Creature Creator v1.51 Userīs manual & Tutorial for Standalone users
## FXRSoftware can be reached at sales@fxrsoft.com or at http://www.fxrsoft.com. Copyright 1998-2001, FXRealm Studios AB. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for users of this manual to make one printed copy for their own personal use. All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
Table of Contents
Getting Started Software License Introduction Installation Authorization
Usage Project Main Prefs Edit Bodyparts
Gallery
Appendix Appendix A - Contacting Us Appendix B - Credits
Chapter One - Getting Started
Welcome to CreatureCreator, FXRealm Studiosī plugin that lets you create characters and creatures easier than ever before. This chapter tells you how to install CreatureCreator and to start using it.
Topics included:
Software License
Introduction
Installation
Authorization
Software License
ATTENTION: PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE INSTALLING THIS PACKAGE. THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY INSTALLING THIS PACKAGE (THE "END-USER") AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE. IF YOU INSTALL THIS PACKAGE AND DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE, DO NOT USE THE SOFTWARE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE PACKAGE UNOPENED AND UNINSTALLED, AND THE LICENSE PRICE WILL BE REFUNDED.
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Introduction
Creature Creator is a modeler plugin, which make the creations of characters like humanoids, aliens, monsters, bugs etc. very easy. It allows you to make new unique characters in a matter of minutes. It ships with a library of body parts for photorealistic characters, cartoon characters, fantasy and scifi characters. These can be combined in numerous ways and tweaked in enledss ways, and therefore no Creature Creator character looks the same. This library can be extended by adding library addons in the future. Check our website for updates.
Installation
The installation of CreatureCreator is simple. After you have inserted the Creature Creator CD into your computer, locate the setup.exe-file on the CD and doubleclick on it. Creature Creator then begins to install.
Authorization
How to receive your Authorization Code*
The first time you run the plugin it will ask you for your registration code. You obtain this code directly from us by supplying your System ID number when you are registering Creature Creator. The System ID is based on your MAX dongleīs serial number and is a unique number for your system. The fastest way to register and receive your registration code is to fill out the registration form online at our website: http://www.fxrealm.com. After authorization the protection is transparent. You will not see the requester again unless you completely reinstall MAX. *If you received your startcode with the software, insert that code and you will be started.
Chapter Two - Usage of Creature Creator
This chapter describes how all the diffrent functions in Creature Creator works. Use it as a reference guide.
Topics included:
Project
Main
Prefs
Edit Bodyparts
Project
New Project: Choose a new project type, at the moment only humanoid like characters is supported. Different project types will appear in the future for new combinations of body parts, 4-6 legged creatures etc.
Load Project: Load one of your saved projects.
Save Project: Save the current project with all its settings.
Save Creature: Save the current model in *.3ds-format.
Tips: The way of using this program is together with other 3d-software. Make the raw-model in Creature Creature, save creature, and continue your work with animating, modification or optimising the model inside your favorite 3d-software.
OpenGL view
Zoom Slider: Use this slider to zoom in and out.
Mode: Chooses between Wireframe, Solid and Smoothed OpenGL. Tip: Use left mouse button to rotate the OpenGL view and the right button to move the view.
Main
Building your character
Drop down menus: Build your character by choosing body parts from the drop down menus, or walk through the parts by using the left and right arrow buttons next to them. The first object you choose will be the creature´s pivot point.
Random Creature: This new cool feature randomly selects body parts to create the most weird creatures. Really fun to play with, and makes a good start in seconds.
Clear Creature: Clears the current creature from all your choosed body parts.
Tips:
Remember to often save your project, if you would like to edit any body parts afterwards. When you are satisfied with the character you have built and exported it to a modeler it is recommended that you either uses nurb object or a function like the meshsmooth in MAX. We prefer meshsmooth with a value of 2 and finally triple all polygons. If weīre going to animate the model we keep the original model for keyframing, then we replace it later for the final animations.
Prefs
Object Directory: This is the path to where Creature Creator should look for its objects. You have to go all the way to the human directory for a correct path. Example: C:\Program\FXRealm Studios\Creature Creator 1.5\FXRealm\CreatureCreator\Objects\Human
Project Directory: This is the path where Creature Creator should look for its projects. You have to go all the way to the human directory for a correct path. Example: C:\Program\FXRealm Studios\Creature Creator 1.5\FXRealm\CreatureCreator\Projects\Human All preference settings will be saved automatically when you exit Creature Creator.
Background Color: Sets the color of the OpenGL window.
Wireframe Color: Sets the color for the wireframe models.
Tips: When changing the paths, you have to exit and start the plugin again for the change to take effect. You can create own directories beside the "human" if you want your own object libraries organized separately.
Edit Body Parts
In the picture above the noes has been resized to make him look fatter. In this fashion you can edit any body part to make your own special look of the object. Object Part: Choose the body part you want to modify.
Lock: Decides what end of the object you want to remain settled while sizing. If you for instance are building a muscle on the arm, you want to lock the Negative Y-Axis and then start modifying.
Value: Here you can enter the value of your deformation, you can also change this value with the adjust slider.
Slider Step: This setting determines how much the value should change when you drag the adjust slider.
Adjust: Drag the adjust slider to modify the apparence of the body part.
Tip: The best way to figure out how it works, is to take just one object and play around.
Here are two examples of what "scrabbling around" with the "Edit body parts" can do to your objects. These tools can be very useful and save time (compared to do it in a modeler), and they add some personal touch.
Chapter Three - Gallery
This chapter shows some examples that have been made in Creature Creator and then textured and rendered out.
Appendix
This chapter contains the different appendices included in the Creature Creator manual.
Topics included:
Appendix A - Contacting Us Appendix B - Credits
Contacting Us
If you run into problems and need support with Creature Creator, you can contact us on any of the ways below. E-mail is the fastest and easiest way to get support.
You can also contact us if you have suggestions for improvements or new features. Internet: http://www.fxrsoft.com E-mail: sales@fxrsoft.com Telefax: +46-(0)8 56463221 Adress: FXRealm Studios AB Voltavägen 2-4 168 69 Bromma, Sweden
Credits
The persons responsible for Creature Creator.
Programming: Daniel Collin Additional Programming: Martin Enlund Object Modelling: Michael Palm Testing: Johan Steén Michael Palm Documentation: Johan Steén Michael Palm Mats Barrdunge Project Supervisor: Daniel Collin Thanks to our betatesters and to you who have has bought this plugin and by that supported our business, therfore we can continue making more cool plugins.