Week 3 – Tasks for Studio

• Go to http://www.buildar.co.nz/ to get the BuildAR application, and watch/read the tutorials. (Files are also on emustore).
• There is a Free Version, which has limited functionality, but will suit your purposes, or there is a Trial of the Pro version, which has some extra features, but is "save" disabled. I suggest the Free Version to start with, but you may like to also try the Trial version for the added extras. http://www.buildar.co.nz/buildar-free-version/

o Install BuildAR (I suggest the BuildAR Free version)

o Install the OpenSceneGraph Exporter for 3Ds Studio Max - OSGExp1.0.0Install_win32.exe

http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/osgmaxexp/index.php?title=Main_Page

o Use 32bit 3ds max 2010 for ".osg" exporter (there is no 64bit exporter)

o The BuildAR tutorial suggests to use ".ive" filetype, while you can get this to work (with a bunch of fiddling around), I suggest using ".osg" format, it works straight off the bat. It's essentially the same thing with a different file extension.

To export to ".osg" format

o In 3Ds Max, go to > Utilities (panel) -> More -> OSG Export toolbar

o In the toolbar the third icon from the left is the "export and save as OSG" - use it!

o Configure the exporter as needed (leaving the defaults usually works pretty well), here are some other settings that seem to work pretty well, but you may like to experiment.

o

o …the file will be saved to C:\Users\"username"\Documents\3dsMaxDesign\export

o Rename the file as needed

• Use your laptops’ webcam, or one of the external webcams that I have brought along. External webcams give you a little more control with viewing and placement.
• Play around with 3Ds Max, Sketchup (I would be using 3Ds max) and BuildAR trialling a few different .3ds or .ive models (I suggest “.osg” filetype), sections, transparent, wireframe, animated, etc. considering the best way to display your work in a mixed reality situation. You should get at least one each of these concepts working during studio.
• Some file types will give you unpredictable results (“.osg” seems to be the most stable), and certain types of materials, particle effects, etc. won’t export properly… this will take a little trial and error to figure out what works for you.
• Capture a minimum of 3 well considered and well framed images of each of your developing environments (6 “final images in total, but chances are you will be capturing many more as tests, post all experimentation to your blogs, post your final 6 chosen images in a separate post to your experimentation).
• Your final images should be, well considered, cropped and have some post production in Photoshop (all images you deal with should generally be taken through an image editing program to make them polished representations).
• The three images of each model may show 3 different scales of your models, such as an environment scale (whole site), building scale (standing in your environment looking at main structures) and detail scale (looking close up at interesting aspects of your model), or some other distinct representative technique for your sets of images (you should be considering your chosen designer to help direct you in representation styles for this task).
• Capture a video of your animated AR’s, and post to your blog (Fraps works pretty well for this).
• Save your BuildAR “.xml” scenes, and all related models, textures, etc. (file control is important!)
• By the end of the studio, in consultation with your tutor, choose 1 of your developing environments to use for Assignment 1. This will be the one you develop further and draw ideas from in the coming weeks.