a short Metasequoia LE R2.1 overview for the ones who asked. For the others : Metasequoia LE is a freeware japanese polygon modeler. Available here : http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/main_e.html I did this small tutorials because all the help files are in japanese. It's only some basic informations to get you started... This is the first part : the user interface.

part 2 : create a primitive

part 3 : tools overview

part 4 : the blob tool

please answer to these messages only if you have "technical" question about this tutorial. Thanks. Eric

Thanks I will definitly try it out!! Dwmdesigner

Eric, I'mfeeling stupid. Cannot find what you describe in point 3 (first image). Where are the "advanced features" and the "tool popup window", Please? I have the LE version. Thanks, Guitta

I also cannot see all the editing tools as shown in your sample ??

Guitta you are stupid :) !

All the editing tool will be available if you leave "basic mode". Go in the FILE menu and uncheck "basic mode". If the little "v" near "basic mode" is gone, you're in "normal" mode.
When it's done, you will see all the editing tool. They will appear as icons if you follow the point 1 (file > configuration > screen > layout style > select "DefIcon.style"> press OK)

The "tool popup windows" appear when you click on a tool !
for example, if you click on the "create primitive" command the same window as the one in the image will open.

Please, tell me you're able to do this...

I'm sure that you will be happy with Metasequoia LE.

Eric

Ok, found it. Thanks Eric, I'm happy I was able to do it :-) Could you create a little tutorial how to map objects and how to use UV ? This would be great. I'm very "0" in modeling, never have done it. Otherwise when I try to save a "cob" file, Vue doesn't recognize it. There must be something I'm doing wrong while saving ? Thanks alot:-) Guitta

Wow Eric, you got ahold on this thing FAST! This is a great service you're doing for these people. :)

Thanks Mike ! Guitta : Some "cob" files work with VUE other don't. I don't know why. Here a few tips to make it "work" : 1. reduce the amount polygons before exporting to cob file. Go in "object" menu > reduce polygons. VUE doesn't like too heavy Truespace models ! 50 000 polygons is OK but not 500 000 ! 2. See If your model doesn't contain empty objects. This will cause import failure in VUE. To control this use the "object panel" in Metasequoia. show / hide objects and delete the empty ones. 3. Don't export a model featuring a "blobby" object : "polygonize" it before exporting. Don't forget than when you "polygonize" a "blobby" object, Metasequoia create a new object. Delete the "blobby" object before saving to cob. If you follow this, VUE will accept the cob models most of the time. I had once an import failure but it was because there was an empty object in the cob file. ---------- Concerning texture mapping here is a basic introduction : When your model is ready, 1. Open the material panel (system panel > MAT PANE). 2. Create a material by clicking on "new". 3. Click on this material to open the "material option" window. In this window you can edit the material (load texture maps, alpha maps, etc...). 4. to apply this material to a model use the "ATTACH MATERIAL TO FACE" button (the "fill" icon) and just paint on the model ! But If you use VUE, texture mapping in Metasequoia is not necessary. VUE's material editor is much better for this. ---------- I can't tell you much about UV mapping because I didn't use it by know ! But if I find how it works I'll tell you ! Eric

Attached Link: http://www.uvmapper.com

Cool, more info! Also, Guitta, remember, you have 3D Exploration, so converting to .OBJ or .3DS would be an option for any .COB files you have which don't want to work in Vue. I don't have the time to write a UV Mapper tutorial (nor enough knowledge to make it an all-inclusive tutorial), but if you have any specific questions about mapping and assigning material/object groupings, those I could answer. You can actually even do it in Poser with the grouping tool. Also, Steve Cox, the inventor of UV Mapper has some tutorials at his site already.

Thanks Eric, that's great and very helpful:-) Thanks Mike. But I have tried to convert the "cob" in 3D exploration. 3dexploration did not want to read my cob file either:-( Guitta

That's strange Guitta, I haven't been having any problems with the .cob format. Eric, I've been playing with this. It's alot of fun, really. And I have to agree that this is the most powerful of all the freeware modelers I have yet to see. Thanks again for the tutorial!

Maybe it s just written for men ;)) The cobs I create in Metase..etc. will load only in vue when I don't use the blob, and thats a pity The blobby cobs all give the same error as mentioned on the vue forum. Back to vue again.. Myske

Hi Myske, Did you poligonize the "blobby" objects before exporting to COB. ? If there is one "blobby" object in it's original state the exported COB files won't work in any 3D software. I never had this problem when my Metasequoia object is a true polygon model. Eric

Now I can import all cobs, blobby or not:-) Guitta

Yes I did , and I even reduce the polygons and stil it won't work no blob = ok and blob and it won't work. only as dxf but that was not what i wanted, was trying to learn some about the uv mapping. Guitta. did you change anything? hope to find out.. regards Myske

No Myske, I have not changed any thing. I export blobs or any other file in cob, but none of these files have a mapping. I map it entirely in Vue. The only cob what did not work in Vue (4.05-02), was a Poser figure (Mike). I had imported it as an OBJ into Mesasequoia, have worked on it and saved then as a cob. But this is anyhow not what I want to do with this soft, it was just a trying. When I save a created blob or any from Mesasequoia in cob, I just accept the default saving in clicking OK and again OK. Then import it in Vue without problem. :-)Hope you will get it also. Guitta

And whats in the block on the second save page? Here is true-space and only one option marked the above. Maybe I changed something by accident ;( regards Myske

Myske, This is how looks the screen when I save to COB. Where I have put the red arrow is the folder where was the mapping when I have loaded for the very first time a Poser object. I have never choosed a mapping since and just leave it how it is while saving. Maybe this helps. Guitta

I'm at work now( the one job left) As soon as i 'm home this afternoon I'll check, but it seems to me the same as on my pc. Thanks for the pic. Myske

I'm home and tried again. Guess what I made just one blob for trying poligonised let the grit at 10.00 and it worked ;) But make one blob more and smooth mesh . and the same errror came again. Maybe I just can't smooth it. More ????? Myske