[OB] How to use Blender v2.49b in support of NIF files

[Hanaisse]

Ok, based on that picture, first of all you have far too many seams. Not necessary to mark every loop.

Secondly, don't use Edge Loop Select. Picture in your mind how to "unfold" that cylinder into a flat 2D object, then manually mark continuous edges. Basically, select edges up one side only.

If you're not getting any output in the UV window then you haven't selected everything before you unwrapped.

[KWITS]

I am having a big problem with Edge Select. According to Vince's tutorial, he seamlessly clicked his mouse and ran along the edges of his object with ease. Unfortunately, I did not see any of his key functions in the video.

[Hanaisse]

Holding SHIFT while right clicking to select will select more than one thing.

[KWITS]

A picture can be a thousand words!

[KWITS]

Are you speaking about Edge Slide?

[KWITS]

Never mind, I found the pencil icon but using shift right-mouse click under this mode grabs vertices and does not mark a line. What am I doing wrong?

[Hanaisse]

I have no idea what you mean about a pencil icon. All I'm saying is if you hold Shift while selecting either edges or verts or faces you can select more than one.

But I see you've done it, you have your UV.

[donnato]

Looks like what you`re calling a duplicate is just both sides laid out flat. In the UV window you can select a vert and hit L to select the whole island ( just one side), then you can G to grab and move, or R to rotate (type in 90 , 180, .etc to rotate ecactly). Hana, I think the "pencil" thing Kwits refers to is the diagonal Edge Select button. I don`t know about edge slide. Also, when you G to grab, you can also hit the X or Y to move just along that axis. I`m thinking you`re going to want to align the object with the runes rather than across them.

Hang in there Kwits. You`re getting there.

[KWITS]

Thanks for all of your help. I would not be where I am at today if it were not for your help and friendship! How do I align my runes with the object?

[KWITS]

Ericka! I just successfully created my first model in Blender and exported it into the TESIV CS. However, it is about twice the length that I wanted.

[KWITS]

I need assistance to trim down the length of my new staff. It is too long.

[donnato]

Ok...in the CS , double click your item...in the box find the "scale" option...lower it to where you need it to be.

[Hanaisse]

I'd suggest you bring it into blender again, then import a vanilla staff mesh. Then you can scale and position your staff to match it.

[KWITS]

I found out how to shrink the item down to size by using the 'S' key in Blender. I even experimented with a halo effect; it is working in the game but it is not the color I chose and is almost invisible. I also noticed that without a collision configured for my new staff object that the object is essentially static and can't be picked up by the Player. Do you have any ideas?

[Hanaisse]

Copy the collision from another staff.

Did you export it from blender as a weapon? Did you add the NiStringExtraData Backweapon in nifskope?

I have no idea about a "halo" effect.

It always helps to look at an existing weapon and compare them.

[KWITS]

Okay now I have finally configured a collision box around my staff so my Player can pick it up and add it to his inventory. However, the location in which the staff is being held is backwards. How do I align the correct location?

[Hanaisse]

I'd suggest you bring it into blender again, then import a vanilla staff mesh. Then you can scale and position your staff to match it.

[KWITS]

But how does this work?

[KWITS]

How do you shrink or reduce the length of a collision box in Blender?

[KWITS]

I can see my alignment problem clearly in NIFScope but how do you move the alignment marker to the location on an object in which it should be held?

[donnato]

Ok first, select the collision box and press S (for scale) then X, or Y, depending on which axis you want to scale then hold rmb and shrink or enlarge as desired. Next, I don`t know about nifskope but in Blender...with the vanilla staff (not moved) as a guide move your model and collision over the vanilla guide. Delete guide. In object mode hit N for the transform properties box, then Ctrl+A , click on scale and rotation to ob data. Close both. Make sure your model and collision box are selected...reexport. Maybe...

[KWITS]

[KWITS]

After following your instructions, I am receive a strange layer error when trying to export.

[KWITS]

http://niftools.sourceforge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2649

[donnato]

Ok...at any time did you press M and move anything to another layer? Your layers aren`t showing in the pics. Check it and if so make sure you`re exporting from the layer you want and deselect everything from any other layers.