http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:MeltingIce&section=today deviantART RSS for by:MeltingIce en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:09:53 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/11129329/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/11129329/ Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:46:41 PST [link]

]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7562011/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7562011/ Tue, 10 Jan 2006 07:57:18 PST [link] ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7547747/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7547747/ Sun, 08 Jan 2006 18:32:44 PST [link] ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7161740/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7161740/ Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:42:04 PST [link] My ultimate goal is to create a self-growing community.
NEW: I just got finished working with ~Ice9Tech on redesigning my forums so that they weren't the default skin. He did most of the work really, so thanks a lot dude. Come on by and register! ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7105814/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7105814/ Mon, 21 Nov 2005 13:54:29 PST
-3ds Max HL2 SMD Importer Plugin (choose the file for the version of 3ds Max that you have):
3DS Max 6 or 7: [link]
3ds Max 5: [link]

-MDL Decompiler: [link]
Place this executable in your .../SteamApps/sourcesdk/bin directory since it requires HL2 dll's to work
If you are missing MFC71.DLL check here: [link]

-GCFScape: [link]

-VPK Tool: [link]
------------------------------------------------
The Steps:
1. After you have installed all of the programs above, you need to get the models that you want to work with. Open up GCFScape and go to File --> Open. Locate your SteamApps directory where all of the .gcf files are located. For HalfLife 2 models, open the gcf named "Source Models" (not "half-life 2 content"). Most of the characters are in the folder: Root --> hl2 --> models.

2. Find the character that you wish to extract by name. For example, the Super Combine Soldier is: Combine_Super_Soldier.

3. Select all of the files that pertain to the model that you want to export (they all have the same base, but different file extensions) and extract them to a folder on your computer by either right clicking and going to "Extract" or by simply dragging them there.

4. Now you need the materials for your model. In GCFScape, open the gcf file (in your SteamApps directory) named "Source Materials". All of the materials are in the folder: root --> hl2 --> materials. If you are exporting a character from HL2, all of the materials are in: root --> hl2 --> materials --> models. For example, the Super Combine Soldier's material is in: root --> hl2 --> materials --> models --> Combine_soldier --> Combine_Elite.vtf So in other words, you may have to look around a bit but the material is in there, trust me.

5. Once you find your material, extract the .vtf file (not the .vmt, thats just some data for the Source shader engine), and the _normal.vtf file if its available, to a folder (preferably the same folder as your model is in cause it's easier to find it later). The _normal.vtf file is a bumpmap which is awesome for 3D rendering programs.

6. Open up the VPK Tool and go to the "Texture Tools" tab. Click "Open File" and search for the .vtf file that you just extracted in the last step. Next click "Convert to TGA". This makes a TGA file of the texture in the same directory where the .vtf file was. Repeat this for the _normal.vtf file if there is one.

7. Open up the MDL Decompiler. Uncheck the box for "Use Steam File Access" (if you want you can do this next time around. Basically it lets you bypass GCFScape. Just make sure Steam is running). Enter in the .mdl file which you extracted from GCFScape into the first box and choose an output directory for the decompiled model. Click "Extract".

8. Open up 3DS Max and go to File --> Import. In the File Types drop down box, select "Half Life 2 SMD". Open up the decompiled model that you extracted in the last step. There will be many different SMD files for each model. The basic rule of thumb is to open the one that has "reference" somewhere in the file name. All the files that have "lod" in them are just different quality versions of the same model. The "reference" file is the highest quality. 3DS Max may prompt you for textures if the textures are not in the same folder as the SMD.

9. From here you are basically done. You will need to pose the character in 3DS Max before exporting it to Cinema 4D. Once you are done posing the character, go to File --> Export and export it as a 3D Studio file. I have found that this is the only filetype readable by Cinema 4D that kee... ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7105770/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7105770/ Mon, 21 Nov 2005 13:50:57 PST ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7045876/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/7045876/ Mon, 14 Nov 2005 14:28:01 PST [link]) went to upload one of his paintings without realizing that I was signed in and not him. Anyways, I have been experimenting with composite renders such as this one: [link]
I plan to take a HDRI panoramic image this weekend on my driveway, weather permitting of course. I'll post the composite if everything goes as planned ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6809779/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6809779/ Mon, 24 Oct 2005 18:34:16 PDT . You can download and watch it here (please note you need the DivX codec to watch it): [link]
Go easy on my web server cause I host everything from my home internet connection. If its going insanely slow (5-10kb/s) then just try again later. Its only a 4.7mb download so it shouldn't take too long . Let me know what you think. I know theres a strange texture error which you will probably notice but I'm just going to let it slide.

NEW!: I just did another animation over the weekend but with my car model the Phoenix . Go here to watch it (only 1.6MB): [link] ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6759370/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6759370/ Thu, 13 Oct 2005 16:33:56 PDT ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6711526/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6711526/ Sat, 08 Oct 2005 10:17:56 PDT ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6695480/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6695480/ Thu, 06 Oct 2005 13:31:07 PDT ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6684421/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6684421/ Wed, 05 Oct 2005 06:44:08 PDT . ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6627244/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6627244/ Wed, 28 Sep 2005 16:49:33 PDT Mood: Happy
Listening to: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles

After a month or two of sitting in the confines of my computer, I have started work again on my Cinema 4D animation. This animation is my high school challenge project. I have a picture of it in my gallery if you want to check it out. When it's totally finished, I will post it on my site for download.

]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6586247/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/6586247/ Fri, 23 Sep 2005 23:41:26 PDT . ]]> ~MeltingIce http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/5228078/ http://MeltingIce.deviantart.com/journal/5228078/ Sat, 30 Apr 2005 08:20:43 PDT ~MeltingIce