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3d Studio Max Alpha Number And

Backlit Alpha Number Tutorial

In this tutorial you will learn how to illuminate the numbers on a numberboard for a locomotive and create transparent windows.

Note. To complete this tutorial you will need to have available a model that has already been textured and has an unwrap UVW modifier applied to it. You can get the demonstration files here.

Backlit Alpha Numbers

When I created the textures for the numbers I used a number that represented the actual size of the numbers that I wanted displayed on the numberboard. That way I could see how the numbers would look and check the alignment before I exported the mesh.

Number 1 is digit_3.tga
Number 2 is digit_4.tga
Number 3 is digit_5.tga
Number 4 is digit_6.tga

The digit_x.tga's are never used within Trainz but for TRS2004 you will need to include them in the package as missing textures can cause problems on some systems. Once you have all the mesh and mapping complete you can then export the mesh.

3. Alpha number files

Now you need to create the actual alphanumbers. These can be any size as long as they match the digi_x.tga's size. For example if you have 32 x 32 pixel tga digits on the cab side and 16 x 16 pixel tga digits on the numberboards then the alphanumbers will need to match these dimensions. For each different alpha number set you will need ten alpha numbers 0 - 9. For example if you have three different number sets on the locomotive then you will need thirty alphanumbers. 0 - 9 for each different size or color. The alpha numbers will need an alpha channel so that they blend in with the surrounding textures on the locomotive.

The alpha numbers need to be located in the correct directory. If your asset-filename is tutorial then the folder for the alpha numbers needs to be called tutorial_alpha_numbers.

4. Config entries

The final task required to get the alpha number setup to work is to edit the config.txt file.You will need to add the following to the config file

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1. Planes

The first thing that you need to do is create a plane 1 segment x 1 segment with a small 5mm wide lip all around the edge as shown in figure 1. To do this I used another plane 5mm wide and 200mm long with four length segments. I then converted it to editable mesh and used vertex move to position it in the correct location. Make sure the visible face of the plane is facing outwards also make sure that you weld the vertixes when you have the plane in location. This helps prevent the light from whowing through. Repeat the procedure for all the alpha numbers on the numberboard.

Figure 1 Alpha number showing outside lip

2. Number cutout

The next thing you need to do is cutout an area the size of the number planes from the actual numberboard. To do this I created a box the size of the (In this case) four numbers and placed it in location with the numberboard. I then selected the numberboard and then added a Boolean to the object. Make sure you set the "Operation" to "Cut" as I have found this is the only method that does not remove any faces on less complex objects. Select the "Pick Operand B" and select the new box. There should now be a new line on the numberboard. Convert the numberboard to editable mesh and then select polygon and the centre area should be hilighted, if it isn't then you will need to select it. Once you have it hi-lighted press the delete button to delete the polygons.

3. Lights

Now that we have the cutout in the numbeboard and all the lips installed we need to add a light to the numberboard. Once again a plane is used for this purpose. Create a plane one length segment x one width segment the size of the coutout and move it to the rear of the lip on the numberboard. (You will need to rotate it)

4. Light texturing

Once you have all the meshes edited and located correctly we need to texture the numbers and the light. To texture the light we need to setup a reflective texture. Using the textures included in the demonstation files add them to a material editor globe using the settings as shown in figure 4. This will give us a light or reflective texture. Drag the texture to the light and add an Unwrap UVW to the stack for the light.

5. Alpha number digit textures and mapping

Once you have the light textured then we can add the textures to the alpha numbers planes. You will need to create suitable sized digit textures for each number you have on the locomotive. In this example I have used 32 x32 pixel tga images. For example if you have six numbers then you will need to have digit_1.tga to digit_6.tga. If you have more than one set of numbers on the locomotive that are not identicle then you will need to have digit_1a.tga to digit_6a.tga for the first set and digit_1b.tga to digit_6b.tga for the second set etc.
Unless each number set is different then you don't need to have a different number for each numberboard. For example the two sets on the front of the locomotive can use the same alpha number and the numbers on the sides of the cab can use another. The maximum running numbers available in Trainz is six form digit_1.tga to digit_6.tga but if you only have four numbers you will only need digit_3.tga to digit_6.tga.

When I created the textures for the numbers I used a number that represented the actual size of the numbers that I wanted diplayed on the numberboard.That way I could see how the numbers would look and check the alignment before I exported the mesh.

Number 1 is digit_3.tga
Number 2 is digit_4.tga
Number 3 is digit_5.tga
Number 4 is digit_6.tga

The digit_x,tga's are never used within Trainz but for TRS2004 you will need to include them in the package as missing textures can cause problems on some systems. Once you have all the mesh and mapping complete you can then export the mesh.

5. Alpha number files

Now you need to create the actual alphanumbers. These can be any size as long as they match the digi_x.tga's size. For example if you have 32 x 32 pixel tga digits on the cab side and only 16 x 16 pixel tga digits on the numberboards then the alphanumbers will need to match these dimensions. For each different alpha number set you will need ten alpha numbers 0 - 9. For example if you have three different numbers on the locomotive then you will need thirty alphanumbers. 0 - 9 for each different size or color. The alpha numbers will need an alpha channel showning the area that you want lit up. For the numbers above it is the actual numbers that are lit up therfore the black area of the alpha channel will be the same as the numbers however if you want the area around the numbers to be lit up then the white area of the alpha channel will be the same as the numbers.

6. Config entries

The final task required to get the alpha number setup to work is to edit the config.txt file.You will need to add the following to the config file

7. Conclusion

Although this method adds a few extra polygons to the mesh I think that it is worth it to be able to select your own running number from within surveyor. This method also allows you to only have one version instead of several for each running number you require.

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