Animated HQ Datapads

[LORD SPARTAN 15]

It was an idea I had many years ago. Never found the time to go through the concept. Then Lucas forums closed. But now I have some to wrestle this. Since 2023, everything is in HD, 4K, AI Upscaled. So I thought, why not make a new texture for the datapad for the Dantooine cutscene.  

I've redone the texture of both datapads models (regular and with severed arm). I tried to upscale the textures with some success. Now I don't have a working 3DS Max license nor the will to re-learn the tools of Blender 3D. So I didn't unwrap the UV Mapping to see where everything goes. But it a start. I was inspired by this concept.

I also plane to add animations choices for the display screen. I will also rework the texture of the datapad on the severed arm. My broken screen don't real shows and I want to add some random damages on the metal. It surely had been dropped on the floor, if the arm was ripped off or something in this line of idea.

Here are the results

Addendum... DarthParametric has answered a call to aid here, by remaking the severed arm model and by providing me the UV Mapping images of both datapads models. I'm adding his great contribution to this project as stipulated in the request.

 

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[LORD SPARTAN 15]

Small Update

I've made a concept for the screen. Since I'm not that talented in painting. I've use some of my texture to build this small animation of the broken screen. Right now making a broken glass is beyond my skills. It look like white paint in the screen. So I opted to static with a VCR like noise.

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Here is a lame render in Model Viewer. If someone knows how to change the axis in the view. Let me know.

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[DarthParametric 3,615]

There are a bunch of broken glass/screen textures available. I recall in the past also having a PS brush preset for it. You should be able to find something suitable under one of the Creative Common licenses (for example). And of course these days there's always the "AI" route to generate your own from scratch (for example here or here). Here are handful of AI ones I got with some quick messing around:

AI_Glass_Images.zip

People more familiar with that sort of thing could no doubt produce some better quality images, but I don't think you need anything crazy for a tiny datapad screen, especially since it's only going to be a semi-transparent overlay.

As to the model viewer, I have never used it, but assuming it doesn't have a readme explaining it I would probably take 3DS Max controls as a good starting point to test.

[LORD SPARTAN 15]

10 hours ago, DarthParametric said:

There are a bunch of broken glass/screen textures available. I recall in the past also having a PS brush preset for it. You should be able to find something suitable under one of the Creative Common licenses (for example). And of course these days there's always the "AI" route to generate your own from scratch (for example here or here). Here are handful of AI ones I got with some quick messing around:

AI_Glass_Images.zip 5.12 MB · 0 downloads

People more familiar with that sort of thing could no doubt produce some better quality images, but I don't think you need anything crazy for a tiny datapad screen, especially since it's only going to be a semi-transparent overlay.

As to the model viewer, I have never used it, but assuming it doesn't have a readme explaining it I would probably take 3DS Max controls as a good starting point to test.

I will look at this. I'm not sure how this works. But I'll definitely try it. One thing was sure. I'm playing in 1440p and under 1024 pixels the crack screen don't really shows. It looks more like a bird poop or splashes of white paint. That's why I've chose to make the animation more bugged like they do in movies with smashed tech. But your new made from scratch model might be the fix for the animation. It could be more clear and the overlay might show more.

[DarthParametric 3,615]

17 hours ago, LORD SPARTAN said:

I'm playing in 1440p and under 1024 pixels the crack screen don't really shows.

Yeah to be honest unless you are planning on adding a cutscene where the player picks up the datapad so that you get a good look at it close up, it's probably just too much noise for such a small object.

Edit: If you really want to add the broken screen, one option would be to add an additional floating mesh above the screen that has its own texture that you could use for the broken glass effect. Breaking it out separately from the animated screen texture might help it via more pixel density.

[LORD SPARTAN 15]

23 hours ago, DarthParametric said:

Yeah to be honest unless you are planning on adding a cutscene where the player picks up the datapad so that you get a good look at it close up, it's probably just too much noise for such a small object.

Adding datapads on desks at some key points in the game was in my plans. But right now I trying to fix something in my txi file. I'm doing some tests. I'm also trying to make a good looking texture for your model. It's very high in details and I want to give the proper work to honor your model.

23 hours ago, DarthParametric said:

Edit: If you really want to add the broken screen, one option would be to add an additional floating mesh above the screen that has its own texture that you could use for the broken glass effect. Breaking it out separately from the animated screen texture might help it via more pixel density.

At that point I might give up on a broken screen. The model is beautiful as it is and I don't want to ask for more since you've already gave so much. I'll try to make the animation look like it's bugged and in a loop. Adding static and some swirls lines to add some effect. I also said I will try to give the players some animations options. So I'll work on this for the week-end 

[Sith Holocron 2,384]

Would the data pad as seen in the Jedi Enclave be using a different texture that isn't glitched?

I am impressed at the work by all involved so far! I've been working around screens for years and I am glad there's one that I won't have to tackle.

[LORD SPARTAN 15]

10 minutes ago, Sith Holocron said:

Would the data pad as seen in the Jedi Enclave be using a different texture that isn't glitched?

I am impressed at the work by all involved so far! I've been working around screens for years and I am glad there's one that I won't have to tackle.

Yes there will be two different animation for the datapads. In fact, the default models already use different textures. But now with the great work of DarthParametric, not only the datapads will have different textures. But they will also have a HQ model and higher resolution screens. 

[DarthParametric 3,615]

1 hour ago, LORD SPARTAN said:

The model is beautiful as it is and I don't want to ask for more since you've already gave so much.

It's really not a big deal. It's like a 5 minute job. Duplicate the screen mesh, raise it up a couple of mm, assign it a unique texture, export the ASCII, compile to binary model.

[LORD SPARTAN 15]

On 9/22/2023 at 1:37 AM, DarthParametric said:

It's really not a big deal. It's like a 5 minute job. Duplicate the screen mesh, raise it up a couple of mm, assign it a unique texture, export the ASCII, compile to binary model.

I saw the updated model. I really appreciate all the work you did for this project. I just hope my texture work will be rendering your model as good it's looking right now. I'll post an update as soon my back let me sit for more than 15 minutes.