5 Shift + F7 Shift + F9 Shift + F10 Render current frame 3D view Properties Outliner UV/Image Editor Page 5 of 5.