#manual.

Introduction

Albatross 3D (A3D) is a free 3d Modeler that is easy to use and offers a wide range of advanced tools to "sculpt" 3D geometric meshes.

A3DSculpt is a script for A3D that creates Second life sculpt mappings starting from a proper 3D mesh.

Installation

• Download latest version of Albatross3D from http://ppmodeler.com and install it.
• Download latest verstion of the plugin from http://a3dsculpt.googlecode.com
• Locate the script directory of A3D (something like: "C:\Program Files\Albatross3D\scripts")
• Remove any previous version of the pluging "exportSL..."
• Unzip the plugin into that directory
• Run Albatross 3D
• Ensure that the "Parameters area" on the right side of A3D screen is visible with the menu "Views/Show-Hide parameter area".

Start from a sphere

• Create a sphere from the "Meshes/Base Meshes/Sphere" menu.
• In the "Sphere" box of the parameter area on the right you can select one of the following values for "longitude" and "latitude": 8x7, 16x15, 32x31, 64x63

Start from a cylinder

• Create a cylinder from the "Meshes/Base Meshes/Cylinder" menu.
• In the "Cylider" box of the parameter area on the right you can select one of the following values for "H Sub Div" and "R Sub Div": 7x8, 15x16, 31x32, 63x64
• Top and bottom caps will be ignored by the exporter and can be removed.

Start from a grid

• Create a planar grid from the "Meshes/Base Meshes/Grid" menu.
• In the "Grid" box of the parameter area on the right you can select one of the following values for "SubDiv. x" and "(SubDiv.) y": 7x7, 15x15, 31x31, 63x63

Start from a torus

• Create a torus from the "Meshes/Base Meshes/Torus" menu.
• In the "Torus" box of the parameter area on the right you can select one of the following values for "Sub Div major" and "(Sub Div) minor": 8x2, 16x4, 32x8, 64x16

Modify the mesh

You are only allowed to use tools that do not create or delete any faces or vertices.

Create a sculpt map

Simply choose "File/Export/Export to SL sculpt" from the menu and provide the output file name.

Sculpt maps created by the plugin are 128x128 bmp files that can be directly imported into Second Life.

Note that the model will be centered at the origin. At the moment there's no way to get off-center sculpties.