How To Export Spore Creatures to Maya using patch 5 cheat

my first render of a spore creature
what do you guys think?

caveman79 wrote:I'm using Python 2.6 and Blender 2.49a, just got both of them the other day. This should help you fix issues with the collada 1.4 import failing to import anything but the skeleton of the creature.

For those of you who still have issues with blender when importing COLLADA 1.4 files. Here's the details on what I was seeing. I'm using the default import scripts that came with Blender 2.49a. If you don't have that version consider getting an update. I can't post the file, because there appears to be a couple dozen related files as well, just go get Blender 2.49a (latest).

Before I made any edits, here was the contents of the console window from blender (it's the first blender app listed in your task bar, the second is the 3D app that does the rendering). When importing COLLADA 1.4, Blender will tell you "Importing failed, check the console for more info". Then you get a second "Error: python script error: check console", accept that and go to the first blender app 'dos prompt' window.

Traceback (most recent call last): File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\cstartup.py", line 681, in ButtonEven t onlyMainScene, applyModifiers) File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py", line 111, in __init__ self.__Import(fileName) File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py", line 118, in __Import documentTranslator.Import(fileName) File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py", line 324, in Import self.sceneGraph.LoadFromCollada(self.colladaDocument.visualScenesLibrary.ite ms, self.colladaDocument.scene) File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py", line 544, in LoadFrom Collada ob = sceneNode.ObjectFromDae(daeNode) File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py", line 1903, in ObjectF romDae dataObject = self.document.controllersLibrary.FindObject(daeInstance, True, newObject) File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py", line 3556, in FindObj ect return self.LoadFromDae(daeInstance, bObject) File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py", line 3750, in LoadFro mDae bMesh = controller.LoadFromDae(daeController, daeInstance, bObject) File "C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blend er\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py", line 989, in LoadFrom Dae bObject.setMatrix(bindShapeMatrix) TypeError: expected matrix object as argument

This is just a callstack from the program execution, if you have some experience programming, you should be able to figure out why it's crashing, fixing it is another story.

script debugging crash course:
The translator.py file has at line 68 "debprn = 0 #..." change it to "debprn = 1 #..." and you can then have the script write the contents of variables.

After this line "bindShapeMatrix = self.document.CalcMatrix(bindShapeMatrix)" I added "if debprn: print 'deb:bindShapeMatrix = ',bindShapeMatrix". The console ouput then reported the Matrix as 'None', which is why you get the script update to skip the 'None' case. The format for printing text is "print '<text string>',variable,'<more text>'", and so on. If you break the script, the import screen will not open up when you select it from the file menu, it won't tell you what you broke though.

Good luck with the bug fixing.

Here's the previous fix

I modified the file "C:\Documents and Settings\<USER>\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts\bpymodules\colladaImEx\translator.py"

around line 986
current code
# Set the bObject to the right place. bindShapeMatrix = daeController.skin.bindShapeMatrix bindShapeMatrix = self.document.CalcMatrix(bindShapeMatrix) bObject.setMatrix(bindShapeMatrix)

replace with this code
# bindShapeMatrix = self.document.CalcMatrix(bindShapeMatrix) # bObject.setMatrix(bindShapeMatrix) if not (bindShapeMatrix is None): bindShapeMatrix = self.document.CalcMatrix(bindShapeMatrix) bObject.setMatrix(bindShapeMatrix)

Hmmm, using that I get a different result in the console error message lol. Anyway, I selected the option, this time, "Only Import Main Scene" and, while I still get the error, at least now a skeletal structure comes up into view.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/30/2009 14:04:41

arastoph wrote:my first render of a spore creature
what do you guys think?

Rockin'! ^_^

Nice looking creature, too.

Victory! (courtesy of Rhedd's guide to setting up the renderer)

Ryuujin: That was in 3ds max, right?

Yep.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 07/30/2009 16:25:54

@ caveman79 [sorry KCDjedi]

i got my sceletons into blender too but i never had to change anything.
heres how i did it
open blender>file>import>COLLADA 1.4(dae.)>(click on the dots / ...) > (choose file and click import)>click "Only Import Main Scene" and "Clear Scene"> Click "Import and close" > wait....wait ...wait and wait and then the sceleton should pop up

sorry for the nub talk

regards

The Nagotiator

@ TheNagotiator: Do we need the plug-in to import the skeleton of our creature?

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 07/30/2009 17:13:03

I actually managed to get this done, using ONLY photoshop cs4 which standard can open DAE files.

Then I saved it as an OBJ file from photoshop cs4.

Then selected a predefined scene in Carrara pro 6, fixed the texturing and voila!

Click here to see a 1208px × 1152px version!

Notice this is my first spore render.

This is the original creature:

Oh this is opening a whole new world for me!

Is it really hard? Do you have to be smart and have some kind of training?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/30/2009 17:34:34

arastoph wrote:

my first render of a spore creature
what do you guys think?

I think you aced that! awesome!

----

kingofpirates wrote:Is it really hard? Do you have to be smart and have some kind of training?

Started to play around with digital images since 1994.

Then I used paint shop pro, nowadays Photoshop and other 3d applications, but I myself have no "training" what so ever, I just well, see a program, start the program, and figure out how to work the program, by playing around with it.

It only cost me some research on the web on the DAE file format.

And you know its actually odd, cause I really did not know what i was doing

but that's how i always approach programs, play around see what stuff does and if it crashes or something well then I should not have done it.

I'm not educated high, but I see a vision in my mind and if I want it to be, then I'll make it to be, cause all creation starts with a single thought in your head.

but if this thing is hard?

Well I'll bet if you never worked in 3D applications before, then perhaps it could be, but remember, Spore is actually a 3d application that does the modeling for you.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/30/2009 17:34:21

double post. can be removed, sorry

This is not hard at all, it may seem confusing at first but a very small step process.

I believe this is my first post. Probably is.

After reading a lot of the information, I was surprised there is no video tutorial about this. I guess that's kind of because there are quite a few programs that people have gotten this to work in.

I use Maya myself, have for the past 5 and a half years, so I am sure as heck excited about this, I giggled like a little girl when I first saw this...

I made a video tutorial in HD on YouTube, but since I use Maya it is only for Maya, but has info on the plug in's and such. I'd like to show it to you guys and see if you like it, since other people are posting their ways, I thought I would to.

Here is the video, remember watch in HD (that is if YouTube has made it HD yet).

(Click video to watch on YouTube)

very nice video

Do you know if the blender plug-in you linked us to works?

@ irlydontknow

ya i think you do since you are importing a COLLADA 1.4a fi8le into blender and you need the plug in or wat ever to export the creature from spore. so in short, yes you need the plugin. =]

regards
nagotiator