A question XSI users...
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Re: A question XSI users...
Posted by SnarkSephiroth on Sun Jan 23rd at 9:34pm 2005


How do I place a background image into one of my viewports. Ive looked all over the place and could not find anything useful. Please, if you do know the answer, be very specific because I am still new to the XSI interface. Or if you know of a tutorial that can help me please direct me to it. Thanks. [addsig]



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Re: A question XSI users...
Posted by SnarkSephiroth on Mon Jan 24th at 6:17am 2005


Some images in this post have been automatically down-sized, click on them to view the full sized versions:

Well I've figured out how to do it, so I answered my own question. I'm going to write the answer here just in case anyone else needed to know. If you have any questions about my explanation just PM me. Well here it goes.

1st: Start a new scene by going to file -> new scene. Then in the Models menu select Get -> Primative -> Polygon Mesh -> Grid.

2nd: Now you will have a square grid in all of your viewports. After that you need to get to the grids properties menu. You click this button located over the 3D window: (See screenshot)

3rd: The grid properties menu should pop up. Now in here you need to give the grid zero subdivisons. In the U and V Subdivisions box, set both of them to zero. It will automatically default them to one. In the U and V Length box, you need to set these to the size of your picture. (ie: 456 X 658 would be 45.6 in the U Length and 65.8 in the V Length, and yes you need those decimals in the number.) So the picture I'm using is 400 X 268 so I would put 40.0 in the U Length and 26.8 in the V Length. Your grid will size itself in the background. (See Screenshot below for visual)

4th: Now when thats all done we need to position our grid on its side so we can put a reference picture on it. So we select the grid and hit C on the keyboard. A sphere like object will appear in all the viewports. Play with the tool to see how it works. Left-click on one of the rings and drag it to see how it works. Make sure to undo though if you do mess with it. You need to rotate your grid so it is standing up and facing you in the right viewport like this: (See Screenshot) TIP: If you just type 90 into the X and Y panel off to the right in the rotate tool it will do it for you.

5th: After all this we need to go to Property -> Texture Projection -> XZ. No screen will pop up or anything so don't get worried. This tells where the texture should be applied on the mesh.

6th: Now after that you need to go and select Get -> Material -> Phong.

7th: The phong menu should come up but if it doesn't hit the properties button and browse for Material:Phong. If your confused look at the screenshot below. In here you need to hit that plug like button next to the color box and click Image. In the next screen by Image click New.

8th: In the next screen, by Image, click New and browse for your pic. Then after you have your pic go to the button on the 3D view and select Textured Decal. Viola. You now have a reference image to start modeling from.

Whew. That took a long time to write. Hope someone finds it useful and actually reads it. I'm out.





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Re: A question XSI users...
Posted by JannemaN on Mon Jan 24th at 8:32pm 2005


Well. thats one way to do it. An easier way would be to go to the viewport of your choice?s Display Type Menu, drop down to "rotoscope" and there you have a viewport image selector.


edit: but imho. your way proved to be more useful =D

thanks for sharing

edit once more. found a great way to combine em. if you want a wireframe viewport just use rotoscope on that one and zoom so that the rotoscope image fits the grid.


edit for the third time =D. Didnt notice that button "lock rotoscope".. so that it zooms and moves with you.




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Re: A question XSI users...
Posted by SnarkSephiroth on Mon Jan 24th at 10:02pm 2005


Well I'm glad at least one person found this useful because it took me a good couple of days to figure it out. I think I'll try that rotoscope tool later on when I have the time. And again, I am very glad it was useful to you. [addsig]




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