[Kaylik]

I recently just got a computer and loaded a friends XI game to it so i can use the model viewer. For many years i have been interested in computer animation and modeling. I have cruised these forums many times looking at what work others have done, and its time for me to do some of that work. My question is, i've seen everyone talking about VRS and photoshop, what is VRS, where can i get it, possible cost? what photoshop do you use, where can i get it, and possible cost.
Any help anyone can give me will be much appreciated, I look forward to wroking with VRS and Photoshop to be able to improve my skill and help with requests others may make.

[Feba]

VRS = VIrtual Reality Studio, that's really all I know


Photoshop CS2 is the latest version, and what I use. It's generally about 700$, which means it's a shame *cough* that you can't *cough* get it for free *cough* using something called an internet *hackweeze*

[Linra]

Like Feba said, VRS is Virtual Reality Studio. Where you can find it? Search this forum (second page) You'll find a very large topic about the new release which includes a link, the last time I checked.

As for Photoshop, the verison I have was given to me by a friend, so I can't help you with the cost. But from what I hear and just read it is exteremly expensive. Not something kids/teenagers/young adults like us can go out and just buy. Either find a friend willing to let you borrow theirs or... you know... find another route.

Edit: Oh I'd like to add, VRS is a real pain to learn, so be ready for a lot of stressful nights. And don't pull out your hair lol.

[Macht]

Photoshop the only reason you'd want it is because it makes editing the Textures easier. Otherwise it is possible to edit the Textures still with the right set of programs and using paint.

An alternate instead of getting Photoshop is get "Gimp" it's basically got the same functions as Photoshop but it's a free source.

Double Post Edited:

Originally Posted by Linra

Like Feba said, VRS is Virtual Reality Studio. Where you can find it? Search this forum (second page) You'll find a very large topic about the new release which includes a link, the last time I checked.

As for Photoshop, the verison I have was given to me by a friend, so I can't help you with the cost. But from what I hear and just read it is exteremly expensive. Not something kids/teenagers/young adults like us can go out and just buy. Either find a friend willing to let you borrow theirs or... you know... find another route.

Edit: Oh I'd like to add, VRS is a real pain to learn, so be ready for a lot of stressful nights. And don't pull out your hair lol.

Lol, as far as how hard VRS is that kind of depends on your background with the Virtual Programs. VRS I swear is the program I got a class in before, so picking it up and how it works was easy for me. I do stumble in a few spots simply because I don't remember it.

I should add if you are going to do stuff with the .dats from FFXI the programs you'll need are:

• Paint (Or any program that can edit a .bmp or even better a .dds)
• Graphics Converter 3 (Allows you to take .bmp edits and convert them to .dds files to be used by the model)
• ChangeText (Program made specifically for FFXI .dats, this can easily swap out and in .dds files for the .dat to use. Will need with the VRS, the Plug-in export function always messes up the Textures DataSizes)
• Metasequoia (Best IMO for doing some fine tuning vertex corrections and skinning the model, do not delete or add with this)
• ModelViewer (Lets you see the models and gives you the .mqo which is needed for Metasequoia)
• VRS (Very powerful, it can add objects, remove them, and even alter motions. It's able to skin models but it is harder to do then it is on Metasequoia)
• A Hex Editor (PSP Editor or Hex Editor you know, this is not exactly along what is needed to know for making models. This is just to correct an exporting bug)

There are tons more Virtual Studio programs that build stuff. I recall someone making a .dat plug-in for the Virtual Studio "Lightwave". I've heard people using 3DMax instead of Metasequioa because it's an even stronger program, but since they don't have a plug-in to import and export the FFXI .dats they end up using .mqo which restricts them from actually adding or removing objects.

[Kilandor]

VRS you have to pay me teh 1,000,000,000 gilz

*cough points to his signatrue while mubmblling something about all the tools for editing are on his site*

[Kaylik]

Ok i downloaded VRS but when i try to open it, it asks for an account and password...did i miss something?

[Kilandor]

Enter Guest in both fields, case sensitive

[Linra]

Originally Posted by Kilandor

VRS you have to pay me teh 1,000,000,000 gilz

*cough points to his signatrue while mubmblling something about all the tools for editing are on his site*

Sorry to ask this question here, but since it's Photoshop related and I came across this after reading this post I figured it would make sense.

Anyway, Kilandor on your site I noticed a section called Tools so I looked into it and found "Photoshop DDS Plugin". My question is, does using Photoshop directly get rid of that ikky greenish color you get when you alpha something out using Graphic Convertor?

[Kilandor]

I honestly can't remeber, I"m thinking maybe it does. Its been foever since I used it. Would be simple to try out ^^

[Stromgarde]

It's a flaw in the .dds compression method that gets worse over time. If you only do the conversion once it's more or less unnoticable, which is why I keep a master in .png or .bmp format... certain compression engines, be it gc3 or the photoshop plugin can offer less severe artifacting in certain situations, however.

[Linra]

Originally Posted by Stromgarde

It's a flaw in the .dds compression method that gets worse over time. If you only do the conversion once it's more or less unnoticable, which is why I keep a master in .png or .bmp format... certain compression engines, be it gc3 or the photoshop plugin can offer less severe artifacting in certain situations, however.

Yeah I noticed that too. But that sad thingy is, I know it's there from the start, so it bugs me for some reason. I don't know why, I know it's not a big of a deal, but it just bugs me so much x.x

[Kaylik]

Originally Posted by Kilandor

Enter Guest in both fields, case sensitive

I did that and it still wont let me in, no matter what i type in both a windo pops up with gibberish written all over it. (not gibberish but i cant exactly read computer language >.<) so should delete my VRS then just redownload it? i downloaded the English version that was posted on the second page of these forums.

[Macht]

Originally Posted by Kaylik

I did that and it still wont let me in, no matter what i type in both a windo pops up with gibberish written all over it. (not gibberish but i cant exactly read computer language >.<) so should delete my VRS then just redownload it? i downloaded the English version that was posted on the second page of these forums.

Well it isn't really gibberish, it would become Hiragana if you were in Japanese Non-Unicode setting for your system.

If you are getting stuck at the login, do be careful not to spam requests over and over. It'll lock you out. Otherwise when that occurs it can be that the server is down or it can't reach it for some reason.

Just make sure that User name is Guest and Pass is Guest with the upper case G and lower case of the rest.

[Linra]

Originally Posted by Kaylik

I did that and it still wont let me in, no matter what i type in both a windo pops up with gibberish written all over it. (not gibberish but i cant exactly read computer language >.<) so should delete my VRS then just redownload it? i downloaded the English version that was posted on the second page of these forums.

This happened to me as well, if you look in that large thread you'll see I included screenshots while trying to find help. If your error box matches mine, go back to the main VRS site and send an email to the creator. He's Japanese so he'll be using a language translator to speak with you, but he was able to help me get it working within 2-3 days. ^^

It would have been sooner, but there is a very large time difference and I had to go to work and cut our fix sessions short.

[Korith]

Originally Posted by Linra

Sorry to ask this question here, but since it's Photoshop related and I came across this after reading this post I figured it would make sense.

Anyway, Kilandor on your site I noticed a section called Tools so I looked into it and found "Photoshop DDS Plugin". My question is, does using Photoshop directly get rid of that ikky greenish color you get when you alpha something out using Graphic Convertor?

Make sure you set the settings as I showed. Photoshop has never added a greenish tint to my dds files. VRS does every time I use it, but never Photoshop. When using VRS, make sure you make a backup of the skin so you can replace it after you're done with VRS.