Author Topic: LOD naming standard. (Read 492 times)

TexMurphy · « **on:** February 07, 2005, 09:17:03 PM »

How does one name the .ac files so they import as LODs?

Tex

hitech · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2005, 09:32:16 AM »

Basicly you have to make the LOD's
Group "TWR"
Group LOD0 //Hi lod set MinDist=0 MaxDist=1000
Object Whatever
Group LOD1 //Mid lod set MinDist=1000 MaxDist=3000
Object Whatever
Group LOD2 //Far lod set MinDist=3000 MaxDist=10000
Object Whatever

Numbers are just examples, can be what ever ranges you wish

HiTech

TexMurphy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2005, 12:31:56 PM »

Does this mean I have all the LOD shapes in the same .ac file?

Group em all, then align them all at the same place and set the view distances?

Tex

hitech · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2005, 12:45:29 PM »

Correct Tex. Look at some of our buildings for samples.

HiTech

BlauK · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2005, 06:55:11 AM »

Are there any recommended poly counts (min max) for various distances?

I guess it depends a lot about the actual size of a model...

BlauK · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2005, 07:40:56 AM »

I tried looking at the existing objects for examples in MinDist and MaxDist (in ac3d). I dont know if something has happened in export, but they were not very helpful.

The HQ object had 4 different LODs and also dead shape for those LODs, but I found only same MaxDist definition for all those LODs and no MinDist definitions for any of them.

Some other models had diferent MaxDist definitions than the HQ model, but still within the model the definitions were identical for all objects.

I would just guess, that this is not how they should be... is it?

hitech · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2005, 11:02:10 AM »

LOD's the object is displayed if the distance to the view is between MinDist and MaxDist. If MinDist is 0 it will not be in the file.
So lets say we have 2 LODs we want swaped out at 1000ft and totaly hidden at 5000

Lod 1 would be
MinDist=0
MaxDist=1000
Lod 2 would be
MinDist=1000
MaxDist=5000

BlauK · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2005, 12:14:55 PM »

Thanks HT.

Could you point out a good example object from OE which I could export to ac3d to study LODs and their min/maxdist settings?

What I am trying to figure out is:
- How many LODs various objects have (my guess is that complex ones have 3-4 and simple ones only 1 ...?)
- What are the typical distances where LODs are swaped.
- How many polygons recommended for the LODs at differetn distances.

I am building a castle which has 275 polys... how many do I take out for next LOD... and for the 3rd one.. etc.

What should I use for swaping distances?

hitech · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2005, 12:19:35 PM »

There realy is no hard and fast rule. But Less polies is always more. Basicly test them in th AHObject editor by moving your view in and out and watch what the swap looks like.

It also depends on what else is around the object, For instance if you just have 1 Castle, and nothing intense around it. Then 2 or 3 lods would work fine. But if you would be making a town building with lots of them close, more attention would be paid to get the poly counts down quickly.

Take a look at t-ash tree for lots of lod setups.

HiTech

BlauK · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2005, 01:24:33 PM »

Ok, thanks again.

The castle will be close to a city, so I better concentrate on making proper LODs