LE OBJ to NIF, 3DWINGS to BLENDER

[stormshallow]

Hello,

I'm trying to create a crown NIF in BLENDER from an OBJ that I made in 3DWINGS

(the reason for using 3DWINGS is that it is one of the simplest 3d modeling tools)

(3DWINGS can also export in 3DS, and several other common formats)

 

I'm trying to convert the OBJ mesh to a NIF instead of just editing the NIF like I have done before via Blender 2.49b. (I have all the tools and tutorials to do that).

 

If someone could make, or point me to, a tutorial that can walk through how a NIF is actually constructed, or how to convert an OBJ to a NIF in BLENDER, and or NIFSKOPE, I'm sure that everyone on the NEXUS would be grateful.

 

Perhaps this cannot be done on Blender, I don't know, but I assume that since I can make it a hand held object and a Static object, that it can also be made into a wearable crown. My question is how?

 

-stormshallow

[Tamira]

You can import a 3ds file into Nifskope.

Open a vanilla nif, preferrably simply structured, I suggest to use the farmbannerpost01 for this. Remove the rope so that only 2 NiTriShapes remain. One you need to import your 3ds, the other keep for size measure.

Click on one of the NiTriShapes --> go to File --> import 3ds --> choose your 3ds file and the old NiTriShape will be replaced by your mesh. You will probably have to resize your mesh, enlarge it 10 x or the like, compare it to the remaining part of the farmbannerpost, which can now be deleted.

The imported NiTriShape will have the BSLightingShaderProperty of the farmbannerpost, retexture it to your needs.

If you have a 3ds file with more than 1 NiTriShape, only one will have UV informations. In this case you have to export each NiTriShape separately as 3ds and import separately into an existing nif.

 

Your crown as nif:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/39n8gd6i5ae3mw0/Crown01.nif?dl=0

[stormshallow]

Yes, this is the way that we make it into a Static object.

I guess it should be step 2 after making the object in 3DWINGS.

Next we open this file, that we have made, and the vanilla CircletM1.nif and "copy branch" and then "paste branch" (the NiTriShape) to the NiNode of CircletM1.nif .

At this point the question becomes, How do we create the BSDismemberSkinInstance? (Because if we don't it will be at our feet instead of on our head)

If we copy and paste it from M1:4 or M1:5 we end up with a wrecked mesh so I assume that we have to start from scratch.

Edited December 2, 2014 by stormshallow

[stormshallow]

At this point (after loading in the NiTriShape and saving as a new nif) it is best to re size and position in BLENDER but we have to make it compatible = before we exit NIFSKOPE we need to go to NiHeader down in the Block Details (you may need to save &/or reload to see it at the top of the list) and change the User Version from 12 to 11 and the User Version 2 from 83 to 34. Next delete all BSLightingShaderProperty files and save as a new nif.

Now we can open in BLENDER 2.49b (with nif plugins).

Re size and position

in Editing Mode:

Delete BP_TORSO

New, rename to BP_TORSO, Assign

add New Material, Assign

Shading (F5) Texture (F6)

Add New TE (texture) type "Image" hit Enter

go to Material and under Map Imput choose UV

Export as 3DS again as a new file.

Exit BLENDER and enter NIFSKOPE.

Open the vanilla Circletm1.nif again and import the new 3ds file into the NiNode. Resize the NiTriShape in Block Details under Scale from 1.0000 to 10.0000. Copy Branch the BSLightingShaderProperty from the Static NIF to the NiTriShape. Save as a new NIF.

Now the file is in place.

But we still need to know what to do about the BSDismemberSkinInstance. Otherwise the object will not be connected to the character's head.

 

Does this make sense?

Am I doing anything wrong?

Edited December 3, 2014 by stormshallow

[stormshallow]

I've tried putting the BSDismemberSkinInstance in manually via NIFSKOPE but then it will not open in BLENDER to add the weights. :( can anyone advise? Is there a way to add the BSDismemberSkinInstance manually in Blender? I want to learn this but if it is impossible in BLENDER then could someone just do it for me in 3DS MAX? Or is there some other way? Any help would be appreciated. :) Thanks in advance.

[RGMage2]

Hello :smile:, Let’s start at the beginning. You can import an object file directly into blender, no nifskope or 3ds required.

In Blender 2.49b

In the import menu, 2nd from the bottom is Wavefront (obj), select that to import your object file.

Your file imported with 2 material properties, I deleted them both and gave it a new material property mapped to uv and image texture path, though I probably didn’t need to do that since we will delete them again after exporting.

In edit mode W Key to remove doubles (not always necessary but this mesh had double verts and that is probably why it had 2 material properties)

Import a circlet into blender

In edit mode reposition and scale your object to match the circlet, scale x to get the oval shape.

With the circlet selected, change panels to edit and see Vertex groups. You will note that the circlet has 2 vertex groups, NPC_Head and BP_TORSO. Do not delete BP_TORSO, (you have probably read elsewhere that you need to delete it but in this case it is not necessary) it is just fine the way it is. When you imported the circlet, blender did not recognize SBP_42_CIRCLET so it renamed it to BP_TORSO because that is the first in the list..

In object mode select the crown and then SHIFT SELECT the circlet. In Object menu scripts select bone weight copy and set quality 2 and OK, this will copy vertex groups to the crown.

Delete the circlet and its jewels but do not delete the circlet’s skeleton.

Parent the crown to the skeleton, select crown, SHIFT SELECT skeleton and Ctrl-p armature and don’t create groups.

Select crown and in panels edit set smooth

The only problem left is the uv map which I think needs some work.

You can now export your nif from blender

A Key to select all and export to nif

Export settings = Fallout 3 but you need to make some changes
Export Geometry + Animation
No reason to force DDS Extension, you can unselect that but doesn’t matter
Do not stripify geometries
Do not stitch strips
Do not flatten skin
Export skin partition, yes do that

Good to go, export now.

In Nifskope

With crown loaded in nifskope open header. If you can’t see the header hit F2 and block list will disappear but header will be visible in block details, Change user versions by double left clicking on values.
User version should = 12
User version 2 should = 83

Save nif and reopen.

Everything you need to delete should now be at the bottom of the Block list,
NiMaterialProperty
NispecularProperty
NiStencilProperty
BSShaderPPLightingProperty (branch)
Delete these (Block Remove and Block Remove Branch) so all you are left with is the 0NiNode.

In Block list open 0NiNode, open NiTriShape and select BSDismemberSkinInstance

In block details open partitions 2 levels to show Body Part BSDismemberBodyPartType.

Double left click on BP_TORSO and change to SBP_42_CIRCLET (highlight and type in 42 will work)

In a new nifskope window open one of the circlet nifs (circlet3 has the gold texture)
Circlet3 has 3 NiTriShapes, 2NiTriShape is the gold band. Open 2NiTriShape and select BSLightingShaderProperty and right click block copy branch.

Go back to nifskope window containing the crown. Select 1NiTriShape and right click block paste branch. The BSLightingShaderProperty branch should now be in the 1NiTriShape branch.

Save nif and add in creation kit. Be sure that both Armor and ArmorAddon are set to use SBP_42_CIRCLET.

 

http://static-1.nexusmods.com/15/images/110/410373-1417845477.jpg

[stormshallow]

Thank you very very much RGMage2

I new that this was possible.

I literally worked all day on this crown for like 3 days, following tutorial after tutorial and never got this made. Then you provided this quick and easy to understand tutorial and I was able to get it done and into my mod in 2 hours, (textures and all).