DeleD Community Edition

jwatte · DeleD PRO user Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 513

As I keep modeling more complex scenes, I start running into the fact that DeleD has no LOD support. While it would be great if it automatically generated LODs (with optimal mappings and retained contours :-), I can model them myself for now.

However, there's no way to indicate what models are LODs of each other in the editor. I can see two ways of doing this:

1) Implement LOD as a specific concept within DeleD. Select meshes, press "LOD" and a LOD gizmo gets created for the meshes. The LOD gizmo allows editing of switch levels and perhaps some user-defined properties, as well as removing meshes from the LOD.

2) Implement hierarchy in DeleD, perhaps as an extension of groups (and groups of groups). Let users set properties on the groups. An exporter could then use the convention that a group with user comment "LOD" would be treated as a LOD master, and the child meshes would be separate LOD representations of the same entity. This would be similar to linking meshes to dummy nodes in 3ds Max, which is what most art pipes do for LOD in that tool.

If you implement 1), then a LOD control panel where you can "show only highest LOD" "show only lowest LOD" etc would be nice. Also, "show only LOD N" with an optional checkbox of "or lowest LOD if N lods don't exist."
Also, if the camera could be set to switch LODs when navigating (based on some user-specified multiple of the switch distances in the LOD gizmo) that'd allow for each LOD debugging.

Mr.Fletcher · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:32 am Post subject:

Option 2 would open the doors for a lot more possibilities though. Speaking of copied instances of one object that are rotated and moved to another position, but the basic mesh stays the same. If you want to edit an object, you will edit the original source object and all copies will be changed that way. I guess, lots of more nice features would be possible.
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Jeroen · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:15 am Post subject:

Phew... I see a LOT of work coming from this request... Confused

Seriously though, we have been thinking about LOD a while back (like, 2 years back or so) but have put it in the fridge for the time being. Although LOD is cool and very nice to have, I think implementing hierarchy (groups in groups etc) should be implemented first.

P.s "putting an idea in the fridge"... is that a familair phrase? It is here in the Netherlands. Razz

Daaark · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:50 am Post subject:

Jeroen · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject:

jwatte · DeleD PRO user Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 513

The colloquial term for the 5% of the world who still thinks free gasoline is a god-given right would be "table." As in, "we tabled that idea." I think it comes from old meeting proceedings, where "tabling" something means you put it in a table drawer, to pick it up again some other meeting.

So: Hierarchies, and instances? Sweet!