Tips.txt writed by Cellulo      2012  flat2d.com


Tip 1

To copy a part of object in another rok file,  you must create two new empty documents under hexagreat:

Open the file (with 3d object) in the first document, select the part that you want to copy and past it in the second document.

This method allow to modelling inside different files, by example, a head.rok, a body.rok, hands.rok etc.. 
and after put all together in one file.

WARNING : A copied object can't keep assigned colors in another ROK file document because a new created document have 
this own default colors palette except if the two documents have the same colors palette.


Tip 2

To export in DXF file format, you must open your rok file in the Nekoviewer or 3DACE programs, and choose save or export DXF file in the menu.

Le fichier dxf peut alors être ouvert avec le programme marbleclay, mais il faut retoucher le maillage car certaines faces
sont inversées.

WARNING: The export in DXF format save only the shape of your object, the colors assigned to the faces don't matche anymore once the file is opened in another 3D program.


Tip 3 (template)

To model comfortably from an image (template), it is necessary that the image shows an object or character
to 3/4 view, and you must graying the image with a image editing program like paint.net or gimp,
the image must be neither too small or too large for all the details are clearly visible.


Load an image as a template, once sarting modelling, you need to memorize the view with the keys ( ALT+V ) for stacked the mesh
 on the image and jump to the marked view with the key ( V ) to not having to realign all the time the mesh over the image template at each
movement or rotating.

Tip 4

White dots (vertices) mean that they are points in the 2D plane, they are not yet assumed
into account as 3D points, they need to fix it either manually with the button set points or
rotate with the mouse in the palette view or click the navigation button to turn it transforms
points in black, which means they are in the 3D plane.

Tip 5.

When you begin a new object in 3D Hexagreat, adjust the color of the background with a dark color preference (eg brown) to avoid possible
 tired eyes with the white background by default.

Tip 6

The symmetry works if the points (vertices) are the same number on both sides with respect to the boom of the grid
green represents the axis of symmetry. If the points are placed in sufficient number ced on both sides will be
all aligned with the axis of symmetry where there is the arrow, in some cases it may be wanted, it depends
as the starting model of the object or a character.

Tip 7

Turn on Windows 98 compatibility with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 to loading or modelling
3D objects with many polygons.

Note: Some 3D objects with many polygons slowing during a rotation or movement, it is not your graphics card but to Hexagreat itself has not been optimized to work with many polygons.


Tip 8

The rotation of an object is performed only on objects with their double symmetrical which are remote from the axis of
symmetry (green arrow), an object centered on the axis of symmetry can not have rotation. Apart from the normal rotation of the view.

Tip 9

The View Mode will disable the display of vertices, and have only the lines.


Tip 10

If you move a group of polygons and they become incomprehensible small panes, it's because it's not aligned on the grid points, to disable this feature, you must go to the menu "Model" and "Grid Properties" and uncheck "Align to grid points."

Tip 11

Hexagreat 3D can create faces from minimum  3 vertex (tris) or maximum  4 vertex (quad).

  
Tip 12

Hexagreat 3D can group objects (eg: arms with hands or legs or chest with the whole body) and groups of objects are saved in the ROK file.

Tip 13

Make a 2d shape and create his double on each side, to create 2D shape, it will be on the axis of symmetry, then select it in full, to copy and duplicate this copy
which will create two more copies to be ced on both sides and that will be in symmetric mode.



Tip 14

Once completed your 3D objects, open your ROK file in the free program 3Dace, this program can open the format ROK original 3D Hexagreat respecting your choice of colors
on the sides, keeping the groups of objects that have been made, you can even continue modeling your object because 3Dace retains the symmetry and asymmetry, if your ROK object is loaded under 3Dace in
wire gray, it means that the lines are hidden, you just need to go to the Tools menu and click "Show hidden parts".

Tip 15 (Rendering)

To render your 3D object, there are several ways:

1 - Use nekoviewer that opens the native format of 3D Hexagreat keeping the colors of the faces and asymmetry, you can make a cartoon rendering, smooth polygons, apply an antialiasing all in real time.

2 - Open your ROK file in 3Dace and export your 3D object in 3ds format, once your 3ds file created you can open it in Blender 2.49b, Blender 2.63, Bryce 5.5c, 7, Hexagon Anim8or or another modeler supporting the format 3ds.  
  
3 - you can render your ROK file in html page you must use rokmill (java viewer), users can rotate, zoom etc... in their favorite web explorer.
  

Tip 16

To rotate a 3D element (CTRL + R) with an overview must hold the CTRL key when moving the mouse.

Tip 17

A complete rotation in all directions can be done only on a 3D object without double symetric selected, if you select both parties will be partial rotation, certain axis will be ignored.

Tip 18

To add a vertex on a line, hold the ALT key and click with the left mouse button on a line.

Tip 19

You can create new  3D objects in the program 3Dace and export them to ROK for Hexagreat3D, it is imperative that your object in 3Dace must be created with the mirror mode enabled,
if you export your object format rok without the mirror mode, hexagreat 3D will display a blank scene without any 3D object. The ROK file created by 3Dace can have colored faces and groups like Hexagreat.