signtutorial

Simple Sign Tutorial

We will start with making a simple box. So go ahead and click "box" and then scroll down to where you see "creation method". Click on "cube". Then go to the top view and make a box.

The next thing we will do is change the dimensions of the box. Where you see "Parameters" is where you'll change the dimensions. If you look at the picture below, you will see the sizes I have chosen.

In the lower right hand corner of GMAX, you will see these selections. Rest your mouse on these boxes until you find the "zoom extents all" button. Click on that. (NOTE: You might have to click it more than once depending on how much GMAX zooms in the first time.)

With your box still highlighted, we will now place a texture on it. Click on the "Material Editor" (as seen below).

Next, click on "New"

Next, click on the little box to the right of "Diffuse"

Next, click on "Standard" and click "OK"

Next, click on "Bitmap" and click "OK"

Next, "browse" to where you have the texture located and choose the texture.

(I will use the texture I have named as dirty aluminum 4. You can use whatever texture you prefer.)
Next, click on the blue and white checkered box as seen below and then click "Apply".

Now that we have applied a base texture, we will now modify the box. Click on the "Modify" tab.

Next, click on "Edit Mesh".

After you click on the "Edit Mesh" tab, click the little "plus" and then click on "Polygon". You may have to scroll down the box a bit to see it. Once you have selected "Polygon", go to your "Perspective" view and select the front of the box. It will be highlighted in red as you can see in the top, front and side views. Once you have the front of the box selected, repeat the steps to find the road sign texture and apply it to the box.

Now that you have applied the road sign texture, go to your "Side view" and select the faces you dont want. If you look at the pictute below, you will see the "cross" selector tool. Choose this side and it will turn red.

You will need toscroll down to get to the "delete face" area. When you move your mouse over this area, your cursor will either stay as a pointer or turn into a hand. You can use either to scroll down. I will use the pointer. You will have to put it on the blue line and left click and hold. Then move your mouse down.

In the next picture you will see the little hand. To the direct right, you will see that it says, 2 Faces Selected. Below that you will see the "Delete" button. Click it.

After you have deleted the 2 sides and the top and bottom faces, go back up to where you see the "Edit Mesh". Below that you will see "Box.

Select "Box" and you will get a window that looks like this.

CLICK YES

Next, you will need to highlight the "Length" box. Type in 0 and hit your "Enter" key.

Once you have changed the legth to 0, you then need to go up to the "Create" tab and click it.

Next, you will click on the "Select and move" tool.

At the bottom of your screen, you will see the coordinates boxes. (NOTE: I have highlighted the X coordinate in case you aren't sure where to look. You should put 0 in the X, Y and Z coordinate boxes.

You will see in your viewports that the box has moved to the center or direct 0 position. You can now repeat these steps to make a post. I made a box with dimensions of Length = 2", Width = 2" and Heigth = 7 ft. Repeat the steps to center it at direct 0. You can then pick the sign and move it to the desired position.

Here you have a finished sign.

You can now select your "Perspective" viewport and deslect everything. Once you have everything de-selected, you can now export the model into Trainz.

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