This had me tearing me hair out for a bit too, then, typically, realised it's really easy, at least at a basic level (tho this may not be the 'right' way to do it :shrug
I just:
Click on camera so it's pink
Then:
Object>Transform>Move on Axis
I used the Global XYZ as they seemed simplest to visualise
Then:
Object>Transform>Rotate on Axis
I used Local XYZ for this as then camera stays in same place
Same applies to moving cars, this was my first attempt at changing the scene (so it's very basic!...and it's that skin you love too...)
Cool program!!
Some of my first tries: the first 2 screens are 7+ hours rendering (V2 scene) with the office pc overnight.
Notice the "bug" on the reflections of the RAC 2 lower front lights (second pic).
Yeah, I don't know it's really a >bug< (nor does it really bother me that much) anyway there is that darker line on the lower end of each light, then its reflection should correspondigly be on the higher part of the (reflected) light, no ??
As for camera setting, here is my short tutorial for easy camera positioning, I use this trick in every Blender project:
first go to Add -> Empty and click button marked by red square
then select camera (it`s have to be pink) and choose from menu 'track to'
now select 'Empty', you have o check what`s it`s name (Empty is default but it can be also Empty.001 Empty.002 and so on) click small button thats marked and check 'OB' field
now select camera again, in OB type Object name of Empty and change buttons to what is on the screen
Effect shold be - camera is always heading to Empty now you can move empty so car is in the middle of view and move camera around
logitekg25 - To change view simply use numpad
1 - front view
3 - side view
7 - top view
5 - turn on/off perspective
2/4/6/8 - rotate the scene
0 - camera view
try first separate the car to another .blend file and then export it
to separate it create new file then go to 'file -> append or link'
choose 'LFS kit.blend' or whatever you named it then choose 'scene' and choose the car you want to have in new .blend file. After that delete the original scene with cube.
oh, and delete everything that`s not a model (lights, cameras etc)
I don`t know if this will help, just an idea
3ds exporter in blender always was sh*t, I tried script written by someone but it could only export models, and whole model had to be one piece (then you will have to add materials and textures in 3ds by yourself)
It's a simple solution on both your problems. If you don't want a transparent background you just select the "RBG" instead of the "RGBA" box. You find it in the same box as you change render size in.
And for the second problem, you should press CTRL+ALT+Numpad 0 but you forgot the ALT which makes you use the selected camera.
Well but I do NOT want the a full background! What I want is to just render the car, no floor, no mirror on the floor - just the car to place it on a photo.
If I use V1 of the blender file there are no mirror effects on the floor, but there is a light grey "floor"... - and text on the tires and side windows look bad.
If I use V2 the render looks great, but the car stands on a white/light grey floor with a mirror effect.
Just delete the floor and set colour of background in 'world' settings (F8)
OR
if you want plain colour but with shadow under the car select the floor than
go to material settings (F5) go to 'Mirror trans' section and unselect 'Ray Mirror' than go back to shaders section and select 'Only shadow'.
I don`t know, maybe it will work without unselecting ray mirror.
To move whole car type 'A' (select all) then 'G' (grab) and that`s it.
To select only one car type 'B' two lines crossing where cursor is should appeal. Now you can select objects like in RTS games
If you want to make render of all cars in one scene check if they have different materials for skin, normally they share one material you just have to change the texture but if you want to render all of them, all of them have to have separate materials. (or if you render them without skins, just plain colour than it`s all right )
1.) Open the blend file (V2)
2.) Select the XFG car (Pic1)
3.) Select only layer one (Pic2)
4.) Press A to select all, them M to move it to an other layer (Pic3)
5.) Press CTRL-L, choose "to sccene..." and select the XRG
But then???? Nothing happens...
What did I miss???
Well I managed it once with 10 tries... but then both cars were in one layer, but I could move one of them in to an other layer... But I can´t reproduce it
OK, moving both cars independent worked well with pokem´s tip, but I was not able to rotate them independently Yes, I selected ONE car and did the U thing... but it did not work.
I guess I need a step to step help and hope someone can help me!
(next step btw. will be to select a own skin for every car of course... a XFG looks quite funny with a XRG skin - lol)
you move everything from one layer to another one, then you try to move the empty layer to another scene?
i think this is the problem you have
so you only vew the first layer, move the complete layer into layer 6 or what ever and then you press CTRL+L and link the first layer to the other scene. but because the first layer is empty, nothing apears in the other scene.
just mark the layer you moved the stuff in and then press ctrl + l
edit, attatchment makes it a bit clearer (i hope)
edit2: the one time you linked the tires into the other scene, you didnt moove it onto another layer first
Hmm... well I guess the manual on post one did not make it clear then:
I still don´t understand point 1 though... but following you description I have to just select layer one, select all (only the car is in layer one) by pressing A, move it to layer whatever - just an empty one - by pressing M.
But then I have to switch to the layer I moved the car too, select it completely by pressing A (if it isn´t still selected yet) and then I have to do the CTRL-L thing.... Hmm can´t remember that it worked as I tried, but will try again if my current render is finished in 3 to 5 hours...
As I said: I managed to copy a different 2nd car into the scene, but I can´t reproduce it But the problem I had there was that I was not able to turn both cars around separately... I was able to move both cars to different positions, but was not able to circle them around. And using different skins (different car types = different skins of course) was the next problem I stand in front of...
However, once my current render is done I try it again and post some screenshots if I discover any problems again...