GTAInside Help

solo · 22 Dec 2008, 00:33

.DFF is a Grand theft auto export extension, I am not 100% sure but I believe 3Dmax 8 and up can open it and export from there to .3ds which can be used in SU.

pav_3j · 22 Dec 2008, 00:45

Spot on solo, as always!
The link I put forward does suggest though that if you wish to put it back into gta, it isn't a good idea as the model holds "hierarchy" and "axis" information necessary for gta to use it (i have no idea what that means)
By converting to .3ds and then importing to sketchup, you lose this information and the model becomes a "useless object", which cannot be used in gta.

Of course if this isn't the objective, solo's method is the way to go KD.

Pav

remus · 22 Dec 2008, 10:28

Theres a list of progrms tat can import/export .dff here: http://www.gtamodding.com/index.php?title=Model_file

Blender would probably be your best bet, being free and having a wide variety of import/export options.

KDSDESIGN · 22 Dec 2008, 15:48

i clicked on this one "3DSMax/Gmax import/export" and it sent me to a topic. where do i get this?

NO THIS IS NOT AN OFFER JUST IN CASE IT SOUNDS LIKE ONE. and sorry about the "yelling"

KDSDESIGN · 22 Dec 2008, 15:53

it didnt work.

remus · 22 Dec 2008, 15:55

The topic the link links to a plugin for working with .dff files in 3ds max and gmax. 3ds max is a rather pricey piece of modelling/animtion/rendering software, although i think you can get a student license for it. Google should have some more details for you.

If i remember gmax is a free version of 3ds max with a lot of the tools removed. I dont think its being developed any more, though, so you might be better of looking in to some of the alternative packages first.

KDSDESIGN · 22 Dec 2008, 16:07

does gmax import into SketchUp?

remus · 22 Dec 2008, 16:58

Not directly, if at all.

ive done a brief bit of reading about it and it seems gmax was limited to certain 'game packs'. I also found no mention of any export options, which makes me think youd have to export to a format supported by one of the game packs which can be imported in to something else (perhaps blender) and then in to SU.

Bryden · 22 Dec 2008, 18:26

I have actualy worked out a combination using Blender and 3d object converter 4.20
First download the converter http://web.axelero.hu/karpo/
"It doesn't need to be registered"
If you don't have Blender get it here: http://www.blender.org/

After installing the converter launch it then go to file > open pick the .dff file you are going to convert then once it loads go to save > PLY Binary (.ply).
Then after saving it open Blender delete the cube then go to
file > import > Stanford PLY (.ply). Find the file you just converted before then it should import properly then go to file > export > 3d Studio (*.3ds) or DXF. Then after saving it open sketchup and import the .3ds or .dxf file.
"Important Note: Not all dff files will import to the converter I don't know why."
I hope that helps it worked for me

johnsenior1973 · 22 Dec 2008, 19:28

@kdsdesign said:

Thank you everyone for all the help. It's really appreciated.

linea · 22 Dec 2008, 20:10

Hi KDS, everybody

I have GMAX, I believe the story there is that when AutoDesk bought 3DS Max from Kinetix some of the source code was open source so Kinetix released GMAX as an open source freebie. I think I got it on a computers arts mag coverdisc in er, 1996 maybe. If you really trawl the net you will find forums and die-hard game modders that still use it and write exporters for it - it doesn't come with any (or any materials) so out of the box it isn't particularly useful. The interface is exactly the same as older versions of 3DS.
You can download GMax here:
http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

Milkshape and Real 3d have loads of game exporter formats. Links to the free versions.

http://cad-3d.blogspot.com/2007/04/gratis-versie-van-realsoft-3d.html
http://www.toggle.com/lv/group/view/kl36143/MilkShape_3D.htm

andyc · 23 Dec 2008, 09:31

Just to reinforce the above - GMAX was a bit of dead-end. It was bundled with a number of games titles, but TBH was pretty limited (I know - I tried it for a little while). Plus the fact that MAX's learning curve is probably a little steep for the casual modder. The Blender advice sounds spot-on to me - I've seem some awesome results from this free app, and it seems to handle an impressive range of file types. If you can find your way around the unusual interface, it seems to be very capable. It's on my list of things-to-try in 2009

A.

3eighty · 23 Dec 2008, 21:02

Zmodeler is the program you want..It has the converter for the files..I use it all the time..