A want to pre-render tiles for my game in a 3D program, and I thought It would be simple, but there is an annoying problem that is stopping me - the 3D program is perspective (duh!) and I can''t get perfect tiles with parallel edges, they always get closer together the further away they get. If there is such thing as a non-perspective 3D program, I don''t know. I was origionally going to use truespace 3D. If anyone has a solution to this problem please tell me!! I would really like to know. DX++ The DirectX Programming Site

I'm not familiar with Truespace 3D but most 3D modeling programs that I know of have a "grid snap" that helps you create precisely sized faces. And most of them also have a top, front, and side view (non-isometric views, if that's what you mean).

Take a look at www.strata3d.com , it's a free modeler (I think). I never had a chance to look at it much since it dosn't work with Win95 (98 or higher, bah), but it seems good. Oh and don't mind the "purchase" thing, just go to downloads and get the free version (you can purchase it with manuals and stuff...).

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As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.

-Albert Einstein

Edited by - Tebriel on August 8, 2000 7:05:54 PM

I use Truespace 4 to create objects for my Isometric engine... here''s what I do... create the object or whatever, then open a no perspective front view, then I rotate the object 45 degrees on the Z axis and 30 degrees on the Y axis... this makes perfect objects that fit right into the Isometric map... hope that helps!

Jerec
- CM Software

Not perfect. Axonometric perspectives have no vanishing point. Some renderers allow you to set rendering or camera to paralell/axonometric modes. One that I am certain of is Rhino3D, although it is a poor quality renderer (great NURBS modeler, though). LightWave and 3dsMax likely also have this feature.

Also, check the view angle with a cube if you want an isometric effect. Isometric denotes three sides in view with identical dimensions, and the renderer may manage that with different viewing angles; your perfect cube will touch corners front and rear, top to back, when the proper angle is selected. Sometimes the vertical tilt is difficult to judge by other cues.