using moray

[Taera]

ok guess i'll write something short about CGSs.

There are four types of CSGs:
Union, Difference,Intersection and Merge.

Union is simply a group that allows you to control and copy and whatever all objects put into it as one object. useful when you have to copy that single turret 20 times. Displays all objects in group.

Difference. You better study this CSG the best you can because it is the most commonly used one. It acts very simple - it removes all the parts of the first object added to it whenever it intersects with the other objects. Try this:
Create a sphere. create a cube. move the cube to (-1.0, 0.0, 0.0). create CSG group. add the sphere and then the cube (in this particular order). Change the "operation" of CSG to difference. press the "evaluate" button aviable when CSG is chosen. Displays only the first object, with parts of it cut off regarding to the rest of the objects.

Intersection is the opposite of Difference. It shows only those parts of the first object in the list that are intersecting with other objects down the list. Displays only the first object, intersected.

Merge is the more advanced one, you wont use it much. What it does is removes all places where all objects added to the group intersect, making it "one object". Displays all objects in group.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: Three things.
First - the Merge is useful when you use transparent textures because then the various objects put together look like one if transparent.
Second thing is that i've once been looking through the Moray/Povray tutorials and found them rather good.
Third there are things i've found useful in moray, and here's the list: super Qs, beziers, and good textures. Super Qs are everything between a sphere and a square, and between a double pyramid and double cone and more; Beziers are extremly powerful, you can create virtually anything if you master these. Textures are extremly important in Moray as they're one of the best textures in whole modelling world, i'd suggest you study these.

[ October 27, 2002, 22:46: Message edited by: Taera ]

[Captain Kwok]

I mostly use unions and differences depending on the need. Intersections and merges not so often as Taera mentioned.

In re: to textures, I think I spend hours sometimes just playing around with them. If you check out the TNG mod thread - you'll see all those darn little windows on the Galaxy class - ugh!

[ZeroAdunn]

Yes, textures are a pain in the @ss to master too. One thing you might want to study is bump maps, they are similary to textures but instead of being an image they are simply raised and lowered sections on a shape. I find them very usefull when doing hull armor.

[Taera]

I have mastered textures in Moray to their best. I can create virtually any texture in Moray, and i can give any interested a comprehensive description of any of the things you can find there... well, almost. But i must say this - if you want your creations to be _GOOD_ do NOT use textures created in moray. What i suggest is take a day or two and go through search engines, searching for textures. Then take another day and work in some program with these textures (save as non-interlaced .gif, bmp or png) and include them to Moray. Play around with Normals and Finishes, and you've got a good texture. examples:
Organic Ship
Metallic Ship

EDIT: Hate tripod. these images will open in this window, so keep this in mind.
EDIT2: Hate tripod. use "copy link" and paste to address

[ October 28, 2002, 23:40: Message edited by: Taera ]

[ZeroAdunn]

One thing I can say about textures that I wish somebody had told me when I first started using Moray is Material Proxies. It is these that decide the orientation and position of image maps and patterns when you apply them to meshes. These are invaluable. Your definitely going to want a tutorial on how to use these properly.

[Taera]

good point. i dont rightly know what textures have the material proxies but sometimes these can be invaluable, but only sometimes. i only use them once for a while myself.

[Captain Kwok]

If you use a lot of bitmap textures with specific features like lettering and windows - material proxies are super important - and so is using alt-T to select them .