D-Grafix - Software Products

Spriteforge 3D 2 2D Spriteset Renderer

Overview of Purpose: What is SpriteForge? SpriteForge is essentialy a tool for creating large numbers of 2D sprites from 3D models. You can ''photoraph'' your model''s animation frames (or simply it''s static profile) from several different camera angles in just a few easy steps. Primarily designed for creating game sprites, spriteForge is also great for making 3D website graphics (ie spinning 3D logos), taking photos of a 3D model for sale, avatars for chatrooms, testing a model''s animation, spriteForge has a multitude of uses, think of it as an advanced photo studio for your 3D models! With SpriteForge you can even create sequences of many models at once, then simply choose the orbit positions and elevation you require. This makes SpriteForge perfect for creating for example; 2D 45''orthographic characters for an RPG style game, animated in all 8 directions! How is it helpful over my 3D program''s Renderer? Take a ''top down'' RPG, where everything has to be at an orthographic 30'' camera elevation and in all 8 rotations (N NE E SE S SW W NW). One very common practise to use a 3d modeller''s output to do this. However, this can take a lot time to set up using camera paths etc, or for more basic users the old: ''move camera, take pic, move camera, take pic....'' aproach. Imagine all the organising and planning, especially if you have lots of models to process that all have to follow the same pattern. In addition, with a modellers output its hard to get the frame dimensions to sprite ratio right, with SpriteForge you get it exactly right. (and if you so desire in a nice table!). Finally, you can save your custom settings (or studio environment) for repeated use.

Keywords: 2d game sprites spritesets tilesets game design charactersets website graphics animation frames sprites logo design web graphics v7 german www

T.Ed Pro Terrain & World Editor

Overview of Purpose: T.Ed is a complete solution for making huge outdoor worlds: The technique behind designing and using terrain objects can be a minefield of choices, as there are so many different ways of doing it! T.Ed is designed primarily for games programmers and 3D artists to make those choices easier. There are 2 main categories regarding terrains in games, ''Mesh'' and ''Dynamic/LOD''. T.Ed can help in the development of both! T,Ed is a dedicated terrain tool to allow the creation of small to large mesh landscapes, either as a series of blocks, or as a single terrain. It allows for superb blended textures either by using vertex alpha or by rendering a ''Supertexture'' for each terrain block. T.Ed Can be used as a stand alone world editor or as a wraparound for your favorite level creation software: On it''s own, it can now process props like buildings, trees, bridges and even 3d sprites or simple animated meshes like swaying trees! Using the supplied code (darkbasic and blitzbasic formats) you can reload everything from the suns angle to the script on a prop, (ie the key number required to open a door!) If using as a wraparound, you can load in a building/level from say.. CS4, self lightmapped with it''s own properties, place it on the terrain, lightmap it to the terrain, and then put trees around it etc. The best thing about the way T.Ed uses the meshes means you can keep the building/level''s internal properties all the way to your game world. Also, because ted''s save file simply references the mesh, any updates to the original mesh will flow through, without the need for re importing into TED! Through an easy to use and learn interface, featuring mouse look and game walk controls, you will be walking around your virtual lanscape in minutes. The software and exports also take into account the problems of using entity/texture alpha with vertex alpha, and has features designed in to eliminate those dreaded problems.

Keywords: terrain 3d world editor landscape games design blitz3d darkbasic torque terrain editor automatic web custom shapes