Hi. I'm Meaker VI. I do work in a variety of 3d programs, and I recommend that you use the free version of Sketchup- unless you're using AutoCAD, or want to export complicated 3d formats, you really don't miss out on anything using the free version. Try to find Sketchup version 7 to download if you can, I think they nerfed sketchup 8's import capabilities.
QUOTE (fir992 @ Sep 4 2010, 07:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for the replies! I'll look into SketchUp; if the lite version can get anywhere close to the graphics of the original game, then that would work for me.
For 50-100$, you can probably find an external renderer that will replicate the look in EVN. If you're planning on making a TC, it won't matter if you can replicate the original look or not, just turn on shadows or use the second file link in my sig. It's a complete renderer, and I posted instructions somewhere, I think it was in one of DarthKev's topics. I'll work on re-linking that if it's not already relinked to show the instructions.
QUOTE (fir992 @ Sep 4 2010, 04:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've been messing around with SketchUp, but I'm finding it difficult to make things that are curved...does anyone have any ideas on how to do that? (oh, and I'm still stuck on the sprite recolor thing, although I do have gamemaker lite now)
What I'm trying to make is a ship that looks like a single-person of the Subarashii from Arpia; sleek and curving, but not alien. SketchUp does straight lines great, but it doesn't seem to like curves too much...
I don't recall reading what graphics program you are using, but I'd recommend GIMP if you can't get ahold of Photoshop for recoloring and general touch ups. It's effectively as capable as PS, and free. Make sure you read the install instructions for your system.
I do organic - or at least sleek - curves in Blender, typically. Then I export to .3ds or .obj and use them in Sketchup. Unfortunately, sketchup does have issues with large files, so I'd recommend using no greater than a subdivision modifier of 2. The way to do it is actually not that bad, but Blender is tough. You start out with a cube, and using that I switch to edit mode, then edit faces, and start extruding (I think it's either "E" or "F" with the face(s) selected). "S" scales (x,y,z all work for axis locking), "G" moves (grab, same applies as scale), "R" rotates (same applies). Once you've got something that you like, the pane accross the bottom should have some options, and you should be able to apply a subdivide/smooth filter in object mode to your now-poly-cube. I'm not helping more than that with Blender though, I'm out of it's loop, it's complicated and there are tutorials out there.
You can do some basic curving in Sketchup, use the lathe option (try creating a circle, then copying it up and rotating it so it's perpendicular to the origional. Then click the first circle's edge, then the "Follow Me" tool, then the new circle's face. Thus you can lathe any shape).