OK, My fist question is kind of a stupid one. I'm almost embarresed to ask but I've tried and tried and can't seem to figure out how to zoom out the view. I've used the zoom tool in the tools pain where the sphere tool , lathe tool and all that stuff is but every time I do I can't zoom back out and wind up trashing the file and starting over or closing the file without saving to get back to normal view. So how do I zoom back out after zooming in? I've tried double clicking on the zoom tool and entering a negative value in the magnification field but it just truncates it to the first positive value 1. So that doesn't work and undo only undose the last magnification which is useless if I've zoomed in several times.

The image below is what I've got done so far but I need to be able to zoom in to ad detail like the ribs that radiate out from the central dome.

Also, I've made a 72 frame .mov file of the image (5 degrees of rotation per frame) but I don't know how to make the mask file. Any pointers there would be helpfull.

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

(This message has been edited by PolarBear (edited 02-01-2003).)

You use one of the modifier keys with the zoom tool to zoom out... I think it's option...

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Quote

Originally posted by kb1eip:
**You use one of the modifier keys with the zoom tool to zoom out... I think it's option...

**

Yup, It's option. Thanx.

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

I have a stupid Strata question also. How can I cut off segments of a shape that I make? I would like to use the base of a pyramid but with a flat top and I can't figure out how. I'm also having trouble with the lathe tool... I am very much a n00b at ship modeling, so please forgive me for anything stupid I say.

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Oh well. I got the same effect some other way, but it would be cool if you could just hack off parts of objects.

(This message has been edited by Johnny johnson (edited 02-01-2003).)

(This message has been edited by Johnny johnson (edited 02-01-2003).)

(QUOTE)Originally posted by Johnny johnson:
(B)I have a stupid Strata question also. How can I cut off segments of a shape that I make? I would like to use the base of a pyramid but with a flat top and I can't figure out how. I'm also having trouble with the lathe tool... I am very much a n00b at ship modeling, so please forgive me for anything stupid I say.

These are problems I myself just recently found help with in here. The lathe tool works on drawn curves not shapes like you'd think. It takes a curve line and turns it in to a shape by rotating it making a shape that looks like it was turned on a lathe.

As for chopping off pieces, the best thing Strata has to offer for that is anti-matter. This works by making a second object to use as a kind of cutting tool. In your case a simple cube would do. Then you set the cube on top of the pyramid and lower it until it hides the part of the pyramid you want to cut off. then in the projects window set the cube to antimatter before rendering. Then when you render it. the cube is made invisible leaving behind the stubby pyramid. Downside is you have to leave the anti-matter cube there for rendering which can be a pain if there was something else you wanted to put in the empty space. There might be a way to pull that off too but if there is I don't know it. Yet

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

Quote

Originally posted by PolarBear:
**(Q) Downside is you have to leave the anti-matter cube there for rendering which can be a pain if there was something else you wanted to put in the empty space. There might be a way to pull that off too but if there is I don't know it. Yet;)

**

If I remember right, I think antimatter counteracts antimatter. In other words, If you want to put something inside an antimatter cube, make the object that is to be placed inside antimatter too.

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'So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we can decide is what we chose to do with the time given to us."
- Gandalf, 'The Lord of the Rings' - J. R. R. Tolkien
(url="http://"http://members.shaw.ca/fearra/index.htm")Fearra's Realm(/url)
(url="http://"http://members.shaw.ca/fearra/oryhara.html")Ory-Hara Plug-in for EV:N(/url)

Oooh, Good thought. I'l have to remember that. Thanx.

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

Quote

Originally posted by PolarBear:
**These are problems I myself just recently found help with in here. The lathe tool works on drawn curves not shapes like you'd think. It takes a curve line and turns it in to a shape by rotating it making a shape that looks like it was turned on a lathe.

As for chopping off pieces, the best thing Strata has to offer for that is anti-matter. This works by making a second object to use as a kind of cutting tool. In your case a simple cube would do. Then you set the cube on top of the pyramid and lower it until it hides the part of the pyramid you want to cut off. then in the projects window set the cube to antimatter before rendering. Then when you render it. the cube is made invisible leaving behind the stubby pyramid. Downside is you have to leave the anti-matter cube there for rendering which can be a pain if there was something else you wanted to put in the empty space. There might be a way to pull that off too but if there is I don't know it. Yet
**

No, the lathe tool works by making a 3D extrusion of a 2D shape along a curve, the diameter of which is set by the user.

In the free version of Strata the only way to do the cutting things off bit is with anti-matter. In Pro you can use boolens wich is muh more useful. As an addition to what you said, remember to texture the antimatter object, as where it cuts something away, the shape surface of the cut section inherrits the texture of the anti-matter object. And Fearra is correct - two negatives make a positive.

As to your orriginal question, the top left buton on the toolbox when you select it has arrows in all four corners. If you click and drag these it allows you to contol the zooming in and out. Also, (apple) and (-) snaps the vie to the selected object, and (apple) and (=) snaps the view to all the objects in the file.

Could you maybe email me the image you posted as no matter what internet connection Im using the image wont load. My email is ewanc@mac.com

edit - couldnt you have posted this in one of the other 2 Strata Questions topics on this page (one of which is yours!)?

ewan

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(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")"In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!!"(/url)

(This message has been edited by Jules (edited 02-02-2003).)

Got those ribs added. I still gotta fix that dome on the front. It's a little to high.
Gotta add the engine glow too.

By the way, Jules, did you ever get the image I emailed you?

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

(This message has been edited by PolarBear (edited 02-06-2003).)

Man, the engine glow is a pain in the but. Can't make anything that looks halfway decent yet. I've tried making a cone then aplying a blue simple color texture and making it transparent and apllying an aura. Then making a smaller light blue cone to put inside the bigger one. but it doesn't look right. Any one have any tips on engine glows?

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

To make an engine glow, I just shape a cone to how I want it, apply a mist, and an aura, and then add a point light with a lense flare, in the front of it.
I think Jules has a better way though (or at least different). Check his site (link in his sig) under tutorials.

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'So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we can decide is what we chose to do with the time given to us."
- Gandalf, 'The Lord of the Rings' - J. R. R. Tolkien
(url="http://"http://members.shaw.ca/fearra/index.htm")Fearra's Realm(/url)
(url="http://"http://members.shaw.ca/fearra/oryhara.html")Ory-Hara Plug-in for EV:N(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by Fearra:
**To make an engine glow, I just shape a cone to how I want it, apply a mist, and an aura, and then add a point light with a lense flare, in the front of it.
I think Jules has a better way though (or at least different). Check his site (link in his sig) under tutorials.

**

Does the aura effect not work inside anti-matter? I've cranked the intensity and distance way up and nothing. :frown:

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

Quote

Originally posted by PolarBear:
**

Does the aura effect not work inside anti-matter? I've cranked the intensity and distance way up and nothing. :frown:

**

Pretty much, the aura effect is nullified by anything in its way. That is, between it and the camera. The would include anti-matter and transparent textured obejects. I'm pretty sure fog and mist would stop it, too.

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I like long walks, especially those taken by people who annoy me.

Crap, that sucks. :frown:
Thanks for the info though.

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

Yeah, it does suck. I think it's because the aura is an after-effect, done after the rest renders. So strata doesn't raytrace the light from the aura through the transparent things, it just looks at the geometry and sees something there so it doesn't draw the aura, try making a scanline render and you'll get an idea of what I mean.

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I like long walks, especially those taken by people who annoy me.

Just out of wonder, why are you needing anti-matter in and engine glow? Most engine glow shapes can be made with a combination of the lathe and extrude tools. The bast one Ive made (in my opinion) is this:

The tutorial for making ones like that can be found (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/tutorials.html")here(/url) along with all my other tutorials.

Yeah I got the email yesterday. I tried to reply but ie crashed before I finished typing and I was too lazy to reply all over again. I normally use oe but Im getting a new hard disk this week so Im not using that until I get everything on the new disk.

I take it is going to be the newer version of LIS? I would try making the original first, as it would be good for practicing lathes and such like. A major problem I see with your model is that it is mainly primatives. Also the texture looks like stone not metal although that can be easilly fixed later.

If you need any help with Strata's tools feel free to email me at the address above.

ewan

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(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")"In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!!"(/url)

(This message has been edited by Jules (edited 02-07-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by Jules:
**Just out of wonder, why are you needing anti-matter in and engine glow? Most engine glow shapes can be made with a combination of the lathe and extrude tools. The bast one Ive made (in my opinion) is this:

I take it is going to be the newer version of LIS? I would try making the original first, as it would be good for practicing lathes and such like. A major problem I see with your model is that it is mainly primatives. Also the texture looks like stone not metal although that can be easilly fixed later.

ewan

**

Well that engine glow does look like it would work for me. As for the texture. It is a screen shot I took directly from the DVD so be it wood or metal or stone that's what the ship in the movie looks like so that's what my model is going to look like. And thanx I probly will hit you up for a few tips from time to time.

Where you thinking maybe keep the texture but just change how it interacts with light or something?

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

(This message has been edited by PolarBear (edited 02-07-2003).)

I dont know I just reacon it looks kinda like marble Part of the problem is the levels on the texture doesnt leave it looking like metal. Once I get strata back on the computer, I will give you settings that will make it look more like metal.

I am running a skeleton system at the moment that pretty much only has the system software and internet software installed until I get my new hard disk through the post :rolleyes: Shaye computers are taking their damned time getting it to me though!

Could you maybe email a screenshot of the "real" ship so I can see it properly? Its been ages since Ive seen lost in space, and can only find pics of the classic lost in space tv series ship on search engines Also just out of interest how did you manage to get a screenshot of the DVD? It doesnt allow me to make screenshots of DVDs - whenever I do it just displays a greenish black image when DVD player is quit or the current frame if it is still open when I open the pict file. Are you using a trird party app or a PC or something?

ewan

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(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/ewan/")"In this world gone mad, we won't spank the monkey - the monkey will spank us!!"(/url)

Yup. Comin right up.

Oh. As you are no doubt aware, You can not take a screen shot of a dvd playing in apples dvd rom. BUT, I have the Xclaim USB TV tuner which does allow screen shots and even quivktime movies. So I just put the DVD in my standard external Phillips DVD player and hooked that up to the USB tv tuner and voala. There was only one decent overhead shot of the ship in the entire movie but there are lots of good scenes that would look nice as shipyard pics or comms pics etc.

I'll compress and send you a folder of a dozen or so screen shots I took including the one I used for the texture.

(EDIT) OK, It's sent. 7 meg though. Hope that's not to big. Hope you got a fast connection.

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!

(This message has been edited by PolarBear (edited 02-07-2003).)

(This message has been edited by PolarBear (edited 02-07-2003).)

woh jost got an email saying <Delivery Notification: Delivery has failed>
Should I try again? or try to make the file smaller first?

(This message has been edited by PolarBear (edited 02-08-2003).)

It has come to my attention that the images I have posted in this thread haven't loaded on some peoples browsers and as I look back through the posts I see a complete absence of comments about the images. If anyone reading this can see any of the images posted by me please reply and let me know so I know if it's everybody or just a few that can't see them. thanks in advance.

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DANGER WILL ROBINSON! MY ARMS ARE FLAILING WILDLY!