Modeling: Getting Started with XSI
by Addicted to Morphine (view all articles)
1 rating / 5 stars
Get everything set up for your first model!
by Addicted to Morphine (view all articles)
1 rating / 5 stars
Get everything set up for your first model!
Setting Up SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.2 Mod Tool for Source Modeling
A lot of the information out there about getting started with XSI modeling includes broken links and old information, because it seems SOFTIMAGE rearranged their website, making setting up SOFTIMAGE|XSI harder than it should be.
At the end of this tutorial you will have SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.2 Mod Tool downloaded, installed, registered, and configured for Source modeling.
Note: There are a lot of different modeling suites out there for you to choose from. I've chosen SOFTIMAGE|XSI simply because its the modeling suite Valve used for HL2, and the MOD version is FREE.
Now then, let's get started.
The first thing you're going to want to do is take a look at the system requirements for SOFTIMAGE|XP:
? quoting IMAGESOFT.com
Operating System
- Windows XP Professional (including SP1 and SP1a).
- Windows 2000 SP2 or higher.
Hardware
- Workstation with AMD K7 or higher processor
- Workstation with Intel Pentium III or higher processor
- OpenGL accelerated graphics card
- 520 MB of available hard disk space for full install. Additional space required during setup for decompressing files.
- 1280x1024 screen resolution recommended
- 256 MB RAM minimum, 512 MB RAM recommended
- 3-button mouse
- Access to a CD-ROM drive to run the Setup program and to access the online documentation (if it is not installed on your hard drive)
Once you're sure your computer can handle it (it's not very intensive, but the recommended screen resolution, hard drive space, and 3-button mouse are all things to look out for) we can download the program!
Go to http://www.softimage.com/downloads/Default.aspx and select SOFTIMAGE|XSI Mod Tool v.4.2 from the drag down menu.
On the next page, click on the link labeled "SOFTIMAGE|XSI Mod Tool version 4.2" and that should prompt a download.
Once the download is complete open it up and install to the directory of your choosing. The installation is very straightforward, and you shouldn't have any problems.
The first time you load the program you will be prompted to choose a control scheme. Go with the recommended setting (the first one).
Now, we're almost done, just 2 more important steps left.
1. Before you can save or export anything you need to register at the SOFTIMAGE website to activate the program. The "Register..." button in the program takes you to a missing page, and it seems to have moved. The new URL is: http://www.softimage.com/community/xsi_mod_tool/activate/default.aspx
Fill out the form and they will e-mail you with the Key you need. It can take a while for the email to be sent out, so don't worry if you don't get it right away.
While you're waiting for the email, we can go on to the last important step, which is installing the ValveSource Add-On.
Go to the Add-On sub-menu under File and click on Install... as seen here:
The "Install Add-On" window will open. Click on the box with the elipses to browse for the file you need:
The file you need will have a name similar to "ValveSource.0105.01.xsiaddon" and is located in this root folder: "C:Program FilesSteamSteamAppsyouremailaddresssourcesdkxsi"
After you've targeted it:
Press "Okay"
Now press the "Install" button:
Done! Now that you've installed the ValveSource Add-On you'll have a new menu with a lot of useful tools necessary for Source modeling:
Almost finished!
Save the blank scene to the default folder and you'll be prompted to Activate the Mod Tool. Enter your email address and the Key you hopefully received in your inbox by now, and you'll have a fully functional and configured modeling suite:
Easy!
Next steps:
Since you're ready to model you may as well check out some tutorials. Here are 3 great video tutorials that I recommend: http://www.iwannamap.com/tutmodels.php
That should clear up any confusion about setting up XSI, but let me know if you have any questions or addendums.
-Addicted to Morphine
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