Nl shading problem

I have sent mad data(nl) an email about the shaders in nl.

If you have sketchup and you use it for nl objects you will probaly know about this problem, Basicly when a 3d exported from sketchup and is inserted in nl certain sides of the 3d are completely black with no shading at all.

The email is included below

Hi

Ive been having a small problem with 3d's and nl, When i import the 3d everything is fine and there isn't any problem but in the sim there isn't any light at all on certain sides of the
3d object, it appears black.

i have been told that the problem is the shaders in nl but im not sure, it happens to everybody else that makes 3d's in sketchup.

If it is the shaders would there be any chance that you could include the fix in the next update.

Thanks alot

Rob.

Yeah, I discovered this when TheArchitect had windmills made for me for a woodie I made a while back. I thought it was just me, but I guess not. Could be Sketchups problem, and not NLs.

Yes it's Sketchups problem, it isn't made for NL specifically so the textures won't work, there are some solutions such as first exporting the 3ds into 3ds Max and then export them back in you NL object folder...but I haven't managed to get that working either...maybe some expirienced 3DS user has a better solution for this.

It is probably just a fault of Sketchup. Sketchup created 3ds objects work fine if you import and export them with 3DS Max.

[edit]beat by gav.

[coolbeans326]

can you import and export it into blender or anim8or? it'll save you from having to get an expensive piece of software like 3Ds Max

Sketchup doesn't export reasonable material settings. There is diffuse, ambient and specular colors that define how the object is lit. IIRC Sketchup only sets the diffuse component and leaves specular and ambient at 0 (black). This is the reason why the shadow side is all black.

http://www.okino.com/new/toolkit/tut/main8.htm -here you can see the effects. In the second to last row, the second (maybe third) ball is what you get from sketchup. The last one in that row would be a more reasonable setting.

But there's nothing you can do about it?

Sure there is. Use a better modelling program.

It is possible to make it work. Canadmos was able to get my Sketchup objects for Breaking Point to work fine. I'm not sure exactly how painful it is but it's doable.

My station on Clifford was Sketch-up. Just try to get your hands on 3ds max or get someone to help you.