Topic: Specular and animated Maps?

[WillDecker]

I was wondering something and maybe someone can help me out.  For a couple of project I am working on I have been wanting to use speculars and some kind of animated format for SFC. Now my question is: Is it possible to do that and if so is there a certain format I can use for that?

[atheorhaven]

I was wondering something and maybe someone can help me out.  For a couple of project I am working on I have been wanting to use speculars and some kind of animated format for SFC. Now my question is: Is it possible to do that and if so is there a certain format I can use for that?

Animated maps haven't been done to any serious extent in SFC because I don't believe that the engine supports it.  You can do a form of limited animation though through illumination maps in SFC 2, and to a larger extent with TGA files and illumination in SFC 3.

But for true animation, no.. don't believe so.

Spec maps, I *think* are supported to a very limited degree in SFC 3.

[Centurus]

The MOD format of SFC ship models doesn't hold spec maps.  I've tried attaching spec maps to the ships in MAX and then exporting the model back to MOD format, and when I recheck the material properties, the spec maps aren't there.

SFC3 has a setting for specular effects, but that's about it.

As for animation, I don't know if it'll work.  Not sure if anyone's ever really tried.

[atheorhaven]

The MOD format of SFC ship models doesn't hold spec maps.  I've tried attaching spec maps to the ships in MAX and then exporting the model back to MOD format, and when I recheck the material properties, the spec maps aren't there.

SFC3 has a setting for specular effects, but that's about it.

As for animation, I don't know if it'll work.  Not sure if anyone's ever really tried.

It's been tried in the past.. and doesn't work with animated GIF's for sure.  I'd done a crawling skin for the Shadow Battlecrab using illumination mapping and that worked okay.. but it was a workaround.

[I, Mudd.]

According to Will Fisher of Quicksilver Inc, The engine will handle specular maps and limited texture animations for models done in the same fashion as Plasma Torpedo, Disruptor and Photon Torpedo style, however these features were not made active at any point in the games release. If activated via editing the source code or the sprites.q3 file ... (not sure which, although in his response we were discussing the sprites.q3 file) ... then it would be possible to do animations such as blinking running lights and spinning bussard collectors and the ability to do shiny surfaces and, according to Bill, transparency effects as well..

The long answer is yes, eventually we will be able to do such things, providing there is enough interest among those who dabble in code to unlock a way for the rest of us to do it.

The short answer is nope, not currently.

JM.

[atheorhaven]

blinking running lights and spinning bussard collectors and the ability to do shiny surfaces and, according to Bill, transparency effects as well..

Sorry.. just thinking..

BLINKY... (drool)... SPINNY... (drool)... SHINY... (drool).

:blink:

Sorry.. just lost in a drool moment with a TOS Connie in mind.. (sigh)

[Centurus]

blinking running lights and spinning bussard collectors and the ability to do shiny surfaces and, according to Bill, transparency effects as well..

Sorry.. just thinking..

BLINKY... (drool)... SPINNY... (drool)... SHINY... (drool).

:blink:

Sorry.. just lost in a drool moment with a TOS Connie in mind.. (sigh)

*uses the power of his rubber chickens to put an image of Jolene Blalok in T'Pol makeup wearing a string bikini while sitting in the command chair of a TOS Connie*