Tutorial: Create your first hat using 3ds Max & Item Test Compiler

[whysofrail]

**UPDATE**
Since this tutorial has had so much support. Even with a baby on the way I'm proud to announce I'm updating it this tutorial. The original videos will remain intact. Within YouTube I'll add Youtube annotations linking the updated videos.

In the mean time: Visit my Website
Www.Kyle-Mayne.com

** ALSO Stay tuned for my online 3d model store. **

Thanks guys!
**/ End of update

Recommended before watching these videos.

Below is a list of applications or plug-ins you will need to make a hat for Team Fortress 2.

Autodesk 3ds Max

• This is a very advanced 3d modeling program. This is the same program that Century Fox used to create the movie Avatar in 2009. Avatar topped the highest gross selling film since Titanic. The time frame between Titanic and Avatar spans over 12 years. Avatar managed to set the record with Autodesk 3ds Max. My Proof.
  
• Be weary, this is only a trial. Enjoy while you still can or fork up!

Trail download : http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...12&id=16324410

3ds Max SMD Import/Exporter Plugin

• Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 - SMD Import/Export download links

  Importer download :http://www.wunderboy.org/download.ph...r_v1.0.zip&s=2
  
  Exporter download :http://www.wunderboy.org/download.ph...r_v1.6.zip&s=2

• Find Different verions of Autodesk 3ds Max for SMD import/export :

  http://www.wunderboy.org/3dapps.php#max_smd

Source SDK Item Test Compiler

• Accessed through Steam. You can find Source SDK in the "tools" section if you have one of any Valve's source games installed.

• Make sure that after you install Source SDK to open it. This is because the installation of Source SDK didn't create curtain directories. Which can only be created after the user runs Source SDK for the first time.

Adobe Photoshop/Gimp

• These are used for creating images for our 3d model.

PS5 Trial download : http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/in...duct=photoshop

Gimp (English) download : http://sourceforge.net/projects/gimp...p.exe/download

Nem's Tools VTF Edit

• Used for setting up how light or any of the ambient lights react to our newly created hat.
  

VTF Edit download : http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/fil...edit125-11.exe

Extracted VMT template

Reason for my VMT Template

Using the standard generated VMT shaders which item test creates for you. Your model in-game will look very plain and light bounces off your model very poorly. Using the provided template actually creates a very nice/basic shader.

• The Following code seen below was extracted from the pyro. I use this VMT script for most of my beta items.
• [Tut] For now don't do anything with this. Refer back to this after we have compiled our model and started editing our VMT file.

"VertexlitGeneric"
{
		
	   "$baseTexture" "YOUR FILE PATH"							// Example below
	// "$baseTexture" "models/player/items/demo/0x01ccc7ea/baseballcap/baseballcap_color"
	
	"$phong" "1"
	"$phongexponent" "10"
	"$phongboost" "5"	
	"$lightwarptexture" "models/player/pyro/pyro_lightwarp"
	"$phongfresnelranges"	"[0.007 0.4 5]"
	"$halflambert" "1"

	// Rim lighting parameters
	"$rimlight" "1"												// To enable rim lighting (requires phong)
	"$rimlightexponent" "4"										// Exponent for phong component of rim lighting	
	"$rimlightboost" "2"										// Boost for ambient cube component of rim lighting
}

NOTE: This tutorial is not for anyone without any basic knowledge of this matter.

Edit: Something is wrong with my sound codecs for my videos. Sorry guys

Feel free to vistit my favorite Team Fortress 2 Brotherhood: Animal House

[KRosen]

uck... itemtest.

you should branch it off, and do some tuts for guistudiomdl - itemtest is fine for beginners, but anything past your first hat should be done with guistudiomdl.

nice effort otherwise though $.02

[whysofrail]

Originally Posted by KRosen

uck... itemtest.

you should branch it off, and do some tuts for guistudiomdl - itemtest is fine for beginners, but anything past your first hat should be done with guistudiomdl.

nice effort otherwise though $.02

This tutorial is for people who have basic knowledge of 3d modeling and want to make their first hat. We all know how buggy it is. Thanks for the review.

[KRosen]

Originally Posted by whysofrail

This tutorial is for people who have basic knowledge of 3d modeling and want to make their first hat. We all know how buggy it is. Thanks for the review.

indeed - 3ds max is my fav, not enough fanservice on these forums imo

[whysofrail]

Originally Posted by KRosen

indeed - 3ds max is my fav, not enough fanservice on these forums imo

Don't see many tutorials on 3ds Max. That's also why this tutorial was created.

[Pfefferminz]

Hi,

always good to have more tutorials for different programs. I'm really new to modeling and don't have 3Ds Max and i found the SDK itemstest pretty incomplete (no weapons, teamcolors, jigglebones, forced LOD). With a good SDK itemtest update your tutorial will be the reference for 3Ds Max users.

Could you explain, what is the essence of your VMT file? What is the advantage to the generated VMT file?

You should rename your videos at youtube with a prefix. Maybe:
TF2 3Ds Max Hat Tutorial [1/4] - Introduction
TF2 3Ds Max Hat Tutorial [2/4] - Modeling and Skinning
TF2 3Ds Max Hat Tutorial [3/4] - Compiling Using Source SDK Item Test
TF2 3Ds Max Hat Tutorial [4/4] - Item Testing In-Game
It would be much easier to find and to remember later.

Good work!

[whysofrail]

Originally Posted by Pfefferminz

Hi,

always good to have more tutorials for different programs. I'm really new to modeling and don't have 3Ds Max and i found the SDK itemstest pretty incomplete (no weapons, teamcolors, jigglebones, forced LOD). With a good SDK itemtest update your tutorial will be the reference for 3Ds Max users.

Could you explain, what is the essence of your VMT file? What is the advantage to the generated VMT file?

You should rename your videos at youtube with a prefix. Maybe:
TF2 3Ds Max Hat Tutorial [1/4] - Introduction
TF2 3Ds Max Hat Tutorial [2/4] - Modeling and Skinning
TF2 3Ds Max Hat Tutorial [3/4] - Compiling Using Source SDK Item Test
TF2 3Ds Max Hat Tutorial [4/4] - Item Testing In-Game
It would be much easier to find and to remember later.

Good work!

Reason for my VMT Template
Using the standard generated VMT shaders which item test creates for you. Your model in-game will look very plain and light bounces off your model very poorly. Using the provided template actually creates a very nice/basic shader.


Thank you for all your input. I managed to update my youtube videos names using the names you provided. Thank you! I did get fairly sloppy with that. I totally agree.. I think we should all have more faith in item test and maybe Valve will update it. I think a majority of people go outside of the "box" and it doesn't need a dramatic update.

[-SC-]

Thank you man!
This really helped me a lot!

[whysofrail]

Originally Posted by -SC-

Thank you man!
This really helped me a lot!

Glad to hear. If anyone. Likes this tutorial. Feel free to +Rep

[whysofrail]

Will update tutorial based on request.

[Kyphros]

Good tutorial.

It's a shame that god knows why, my itemtest.exe can't detect the HLMV folder.
And i'm too lazy to use studiomdl.

[whysofrail]

Originally Posted by Kyphros

Good tutorial.

It's a shame that god knows why, my itemtest.exe can't detect the HLMV folder.
And i'm too lazy to use studiomdl.

I know what you mean. Lol

[Noirjoe]

Is the SMD plugin compatible with Maya?

[Armageddonzone]

Damnit. I'm not using 3ds max -.-

[whysofrail]

Originally Posted by Noirjoe

Is the SMD plugin compatible with Maya?

Yes read through this article.
http://www.itsmods.com/forum/Thread-...into-Maya.html

Sorrry for not shortening the link. But since the world gets spammed on a daily basis.. and its very annoying. I'm cutting to the chase. Read the contents.. not need to inspect. Sorry its my PMS of the month for spam.