• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

    • Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
    • Questions about making 3D assets can be posted in the 3D asset design forum. Either post them in the subforum of the modelling tool you use or in the general forum if they are general.
    • Questions about aircraft design can be posted in the Aircraft design forum
    • Questions about airport design can be posted in the FS2020 airport design forum. Once airport development tools have been updated for FS2020 you can post tool speciifc questions in the subforums of those tools as well of course.
    • Questions about terrain design can be posted in the FS2020 terrain design forum.
    • Questions about SimConnect can be posted in the SimConnect forum.

    Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.

    By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.

FSX Does "Always Face Camera" works?

lordofwings

lordofwings

Messages
639
Country
panama
I have the impression it does but perhaps other people can confirm. In GSU I created an object (a flagpole with flag) and created it as a GSU component with the "Always Face Camera" option checked. In GSU this basically makes the component to turn so that it always faces the camera regardless of where you view it from.

I deployed an object with that component in it to FSX and I am under the impression the flag is always facing the camera (at least how I tried), although it was a bit into perspective.

Do you know if such feature is really exported to COLLADA and therefore into MCX? Otherwise I don't bother to make such components. It is nice because some objects (i.e. flags, trees) won't look nice when viewed from the side (a flat thing).
 
Hi,

As mentioned that option is not supported by FSX MDL files. But if you use FS2004 MDL files you can use MDL Tweaker II to apply a similar tweak. However it was reported in another post that MDL Tweaker II does not like the FS2004 MDL files that ModelConverterX made.
 
Then I guess I was fooled by the scenery :( will have to look for another way to model custom trees. Any ideas?
 
lordofwings said:
Then I guess I was fooled by the scenery :( will have to look for another way to model custom trees. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Why settle for what IIRC the legacy SDK called "Rotate-To-Aircraft" 2D objects when you can make a 3D "cross-plane" object in Sketchup ? ;)


To test this work-flow feasibility as a "proof-of-concept" for yourself, download and install Rhumbaflappy's excellent "Center_Group_Bottom" Sketchup plug-in:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71321


[EDITED]

Then, in a newly initialized Sketchup session... with the default "person" as the only object, and in ISO view: :idea:

_1.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Select All

_2.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Explode

_3.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Select All

_4.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Make Group

_5.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Select All

_6.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Copy

_7.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Paste In Place

___a.) Sketchup Menu > Tools > Protractor

___b.) Hover Protractor Mouse Cursor over the top of that "Person" object bounding box ('Protractor' appears)

___c.) Left Mouse Click-Hold "+" marker of Protractor, then rotate copied "Person" object 90 degrees to original; release left mouse button

___d.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Select All

___e.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Explode

___f.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Select All

___g.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Intersect Faces > With Model

___h.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Select All

___i.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Make Group

_8.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Select All

_9.) Sketchup Menu > Plugins > Center_Group_Bottom

10.) Sketchup Menu > Edit > Select All

11.) Sketchup Menu > File > Export > 3D Model ('Export Model' dialog opens)

___a.) In Export Model dialog, set Export Type = Collada (*.DAE)

___b.) In Export Model dialog, enter desired Export [filename].DAE; click "OK" to save into a specified target folder location

12.) Import that Collada (*.DAE) file exported by Sketchup into a 'recent build' of ModelConverterX (aka "MCX"):

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=82

[END_EDIT]


MCX should now display a 'visible' model of the textured 3D "cross-plane" object... with all mapped textures showing proper transparency attributes. :wizard:



FYI: In Sketchup, one can use custom tree textures with 'proper' transparency in the alpha channel of the texture (ex: *.TIF, *.BMP or *.PNG) mapped onto a "cross-plane" object to make custom tree objects.


IIUC, in MCX one may wish to use 'Drawcall Batching' if a tree is intended for use as a custom Autogen object, and 'LODs' if intended for a scenery library object.


PS: One can also use this method to make other types of custom vegetation ex: bushes, grass, etc. ! :p


Hope this helps ! :)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top