DeleD Community Edition

trucker2000 · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject: Normals??

What in the world are normals? and how do I add them to an object made in Deled??

I have been having a problem with models I export to obj then to milkshape to export to dts for torque advanced. They turn out black unless I make the textures emit light.
Here is what I was told:

elementrix · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:18 pm Post subject:

normals are lines pointing out of every vertex, normals are used too say how light falls on an object. Image if you have 2 planes, with 1 edge connecting them and they are like a stair/step 90 degrees to each other.
if both vertices on the edge have 2 normals(total 4 normal) pointing perpendicular to the faces directions, you have a hard edge

you can also merge this 2 normals on one vertex though, by doing so the normal direction is 45degrees between both faces, and make the edge look smooth.

Normals are one of the fundamentals of 3D, and deled doesn't support changing them, they are always hard in deled (or do not exist at all)
but I can remember jeroen talking that deled did use normals.
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trucker2000 · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject:

Thanks for a great explination. Now I know what they are, I just have to figure out how to fix my problem.
I'll show you how this looks:

In TGEA with textures emitting light.
In Torque 3D

Now, for another question:
In the obj exporter, there is a selection called normal. Inside it, I have several choices.
None
face
smooth
crease angle
Which one should I choose? I don't even know what they do. (eccept smooth. I think I can figure that one out)

Nevermind. I used smooth and it Works a treat.
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elementrix · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:

I think face is hard edges (each face has normals pointing the same direction)

smooth you know

can you enter a value under crease angle, that would mean that all the normals under or above a certain angle would be hard/soft
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trucker2000 · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:27 pm Post subject:

hehe, we posted about the same time. Thanks. That explains the options. Smile

You've been a great help. I'll learn all these tricks some day. Embarassed

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Some day I will grow up and be a real modeler.
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elementrix · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:29 pm Post subject:

no problem, Im always free to help anyone Smile

(though writing large tutorials is not my thing xD, let's keep it to forum posts:P)
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Daaark · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:12 pm Post subject:

Normals are per vertex data which state the direction the vertex is facing. It's used for all kinds of things; lighting being one of them.

I've been bugging J and PJ to fix that since 2004. Laughing

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trucker2000 · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:02 pm Post subject:

It does need a little work. (at least triangulation does)
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Some day I will grow up and be a real modeler.
"Never give up! Never surrender!!"
Sys specs:
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Invidia gtx560 video card
Windows 8 (worst op sys Ever)

Daaark · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:58 am Post subject:

http://www.uvmapper.com/smooth.jpg
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