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Are there any good 3D tools?

Q)
I'm thinking of buying a 3D graphic tool next time. Is there any tool that SEGA especially recommends?

A)
First of all, let ’s talk about the tools we recommend or officially recognize.

[Official tool]

● SOFTIMAGE 3D SGI / NT SOFTIMAGE (Microsoft)
SOFTIMAGE is an inexpensive professional 3DCG software that excels in modeling motion.
Since the modeler itself uses a familiar three-view drawing, even beginners can easily enter it, and by using the separately sold Extreame package, it is possible to generate particles and photorealistic images.
In addition, by using a plug-in called Saturn Module, model, texture and motion data can be output in the form of SGL C source, and the output data can be imported again and used as SOFTIMAGE data. The data can be displayed on the TV screen through CartDev + DevSaturn.
However, regarding the NT version of Saturn Module, there are differences depending on the model, and in some cases it may not be possible to output data, so if you are planning to purchase for the purpose of Saturn Module, please check this announcement.

[Recommended tool]

● N-World SGI Nichimen Graphics
N-World is a 3D tool that includes a modeler with a unique interface.
Modeler is a tool that can be operated very quickly if you remember it, although it takes some time to get used to it because it has a unique operation system.
For motion, many of the operations are numerical inputs, which makes it a little difficult to use, but it is a useful tool when you want to include many limited elements for movement.
This tool outputs the SGL format for model data and texture data, but not for hierarchical output and motion at this stage.

● Alias PowerAnimator SGI Alias | Wavefront
A tool that is highly regarded for its modeling and rendering quality. We recommend using this tool if you want to generate powerful particle features or photo-realistic images.
However, since it is software that requires machine specifications very much, it is a prerequisite that you have a machine that can perform high-speed processing.
This tool can also output SGL, but it is better to use it when you want the rendering quality of movies etc. rather than using it for such a thing.

● Blade Render Mac / (PC) Polygon Research
Introduced as a higher version of SHADE III, this tool has the same operation as SHADE III for SEGA SATURN. SHADE III was a tool that spits out SEGA 3D files, but Blade Render outputs SGL format.

[Other tools]
As another tool among Sega Saturn licensees so far,
● LightWave 3D PC / NT / SGI / Amiga NewTek
● STRATA Studio Pro Mac STRATA
● Form Z Mac
● 3D Studio (MAX) PC / NT AutoDESK

However, if you use these tools, we cannot support them as technical support, but it seems that each of them uses their own tools to convert data.

Where does DGT pixel data start?

Q)
I searched the graphic reference book of "GRAPHIC TOOLS GUIDE VOL.1" to find out where the starting data address of the bitmap data is described in the DGT format file of the graphic tool, but I could not find it.
The file size excluding the entire header was written, but please let me know.

A)
Since directory size = CLUT size + 20h, pixel data starts from 120h + directory size -20h.

How to convert SEGA3D to SGL mdl format?

Q)
Is there any software that converts SEGA3D format model and texture data created by SHADE III For SATURN etc. to SGL format?

A)
There are conversion programs for PC and IRIX on the SGL CDROM provided to each licensee. The program name is S3D2SGL.EXE (s3d2sgl / IRIX version) and a SEGA3D file is given as an argument.
As for the output, some files with different extensions of the input file name are output.
It is also used in the sample program in sample2 of SGL, so please refer to that.

When I execute S3DTO3DT.EXE, I get an error saying "Japanese cannot be used".

Q)
When running S3DTO3DT.EXE

"Japanese is not available"

Error message appears.

A)
This is because Japanese (including kana, kanji, and special symbols) is used for the material name when saving in SEGA3D format.
As a workaround, you can modify the SEGA3D format file with a text editor (do not use kana or kanji).
This is because Japanese symbol names cannot be used in the program.

Where are the digitizer and ssview?

Q)
The SGL manual "STRUCT" describes tools such as digitizer and ssview, but I don't have either. Where on earth are these tools?

A)
Regarding digitizer, we have discontinued support without permission. This is because this tool is very unstable and a commercially available tool can be a good substitute for this feature.
On the other hand, ssview was absorbed by SMAP. When launching SMAP

smap -ssview

If so, you should be able to use the item SEGA SATURN Viewer in the Window menu. It also has the current SOFTIMAGE and should have an item called SATURN Viewer in the Viewer menu of the Tools module.

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★ FAQ ★ Graphic related
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