Converting .skp (Sketchup) models to SA

[EncryptedReality]

I will show you video and static picture versions of this tutorial for those who couldnt understand it from video.

 

Here is the video:

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the other part.

 

I will explain this in a step-by-step way:

 

 

1. Make your object and make sure its faces are all white. In case they are purple , press "Reverse Faces"

 

And make sure that they are white like this:

 

 

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2. Texture it and extrude!

 

 

In the Material Editor type in the name field (where it usually says Material(number) the real texture's name.

 

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3. Group your object by going to Edit>Make Group!

 

After you have done that Export the object (File->Export->3d Model (as .3ds)

 

Have these settings ticked in Export Options:

 

 

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4. Import the .3ds file you exported from Sketchup to 3ds Max

 

Get Kam's scripts and install them to 3ds max!

 

Import one of NPC's ped meshes into 3ds to downscale your model in right proportion to it. I recommend using sweet.dff for this.

 

After you downscaled it name it (must be same name you used in Sketchup) :

 

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5. Press M to open Material Editor than select the pipette tool and your model afterwards.

Having done that change all color levels to white to avoid prelight problems with player and environment!

 

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6. Export .col and .dff using Kam's DFF and COL Io.

 

For Col do this:

 

 

Names again must be exact same as on skecthup export.

 

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7. Get a TXD Editor tool like TXD Workshop or G-TXD.

 

For all texture resizings and format conversions i use FastStone Photo resizer

 

TXD Workshop recommended.

 

In it press New 32BPP than Image->Add New 2 times.

 

Make sure your picrures (tetures) are of these sizes: 256x256 or 512x512 If they arent there could be a crash and/or instability ingame.

On empty 32 BPP slot click Import and your picture. After that copy its name and paste in properties (double click to open and add it in Name field)

 

Repeat this process for all your other texture you might have!

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8. Get Steve's Col Editor II

 

 

Open your col you made in 3ds with it and Press Edit Button, than press Faces tab and Select All.

 

You should have this:

 

 

Now scroll down until you see a Brightness Slider , when you do move it all the way to the right and save the col.

 

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9. Its time to finally add these files to the game!

 

So let's get to it. Setup G-IMG or IMG-Tool 2.0 and add the files to your gta3.img or any archive your game has in maps folder.

After you have done that make sure to rebuild the archive to avoid file corruption.

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10. And the last step is to place your object on the map! Map Editor 0.32 is the only and best way to do this.

 

After you have run it name your install and browse for your GTA SA folder directory.

 

Than select or add your IDE and in lower part press New!

 

You should get this if you have done all right.

 

 

And last thing to do it make the IPL of it and place it on your desired spot.

NOTE:never have different IPL and IDE selected in the list!

 

Save and Exit!

 

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I know that there are already tutorials on this forum for the same thing but i wanted to recreate it with detail. Hope you understand.

Thats it , i hope you enjoy putting your new ideas into game

 

Here are the links to tools put all in one place to save time:

 

G-IMG

TXD Workshop

MeD 0.32

Col Editor II

Google Sketchup Trial

Autodesk 3ds Max 2011 Trial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[IthinkImbright]

Nice Tutorial... Respect for labor

[Spider-Vice]

Good and easy tutorial but you could try to investigate some col problems and always remember to move your model to the center of the viewport in Sketchup to avoid (more) col bugs, then export.

[madalin2009]

Thank you, GTARandom.

I've imported my model into MTA just to see it's too big and that GTA won't load it.

 

Do any of you have a ped model or something converted to .skp so I can scale my models?

Thank you.