A little problem with Valve that they didn’t make normal documentary every element in SFM, for example, flexes and today we are going to talk about tessellation. You can’t find any information about it (only on Valve Wiki) and you will hear my information about it.
What is tessellation?
Tessellation is used to manage datasets of polygons and divide them in real-time rendering using a subdivision method. Goal is make smoother model. Example on the picture from Wikipedia.
Current feature works on DirectX11 and OpenGL 4. If this option is available in any game, you can turn on and you won’t see any vertices or low-poly models. Last time this feature available in games, but not always.
Work with tessellation
We all know that SFM works on old Source engine with DirectX9 + 32-bit, but you can find out that tessellation works here. If you tired to smooth edges in Photoshop, you can use tessellation, but it won’t work on any model. Maybe will work on objects, but you need to test with character. What about plus and minus from feature?
+ Control level of tessellation with command mat_tessellationlevel <1-16> + Model will receive good lightning and will use a subdivision method - More level of tessellation, more load on GPU - Can crash your SFM because DirectX9 and 32-bit exe - Can be problems with compilling model with $subd - Studiomdl will crash if model will have any triangles. $subd work only with quads.
Examples:
Adding tessellation to your model
If you have your own model, which you modeled, first make sure that there is no triangles on the model. If you have it, try to convert them to quads. You will need addon which you can import and export smd/dmx format. For example, I use Blender Source Tools for Blender. Be sure to export model in dmx format, because smd convert to triangles by default, but dmx can export in polygons and triangles. After that make QC file and write what you need. You can find information how to compile and decompile models. Just google it.
In QC you will need to put $subd before model name. $subd will turn on tessellation on the model.
If you receive errors or crash in compiler, that mean you have triangles on the model or something else.
Adding tessellation to the model from Internet
I was trying to put tessellation on some models, but problem was a lot of triangles on the polygon, which can’t convert to quads. Only way is make retopoligy. I know - this will be long time to do that, but it’s only way. After retopoligy you will receive model with quads, but you will need to add flexes, bones, etc. Most of problems on the characters, so less problems will be with props.
Conclusion
Few people know these features because of Valve’s attitude and can’t find good documentary. This element need to add everywhere and characters or objects will be more smoother and poster will be beautifull.
P.S. - I really like that @aeridiccorensfw is trying to put this feature on his model and he made new monthly update post, where he wrote some problems with tessellation.
You can subscribe to him too. He is making good stuff.
A bit of in depth info on what I’m trying to implement on my stuff. By the way, dividing a model into seamless bodygroups is another way to bypass polycount limit without decreasing model quality.
Recently I found more and more files from mixtape.moe became errors 404. I don’t see specific reasons (no minors, no violence, no copyright, no virus and so…), so are they deleting files on their own appreciation (they doesn’t like my face?) or to get some free space, or does they have issues, or anything else ? What’s the process and the reason of these removals ?
I appreciate any kind of useful information here because I want to rely on a trusted file hosting service and not one where you don’t know if your file will stay alive or not. I advised many people to use it but for now I won’t.
Yes, I’ve heard this question a lot of times. Enough times that even myself thought “I wonder if there’s a good video editor that is not that expensive.”
Since there’s a Steam Sale, there’s Vegas Movie Studio: Steam Edition. I’ve read some bad reviews. I don’t mind bad reviews because they are about localized problems mostly, but I found one that did caught my attention: They don’t support cuda acceleration.
While I don’t think it’s a deal breaker, I think it might be pretty important regardless. So, before making the chance, I’ve decided to give a quick look to see if there are any free video editors out there.
There’s, however, some disclaimers:
Unless stated, I haven’t used the software.
I don’t guarantee they are useful for you.
I don’t guarantee their stability.
Hell, I don’t guarantee if they work. I’m only pushing some info I just found.
There’s also VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org/) but it’s safe to say while it’s discontinued, it remains a really powerful program. One of the downsides it’s it might be a little too advanced even though the main interface looks incredibly empty.
Ah I didn’t knew some names, thanks !
I could precise about ffmpeg, because you giggle but maybe you shouldn’t ^^ once it’s mastered you have a free and lightweight tool that do everything you want and with quality. So far I know it’s the tool used by YouTube, Netflix and many other online video platform, and probably your local provider to serve you some VOD.
It can be simple as drag&drop a movie on a .bat file and just wait. Then it could generate thumbnails, extract frames, generating gifs in multiples resolutions, doing some mp4 vids and webm as well.
This tool doesn’t require installation, it’s portable and is a 40mb single file.
You can create sets that will fit all your needs. Other software can’t do so much ! Even encoding webm is not common and you need to rely on multiple softwares, with cause general a quality loss or at least pissing off.
For the example I’ll show you what I do with it, these script are not polished as it was for my personal usage but it should work fine for anyone, simply drag a video file on it and wait. I used ShadowPlay
(Max settings)
to capture before encoding.
Now I hope you won’t be afraid to put your hands in that stuff ^^
Nah don’t take it the wrong way, it made me giggle because I couldn’t help but think about how someone would download ffmpeg and found an exe that opens the terminal, imo, most people run away when it comes to Terminal stuff, but as matter of fact, ffmpeg is extremely powerful on the right hands.
I used to run a script I made with it to convert some anims to webm, which worked pretty fine, and it also surprised me the speed of the conversion.
I think the reason why I personally dropped ffmpeg was because when I wanted to use sound I think, stuff would go wrong and just won’t encode it. I think I also was looking for an ffmpeg gui, but most I found didn’t allow for customization, which in the end evolved into “why webm anyway” and then I used gfycat and the color was bad and then I rem-I think I’m derailing.
Anyway, if you guys want to avoid downloading more and more and more and more converters, you are pretty good with these scripts and ffmpeg. Don’t be scared of them. If anything you can check the documentation here (https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki) and here (http://wiki.webmproject.org/ffmpeg) so you can even build and modify the scripts to fit your own needs.
Thanks for sharing your scripts!
Don’t mind it’s fine, was just a nice moment to discuss about some tips and exchange ideas ^^
Yes, I’ve heard this question a lot of times. Enough times that even myself thought “I wonder if there’s a good video editor that is not that expensive.”
Since there’s a Steam Sale, there’s Vegas Movie Studio: Steam Edition. I’ve read some bad reviews. I don’t mind bad reviews because they are about localized problems mostly, but I found one that did caught my attention: They don’t support cuda acceleration.
While I don’t think it’s a deal breaker, I think it might be pretty important regardless. So, before making the chance, I’ve decided to give a quick look to see if there are any free video editors out there.
There’s, however, some disclaimers:
Unless stated, I haven’t used the software.
I don’t guarantee they are useful for you.
I don’t guarantee their stability.
Hell, I don’t guarantee if they work. I’m only pushing some info I just found.
There’s also VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org/) but it’s safe to say while it’s discontinued, it remains a really powerful program. One of the downsides it’s it might be a little too advanced even though the main interface looks incredibly empty.
Ah I didn’t knew some names, thanks !
I could precise about ffmpeg, because you giggle but maybe you shouldn’t ^^ once it’s mastered you have a free and lightweight tool that do everything you want and with quality. So far I know it’s the tool used by YouTube, Netflix and many other online video platform, and probably your local provider to serve you some VOD.
It can be simple as drag&drop a movie on a .bat file and just wait. Then it could generate thumbnails, extract frames, generating gifs in multiples resolutions, doing some mp4 vids and webm as well.
This tool doesn’t require installation, it’s portable and is a 40mb single file.
You can create sets that will fit all your needs. Other software can’t do so much ! Even encoding webm is not common and you need to rely on multiple softwares, with cause general a quality loss or at least pissing off.
For the example I’ll show you what I do with it, these script are not polished as it was for my personal usage but it should work fine for anyone, simply drag a video file on it and wait. I used ShadowPlay
(Max settings)
to capture before encoding.
Yes, I’ve heard this question a lot of times. Enough times that even myself thought “I wonder if there’s a good video editor that is not that expensive.”
Since there’s a Steam Sale, there’s Vegas Movie Studio: Steam Edition. I’ve read some bad reviews. I don’t mind bad reviews because they are about localized problems mostly, but I found one that did caught my attention: They don’t support cuda acceleration.
While I don’t think it’s a deal breaker, I think it might be pretty important regardless. So, before making the chance, I’ve decided to give a quick look to see if there are any free video editors out there.
There’s, however, some disclaimers:
Unless stated, I haven’t used the software.
I don’t guarantee they are useful for you.
I don’t guarantee their stability.
Hell, I don’t guarantee if they work. I’m only pushing some info I just found.
Might I ask about your Jinx model from a couple years back? I liked how you improved the polys on it; what would be the best way for a beginner to do it in Blender?
Asked by Anonymous
Thanks to find it nice, myself I’m not much satisfied with it. But the original game model is really low poly and the texture isn’t better… I can’t do miracles ^^
To be honest I made it from a XNA model instead of the game model because the texture was already a lot reworked, I think the polys was also somewhat improved. Then I used the subdivision surface modifier to push it further.
With subdiv it can take a while to reach your expectations since it’s mainly smoothing the objects. It implies some approximations (lost of accuracy) and you want i.e. to keep some sharp angles, so take a special look on the “Edge Loop” function.
I never used it but Bevelis also a solution to keep sharp angles.
About the texture I can’t really give you some advice since I suck a lot at painting, but you’ll find many tutorials on the Internet ;)
Almost a year ago, me and Smug Bastard made a decision to make new, state of the art Genesis 3 models we worked on, public, no strings attached. Unoftunately, that gesture of goodwill was misinterpreted by many. They assumed it means that policy regarding my previous works changed. Due to specifics of the community, having access to particular character of interest takes precedence over pure quality of the model. They felt entitled to having older models just because they exist, without showing any respect for author’s wishes and accepting reasons why he would prefer not to redistribute them. Being ignored or receiving straight refuse, they kept begging, often in the most infuriating and tiresome manners possible. That caused a great deal of annoyance and stress not only to me, but also for people who currently work with me, and had nothing to do with those older models. We would’ve preferred outdated content just fade into obscurity and fully concentrate on current projects, yet demand for legacy stuff is still strong. I decided to made these public as well so, hopefully, they get what they want and problem will be solved for good. Now,
sufficient amount of time has passed after our recent release meaning it’s appropriate
time.This is
abandonware release of my old models that you have all been bothering me and my
friends about.I’m making
them all public now.The models
are provided “as is” and WILL NOT be supported or updated. Any
requests, suggestions, complaints regarding these will be ignored.These
models use either biped_simple or valve 3 spine IK Rigs.From now
on, any model inquiry directed at me and Smug Bastard will be met with a block.Download
these and leave us be. https://mega.nz/#!vMgWkTaA!hG8-u7lJUDDPVuCvCaNlRvvR9mCwMv9TZ6uoDuOw9vM
This is sad that you get bothered like this, anyway it’s the ransom of the glory… You made/make amazing models with full of body groups, if they have so much success it’s not a coincidence ;)
I'm still waiting your dreamfall models. Don't give up man.
Asked by Anonymous
I stopped to work on it because of irl priorities, I didn’t have interest anymore so I’m looking to release them as a incomplete but usable release soon.
For those who are wondering if the community is dead, I can say no.
The Tumblr blog is not active for the moment because of lack of time for it. Anyway the forums are a lot active, and even more than the past. The community is now near to 45′000 users and more are coming since various wars and some censorship.
So if you are looking for a dedicated place without porn/brand censoring, want to discuss and get feedback about your pictures, need some help with porting, or if you simply want to join us we will be happy to welcome you.
18+ ONLY !
You might not be prepared to see the content, it can be disturbing and even more. Stay open-minded or close this blog...
I'm a porter and modeler at SFMLab, hosting a Pomf clone and moderator at DigitalEro, I also do some renders on SFM or Blender when I've some free time ;)
