Hi All,

3D Canvas 7.1.1.0 is now available for download: Download 3D Canvas 7.1.1.0

The software is done and ready to go, but the documentation isn't complete. I'll be updating it over the next few weeks, and can be downloaded from the Help menu as new versions become available.

What's New in 3D Canvas 7.1.1
-----------------------------

o) Defaut Scene Background Color

A default background color for scenes can now be selected.


o) Library Background Colors

Background colors can now be set for object, material and texture libraries.


o) Enhanced Scene Details Plug-in (3D Canvas Pro/Plus Feature)

The Scene Details plug-in now displays additional scene information.


o) Improved Optimize Operation (3D Canvas Pro/Plus Feature)

The Optimize operation now corrects more geometry problems.


o) Downloadable Extras (3D Canvas Pro Feature)

Additional object libraries, sample models, scripts and plug-ins are now available for download from the Help menu.


What's New in 3D Canvas 7.1.1 for Train Simulators
--------------------------------------------------

o) Updated Train Simulator Wizard (3D Canvas Pro Feature)

The Train Simulator Wizard now prepares and exports models to Rail Simulator format.


o) New Trainz Railroad Simulator Export (3D Canvas Pro Feature)

3D Canvas now exports to Trainz Railroad Simulator format.


o) New Rail3D Export (3D Canvas Pro Feature)

3D Canvas now exports to Rail3D stock, scenery and signal formats.


o) New BVE Train Simulator Export (3D Canvas Pro Feature)

3D Canvas now exports to BVE Train Simulator format.


o) Improved MSTS Animation Export (3D Canvas Pro/3D Canvas Plus)

Animation of root groups can now be exported.


o) Improved MSTS Material Export (3D Canvas Pro/3D Canvas Plus)

It is now possible to set all materials attributes on a per face basis.


o) Improved Support for Detailed Models in MSTS (3D Canvas Pro/3D Canvas Plus)


Models with large numbers of faces and points can now be exported to the MSTS format.

The MSTS export has been extensively revised and improved as detailed here. I can't mention gloss maps and bump maps as features because they aren't officially supported by MSTS. But they are there for those who want them.


What's Fixed in 3D Canvas 7.1.1.0
---------------------------------

There's quite a long list of fixed bugs in the Bug Reports, plus these:

o) A major bug, where textures were being re-loaded too frequently, was fixed. This should make a big difference in performance, especially when you have large textures.

o) Selecting a face when mirrored modelling no longer results in the mirrored half disappearing.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amabilis Support,

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The requested URL /downloads/3DCanvas7110.zip was not found on this server.

All,

Whoops! I've fixed the download now. It was 3d-canvas.COM not 3d-canvas.NET.

Sorry guys!

DOM107,

Thanks DOM107! :-) It was a long road. Now I can relax a bit.

I'm going to setup a suggestions forum specifically for making suggestions for improving the Trainworks parts of 3D Canvas.

First suggestion... rename the menus related to trains. Change "Train Simulators" to "Trainworks". That would remove some confusion. Actually that's quite important.

I don't want to offend any of the users of 3D Canvas who specifically use it for Train Simulators, but I want 3D Canvas to remain a general purpose modelling tool. I want to have a more clearly defined difference between "3D Canvas" and "Trainworks".

Looks like I'm going to put out a version 7.1.1.1 very quickly. The only change is I'm going to add an option to enable trainworks features when using 3D Canvas Pro. It will make it so you can download the "trainworks" specific extras. Right now, if you have 3D Canvas Pro it downloads the standard extras. They are slightly different. They have different sample models.

I added default background colors for libraries/the main editing windows/material preview etc.

Was this release? Darn... I just can't remember. Too much work... not enough sleep.

The background colors are new for this release. I'll add them to the list.

I'm sure there is more that I've forgotten. This is especially true of bug fixes.

Looking at the list of features, this release may have been worthy of a "7.1.5" or maybe even "7.2". Well... IMO anyhow.

I just noticed that two of the plug-ins for Trainworks (Train Simulator Engineer and Trainz Attachment Points) are not available in this release.

Version 7.1.1.1 will be out later today and will include these plug-ins.

3D Canvas 7.1.1.1 is now available. It can be downloaded here: Download 3D Canvas 7.1.1.1

What's New in 3D Canvas 7.1.1.1
-------------------------------

o) Trainworks Features Optionally Enabled

In this release Trainworks features are disabled by default for 3D Canvas Pro users, and enabled by default for 3D Canvas Trainworks users. If you have 3D Canvas Pro, you can enable them by choosing "Options" from the Tools menu, clicking the "Misc." tab, and then checking "Enable Trainworks Features".

o) Enhanced Most Recently Used File List

File paths are now abbreviated when necessary.


What's Fixed in 3D Canvas 7.1.1.1
---------------------------------

o) All Trainworks functions are available to Trainworks owners.

In version 7.1.1.1 I'm missing the plug-in "Information -> Measure"

in version 7.1.1.1 I'm missing the complete plug-in group "Train Simulator".

Sorry, I had not read the informations on your website completely.

Regards,
Andreas

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Delphi,

Tools --> Options --> Misc.

Enable Trainworks Features

How awful... working on Christmas. But, I was too curious to see how things were going.

I've disabled the Trainworks features by default with 3D Canvas Pro, but when they are enabled, they are at the top of all of the menus. That's a benefit I think.

Abbreviating the file names as I do in this version also makes it quicker and easier to get to the Trainworks exports. I did that for me actually. The long paths to things were driving me cuckoo when trying to use the File->Export->Trainworks menus!

Hi Richard,

Just had a play with the railsimulator export wizard. At the moment, the wizard exports to the developer folder. Is there any way to change this. I've set my own folder (called, in my case, kngtrains) which uses the same internal file structure as the developer folder. From the tech docs I formed the impression that this is how we were supposed to do it.
The other problem is really a Vista problem. Because, I can't run canvas "as an administrator" or turn off UAC, I find that I can't export anything to the program files folder. What I usually do is export to a folder not in the program file structure and then manually copy this over to the railsim or MSTS folder in the program files folder. As I don't normally use the wizards this is not a problem, but may be to other people using Canvas and the wizards.

Does this version of canvas support specualar and bump mapping effects?

Cheers,
Kevin

There isn't any way currently to export to a folder other than the "Developer" folder. I've setup a new forum for Train Simulator suggestions. (hint... hint... )

Can't export to the Program Files folder... this is an annoyance, isn't it? I'm sure the solution is simple. It should be just a matter of a setting somewhere. I just don't know what it is. Anyone know the answer?

Yes, this version support multi-texture effects. I just forgot to mention it in "What's new".

I am also virtually 100% certain that I am exporting animation correctly. That was a another issue. I'm going to have to talk to Kuju (or fund for games or who ever is responsible for this).

I managed to get the "export to program folder" problem sorted by following your XP installation notes in the readme file!! Seems to work ok for Vista as well. That will teach me to not read readme files

Any hints on how to do multi-texture effects? I don't mean a full tutorial, just a quick idea of what texture files are needed and what slots to put them in. All efforts so far just give a solid white texture on export.

Cheers,
Kevin

Good to hear that you came up with a solution. I'll have to play around a bit and add the instructions to the FAQ.

If you want specular highlights, use TrainSpecEnvMask.fx as the "Rail Sim" material custom field. Replace what is normally the alpha channel in your tga texture with a specular highlighting map. It should be almost black. Start with a black one as a test, and pain a spot white, to see what effect it has.


If you want specualar and a bump map, use the specular technique above, and add add a bump map in 3D Canvas, and use "TrainBumpSpecEnvMask.fx". I'm not sure the details of the format of the bump map. Odds are it's a normal map. 3D Canvas uses what is effectively a "height map", and then converts it to a normal map. This is something we need to experiment with.

You COULD put a normal/bump map in the secondary texture and make it entirely translucent if you want. 3D Canvas just exports all of the textures in order from left to right on the material pallete. It's your use of a shader that determines how the textures are used. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not.

Thanks Richard,

I'll give that a go.

Kevin

Richard, Still have problems. I've sent you a mail with some pictures, to your support address.

Cheers,
Kevin