How to make User Objects for Universe Sandbox 2?
I've looked all over the Internet for a tutorial, but came up with zero results.
In the "Add" menu of Universe Sandbox 2, there is a button named "User Objects".
This obviously means there is a way to add your own objects into the game. What I don't know however, is how to do this.
There is a tab next to it called "Objects" containing things like a Dice and a Baseball.
How would I go about making my own?
Many thanks.
Solution 1:
Update
After i played around and Finn Rayment did not get it to work, i just started a thread in the Steamcommunity about this and got the following answer from a developer
You can't import external models yet. We'll hopefully add it at some point in the future though.
So my first answer is just for Universe Sanbox 1.
First answer
I can't give you an answer for Universe Sandbox 2 but something similar was available in the first game.
You can add your own textures and even full 3d models, that's what "User Objects" were in the first game. I could explain everything in deep but that would be a lot of text and because of that i'll quote a Q/A of the Universe Sandbox Forum and leave you the link.
- what is a .dds file? how do I create some with my planetary textures? I have Photoshop and Corel draw... do I need another software package?
.dds is a DirectX image format, but you can use bmp, jpg, png, or tga files too. No need to convert it to a .dds file.
- I have 3ds max and Maya for 3d modeling, are these compatible software packages and if yes what file format do I need to export my model(s) for sandbox to "see" them and import them? If these packages are not compatible please recommend a software package that will allow me to create models and import them into sandbox.
Universe Sandbox supports the import of .x files (another DirectX format) and .3ds (a standard 3D format).
- If we hypothesize that one of the above software packages are compatible then is there a limit on what kind of models will Sandbox recon? Do they have to be spheres for suns/planets or can I import i.e a human being and set it on an orbit around Earth?
Yes. You can import any type of 3D model that's in the correct format. To get the correct scaling the model should be 2 units across, so a custom sphere would have a radius of 1. There's room for improvement in the scaling and size options in the interface.
- Assuming I manage to import a model in Sandbox will sandbox allow me to start changing options or do I have to do something else before I am allowed by the program to change any options?
The model will import right away. Try typing 'dice' in the model box to instantly load a dice model.
- Is there a way inside Sandbox to create my own galaxies/stars/planets with or without textures ?
You can create planets and stars, but the options for galaxies is currently very limited. However there is yet no way to save the created object to the icon bar.
- Is there a way to get models and/or textures of galaxies, etc from scientific web sites like NASA, etc? If yes do you know of any such web site url?
Some of the textures and models from this site will be useful: http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/
(The link in 6. is dead)
I hope this helps and good luck with the 3D-Modeling.