PMD Editor *WIP Page*
This section isn't really a picture tutorial, but rather a conceptual tutorial. You could also consider it a Tips page if I'm not literally showing you what to do. I may seem a bit sarcastic but try and overlook that.
You can find the PMD download over in the main page of MMD.
I recommend using the Limited English Translation version because I'll be referring to that.
- Basics -
Basic ideas of PMD is hard unless I start with the literal terms and definitions, like if I spoke to you in Chinese, you wouldn't have a clue where to start unless you know the vocabulary I use..
Things you will need to know is what is a vertices which is what the model is composed of. 3 vertices can make a surface, just like three points can make a surface. Anything you edit with PMD (mostly visual editing) will be just rearranging vertices unless you make your own with another program.
I'd highly recommend you knowing the basic to any 3D animation program/maker than just trying this cold turkey.
-Open PMD View-
Across the very top of PMD, go to the option called view, then first option on the scroll down, that's the PMD view.
That allows you to see what the model looks like.
That's like driving blind if you don't know how to open this, but I think everyone will find this.
-Start with coloring and change in color-
Ok the first quetion people will ask is... "How do I make my own model??"
I just don't know where to start with that explanation... People ask that don't mean to make me angry with that question but they do because it's like asking... How do I do all those spiny jumps and spins in ice skating when they don't even know how to stand on skates.^^;
The first thing people should do if they are using PMD as a beginner is to mess with changing the hair colors or outfit colors. One of the top, horizontal Tabs is called Material or MA. There is should give you a list of the layers and basically their layer color.
By looking to the right of the layers, you should see three vertical boxes with colors in it. You change colors with that. Over to the right of the boxes, the first top box is the transparency box. You can make things transparent by giving a number less than 1. For example: ".98" Any numbers lower than .5 or so are not visually helpful.
-Then start with texture-
You're probably getting tired of this going, "When can I start making my model??" but you have to handle at least basic coloring. Like a child, before they know how to draw things (well) they color in color books first.
After basic colors, you should be thinking about using textures as well. Many type of files can be used like png ,jpg, bmp, tga, etc.
The first box towards the bottom of the MA page should be an empty box, or a box with a name of a file already there. All files you want to use/textures MUST be present in the same folder where you saved OR the directory name must also determine where the file is. For example, "Blue.png" or "textures\blue.bmp" But even then, the textures folder must be in the same folder as the model.
I best recommend a short name because PMD has glitches.
The box below the texture name box is the spa box. Spa is a bit hard to describe but it's somewhat like the shine/visual surface look. You can find spas on Deviantart or you can make your own. It works like texture where you need it in a spa form or sph, etc. (I'll recheck on what the second one is), NOT a regular file form like png.
-Separate Material -
This area is technically, how you 'make' not really make, but rearrange vertices/delete vertices.
To view your layers, you must go to 'View' that's on your PMD View.
Fourth Option called Vert/Material is your layers. Open that.
When the little box comes up first thing first, make only selected layers visible, so go to the 'Edit' tab in the little box and click the last option.
You will select with your cursor or mouse the vertices/ or 'parts' you want to separate from the layer.
Keep in mind, I recommend before you separate to move the vertices a bit to see which vertices you selected and then hit, ctrl + z to undo the movement.
If you are certain, then you can separate. Reason why I'm warning you is because the more layers or vertices in model, the more of a chance PMD will glitch up and that includes merging layers as well.
You can find the PMD download over in the main page of MMD.
I recommend using the Limited English Translation version because I'll be referring to that.
- Basics -
Basic ideas of PMD is hard unless I start with the literal terms and definitions, like if I spoke to you in Chinese, you wouldn't have a clue where to start unless you know the vocabulary I use..
Things you will need to know is what is a vertices which is what the model is composed of. 3 vertices can make a surface, just like three points can make a surface. Anything you edit with PMD (mostly visual editing) will be just rearranging vertices unless you make your own with another program.
I'd highly recommend you knowing the basic to any 3D animation program/maker than just trying this cold turkey.
-Open PMD View-
Across the very top of PMD, go to the option called view, then first option on the scroll down, that's the PMD view.
That allows you to see what the model looks like.
That's like driving blind if you don't know how to open this, but I think everyone will find this.
-Start with coloring and change in color-
Ok the first quetion people will ask is... "How do I make my own model??"
I just don't know where to start with that explanation... People ask that don't mean to make me angry with that question but they do because it's like asking... How do I do all those spiny jumps and spins in ice skating when they don't even know how to stand on skates.^^;
The first thing people should do if they are using PMD as a beginner is to mess with changing the hair colors or outfit colors. One of the top, horizontal Tabs is called Material or MA. There is should give you a list of the layers and basically their layer color.
By looking to the right of the layers, you should see three vertical boxes with colors in it. You change colors with that. Over to the right of the boxes, the first top box is the transparency box. You can make things transparent by giving a number less than 1. For example: ".98" Any numbers lower than .5 or so are not visually helpful.
-Then start with texture-
You're probably getting tired of this going, "When can I start making my model??" but you have to handle at least basic coloring. Like a child, before they know how to draw things (well) they color in color books first.
After basic colors, you should be thinking about using textures as well. Many type of files can be used like png ,jpg, bmp, tga, etc.
The first box towards the bottom of the MA page should be an empty box, or a box with a name of a file already there. All files you want to use/textures MUST be present in the same folder where you saved OR the directory name must also determine where the file is. For example, "Blue.png" or "textures\blue.bmp" But even then, the textures folder must be in the same folder as the model.
I best recommend a short name because PMD has glitches.
The box below the texture name box is the spa box. Spa is a bit hard to describe but it's somewhat like the shine/visual surface look. You can find spas on Deviantart or you can make your own. It works like texture where you need it in a spa form or sph, etc. (I'll recheck on what the second one is), NOT a regular file form like png.
-Separate Material -
This area is technically, how you 'make' not really make, but rearrange vertices/delete vertices.
To view your layers, you must go to 'View' that's on your PMD View.
Fourth Option called Vert/Material is your layers. Open that.
When the little box comes up first thing first, make only selected layers visible, so go to the 'Edit' tab in the little box and click the last option.
You will select with your cursor or mouse the vertices/ or 'parts' you want to separate from the layer.
Keep in mind, I recommend before you separate to move the vertices a bit to see which vertices you selected and then hit, ctrl + z to undo the movement.
If you are certain, then you can separate. Reason why I'm warning you is because the more layers or vertices in model, the more of a chance PMD will glitch up and that includes merging layers as well.