Creating BVE5 structure (.x) with SketchUp – Part 1

BVE5 Trainsim structure might be easier to create, compare to the older version of BVE (including OpenBVE).  BVE5 Trainsim use Direct3D object (.x) format. It is a simple file containing geometry meshes and material information that can be viewed in the DirectX Viewer. For more information about Direct3D file format, please refer to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb174837(v=vs.85).aspx or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.x

Direct3D object can be create using 3D modeling software, and then converted to .X format using specific extensions or plugin. Here, we are using two versions of SketchUp for this purpose.

What you need?

• Google Sketchup v8 and MMD accessory (.X File) Exporters
• ImageMagic latest version (software requirement for MMD accessory (.X File) Exporter)
• alternately you can use 3D Rad (but the generated .x structure seems a bit darker compare to .x structure generated by MMD accessory (.X File) Exporter

all of above software is a freeware. Paid version is Google Sketchup 8 Pro.
we also need the latest version of SketchUp make in order to download others model or share your model to 3D Werehouse. the main reason we are using an older version of Sketchup, because both of the plugins/extension does not compatible with newer version of Sketchup.

If I am not mistaken, there is a paid version of .x file converter that compitable with latest version of SketchUp.

Oh! I almost forgot to mention, we also need .x file viewer to view .x file.

Download link

• Google Sketchup 8 : http://filehippo.com/download_sketchup_make/9114/
• MMD accessory (.X File) Exporters : https://github.com/mikunanakusa/MMDExporter
  [http://github.com/mikunanakusa/MMDExporter/zipball/master ]
• 3D Rad  : https://github.com/marek22/Projects/blob/master/Windows%20Phone%207%20Game%20Development/Chapter8/Resources/3DRadExporter.rbs
• ImageMagic : https://www.imagemagick.org/script/download.php#windows
• Sketchup Make 2017 or later : https://www.sketchup.com/download
• .X viewer : http://www.open3mod.com/

Installation

Google SketchUp 8

ImageMagick

Don’t forget to select “Install legacy utilities (e.g. convert)”

Installing plugin files

MMD accessory (.X File) Exporter

• extract zip file and copy this files to plugins folder.

3D Rad

• copy “3DRadExporter.rbs” to SketchUp plugins folder.

MMD accessory (.X File) Exporters Plugin configuration

• Open file MMDExporter_config.rb with your text editor.

• Get ImageMagick folder location and copy this location.

• Replace default ImageMagickdir with your folder location

• Restart SketchUp 8, plugins menu should appear in SketchUp.

Importing model from 3D Warehouse with SketchUp Make 201x

Running SketchUp Make, e.g.

• save model as SketchUp ver 8

• Close the file.

Converting to .X format

• Reopen the file with Sketchup 8.

• Select All, <Ctrl+A>

• converting with MMD accessory (.X files) Exporter, Plugins > MMD accessory (.X File) Exporter. we need to change default setting as below.

• Click Export .X File to start converting. done.

• 3D Rad got simpler step, but output texture seems darker or too dark.

Preview with .X file viewer

e.g.
pole structure generated by MMD Exporter


pole structure generated by 3D Rad exporter

Generated .X file in action

pole structure generated by MMD Exporter



pole structure generated by 3D Rad exporter



Please take note, texture size should be in 2ⁿ (2 x 2 x 2 ….. n times), for example : 16x16, 16x32, 32x16, 32x32, 128x64, 256x256, 1024 x 128 pixels, etc…. Otherwise texture of BVE structure will not be rendered properly.

to be continued …



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Categories: bve 5 trainsim, objects