Importing 3D models

[Borg Collective]

I want to import some models into Celestia. What is esential to know while doing so (I mean the possible mistakes and error that I should avoid to make it work)?

[Guest]

Models have to be in 3ds format...(you know this?).

[JackHiggins]

Make sure you only have one colour per object in the mesh, you can't colour different faces of an object different colours. Also make sure all the normals are facing -out- so the model doesnt appear inside out...

[Borg Collective]

Here is the Model so you can see what is wrong:

http://www.stuhli.inet.ba/mothership.zip

[Jeam Tag]

Borg wrote:

Here is the Model so you can see what is wrong:

http://www.stuhli.inet.ba/mothership.zip

The naked model works, but don't load textures: it tooks the texture of the nearly objects; i saw it 'painted' with Saturn's ring, or moon's craters!
(or entirely dark, placed in deep space). i've encountered the same problem when i've tried to run different models (3ds models) that i found on the web...and it seems to me (but it's maybe a graphic card problem?) that the fantastic 'Bird of Prey' by Frank Gregorio, in some places, has the same look for a part of his textures?...

I'm really not familiar with 3d modeling, but i'm interessed in fixing this problem for testing many differents objects that i can find, or, later, try to create with Anim8tor...

Jeam Tag

[JackHiggins]

The naked model works, but don't load textures: it tooks the texture of the nearly objects; i saw it 'painted' with Saturn's ring, or moon's craters!
(or entirely dark, placed in deep space). i've encountered the same problem when i've tried to run different models (3ds models) that i found on the web...and it seems to me (but it's maybe a graphic card problem?) that the fantastic 'Bird of Prey' by Frank Gregorio, in some places, has the same look for a part of his textures?...

Don't worry that's not a graphics card problem- that's what happens when a texture is missing or using a format that celestia can't read (like gif) or also if a texture isnt 2x4 or 2x2 size. Try opening up the model with anim8or or another 3d editor to see what type of textures the model is looking for!

[Borg Collective]

I have used 3D Exploration to convert the model from GEO 3D Model type and LIF Texture Type into 3DS with JPG as textures. I opened the Model in 3D Exploration and 3D Max, worked fine in both (with textures on).