Detail Levels?
by Jay Barnson · in Artist Corner · 12/24/2005 (10:22 pm) · 10 replies
I'm exporting a pretty simple little box type object (currently), but it's dissapearing at a range of a little over 30 Torque units. I want it to be visible at MUCH greater distances.
I'm going through the pretty straightforward path for Blender, using an empty node called "Shape", with two empty children nodes labeled "Col0" (I don't really NEED collision, I just tried it to see if it would make a difference. It didn't), and "Detail32".
I've been trying to hunt down some docs on the site for levels of detail and so forth, but I haven't found anything that really explains things step-by-step.
Thanks!
I'm going through the pretty straightforward path for Blender, using an empty node called "Shape", with two empty children nodes labeled "Col0" (I don't really NEED collision, I just tried it to see if it would make a difference. It didn't), and "Detail32".
I've been trying to hunt down some docs on the site for levels of detail and so forth, but I haven't found anything that really explains things step-by-step.
Thanks!
About the author
Jay has been a mainstream and indie game developer for a... uh, long time. His professional start came in 1994 developing titles for the then-unknown and upcoming Sony Playstation. He runs Rampant Games and blogs at Tales of the Rampant Coyote.
#2
12/25/2005 (10:46 pm)
Hmmm... I made the change to code but I'm still not seeing the things. I'll dig deeper though. Thanks for the link! That makes perfect sense - my object DOES have a translucent material. 
#4
Once the characters Axis point moves out of view the model will be removed from view.
so, make sure your mesh axis is neck high. this solves alot of LOS issues too.
It sounds like your meshs' axis is low, so the ground is blocking it out. (when not in Edit mode, its the purple point that floats around with the rest of the mesh, the one you cant edit... for those who don't know.)
also: if you have "Create missing LODs" then a LOD may be creaded for you... check that,
does it dissappear in Show tool?
12/26/2005 (12:05 pm)
If its blinking out, then it sounds like the character in game is moving outside the camera view.Once the characters Axis point moves out of view the model will be removed from view.
so, make sure your mesh axis is neck high. this solves alot of LOS issues too.
It sounds like your meshs' axis is low, so the ground is blocking it out. (when not in Edit mode, its the purple point that floats around with the rest of the mesh, the one you cant edit... for those who don't know.)
also: if you have "Create missing LODs" then a LOD may be creaded for you... check that,
does it dissappear in Show tool?
#5
The .blend file can be located here:
http://www.rampantgames.com/external/bullet.blend
It's not the final model I'm using, just a stand-in. I've had blender models work great before --- this one uses a .png with transparency (and I think I set the material to be translucent), and I ran into this problem.
I appreciate all the help you can provide.
12/27/2005 (10:42 am)
I haven't checked it in Show Tool.The .blend file can be located here:
http://www.rampantgames.com/external/bullet.blend
It's not the final model I'm using, just a stand-in. I've had blender models work great before --- this one uses a .png with transparency (and I think I set the material to be translucent), and I ran into this problem.
I appreciate all the help you can provide.
#7
12/27/2005 (3:09 pm)
Hey, if the detail level is set at 32 it will dissapear. I had this problem with projectiles. Either set the detail level to a lower value (for projectiles I use Detail1) or include mulitple detail levels for the lower detail levels. Detail32, Detail16, Detail8, etc. I think the way it works is it will display an object if it is greater in pixels/size? than Detail'n' where 'n' is the size that the object will be visible, hence the detail level. At least this was my experience with projectiles. For something quick and dirty set it to Detail1 to see if this is the issue and optimize later. Also, watch mipmap settings for projectiles.
#8
Does a detail level > 32 work as well? Like Detail128? And does it have to be a power of 2?
12/27/2005 (5:25 pm)
Hah. I was wondering what the numbers meant with "DetailX" - I never got a straight answer. I'll try that out. Many thanks!Does a detail level > 32 work as well? Like Detail128? And does it have to be a power of 2?
#9
And no; Power of two isn't necessary, any number works.
12/27/2005 (6:00 pm)
The number is pixel size, yep. If your object is larger than 32 pixels (I think it's messured diagonally, but I'm not 100% sure) detail32 will be used, lower and the next lower lod will be used etc. If you have really large objects it's probably a good idea to use higher numbers. The numbers are still a bit of a trial and error thing, you'll have to test it out and make sure it doesn't look crap.And no; Power of two isn't necessary, any number works.
#10
I also figured out how to make the the translucent texture work correctly, so we're golden. Thanks again for the help!
12/27/2005 (10:14 pm)
Problem solved using "Detail1". The object was just too small to appear, apparently. I am much wiser now :)I also figured out how to make the the translucent texture work correctly, so we're golden. Thanks again for the help!
Torque Owner Redacted