Reference mesh: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:38, 2 May 2008

In Source, a Reference mesh (sometimes body, envelope or skin) defines some or all of a model's rendered geometry and its skeleton. A model needs at least one reference mesh or it will not be visible in the world and will not be able to animate properly.

Facets

UV maps: The UV map defines how the mesh's material is deformed to fit it.
Levels of detail: A reference mesh is commonly replaced by lower-detail meshes at distances with $lod to improve performance. See LOD Models.
Envelopes: A reference mesh is enveloped to the bones of a model's skeleton to allow for animation.
Weight maps: See weight map.

Implementation

There are three QC commands related to reference meshes:

$body: A basic reference mesh.
$model: A reference mesh with facial animation.
$bodygroup: A reference mesh or group of reference meshes that can be switched between or off.
$lod replacemodel: A low-detail reference mesh that replaces another at the $lod's specified distance and above.

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-In Source, a [[Reference mesh]] (sometimes called the ''body'' or ''envelope'' or ''skin'' of the model) defines some or all of a model's rendered geometry. A model needs at least one reference mesh or it will not be visible in the world. It is [[enveloped]] to the bones of a model's [[Skeleton]] and moves with them. It is commonly replaced by lower-detail meshes at distances with <code>[[$lod]]</code>.
+In Source, a [[Reference mesh]] (sometimes '''body''', '''envelope''' or '''skin''') defines some or all of a model's rendered geometry and its [[skeleton]]. A model needs at least one reference mesh or it will not be visible in the world and will not be able to animate properly.
-A reference mesh includes:
+== Facets ==
-;Geometry data
+;UV maps
-:Vertex Coordinates (relative to a specific [[Parentbone]]) for each triangular polygon,
+:The [[UV map]] defines how the mesh's [[material]] is deformed to fit it.
-;[[Smoothing group]] data
+;Levels of detail
-:Normal vector (relative to a specific [[Parentbone]]) at each vertex,
+:A reference mesh is commonly replaced by lower-detail meshes at distances with <code>[[$lod]]</code> to improve performance. See [[LOD Models]].
-;[[Skinning]]
+;Envelopes
-:[[UV map]] coordinates and [[Default Skinname]](s),
+:A reference mesh is [[enveloped]] to the bones of a model's [[skeleton]] to allow for animation.
-;[[Envelope]] data
+;Weight maps
-:[[Weight map]] values and [[Parentbone]] for each vertex.
+:See [[weight map]].
-{{tip|See [[SMD file format]] for exactly how this data is stored in the <code>triangles</code> block of a "Studio Model Data" file.}}
+== Implementation ==
+There are three [[:Category:QC Commands|QC commands]] related to reference meshes:
-== Default mesh ==
+;<code>[[$body]]</code>
-: The '''Default mesh''' is the Mesh that will be rendered unless substituted by a specific ''LOD mesh'', and/or modified by a specific ''Sub-mesh''.
+:A basic reference mesh.
-:* It is defined in the [[Reference.smd]] and compiled to the [[VVD]] and [[VTX]] binaries via the [[$body]] or [[$model]] QC command.
+;<code>[[$model]]</code>
+:A reference mesh with [[facial animation]].
+;<code>[[$bodygroup]]</code>
+:A reference mesh or group of reference meshes that can be switched between or off.
+;<code>[[$lod]] replacemodel</code>
+:A low-detail reference mesh that replaces another at the $lod's specified distance and above.
-== Sub-mesh ==
+[[Category:Modeling]]
-: '''Sub-meshes''' can be switched on and off at runtime. Like the Default mesh, they are [[enveloped]] to the model's Skeleton, and will deform (stretch and bend) as if part of the Default mesh. Specific pieces of clothing are good candidates for switchable sub-meshes; eg different types of body armor or headgear. By contrast ''Sub-models'' (eg weapons) can be attached to specific [[$attachment]] points on this skeleton, but they remain ''enveloped'' to their own skeleton; they will move with this skeleton but will not be deform by it.
+[[Category:Glossary]]
-:* The [[$bodygroup]] configuration allows any number of sub-meshes ([[SMD]]s) to be added to the ''Default mesh''. Setting up multiple [[$bodygroup]]s allows sub-mesh switching to be triggered by (code-level) events.
-:* Sub-meshes do not affect the model's collision model.
-:* ({{todo|[[$model]]'s face mesh for facial animation ?}})
-== LOD mesh ==
-: Source's [[LOD system]] allows a "cheaper" (simplified) version of the Mesh(es) to be ''rendered'' at a distance where the loss of "expensive" detail is not noticeable to the Viewer. Any number of replacement [[LOD Models|LOD_Mesh.SMD]]s are usually created from pared-down versions of the Default Mesh and Sub-Meshes, but they are compiled into the main MDL's [[VVD]] and [[VTX]] files via the QC [[$lod]] configuration. The Default Mesh (including Sub-Meshes) is used when no LOD Mesh is active, we could say it amounts to an "lod0" Mesh.
-== See also ==
-*[[$body]] / [[$model]]
-*[[$bodygroup]]
-*[[$lod]]
-[[category:Modeling]]
-[[category:Modelling Glossary]]

Reference mesh: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:38, 2 May 2008

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Implementation

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