User:StarGeek/Demo editing notes

Demo editing notes

Just some notes on demo editing. This is how I take screen shots now.

0   0   Version 2
0   0   Map ''Name of map''
0   0   Time 10
0   CAM POS ''Camera XZY''
0   CAM PYR .25 ''Facing'' 0
0   1 NEW "Name of Target"                
0   1 NPC ''Model''    
0   1 POS ''Model XZY''
0   1 PYR 0 ''Facing'' 0                   
0   1 MOV ''Model action''                     
0   2 Player
0   2 NEW Dummy_Player
0   2 NPC Pet_NoCollision
0   2 POS ''Camera XZY''
0   2 PYR 0 0 0
30000 CAM POS ''Camera XZY''
0   CAM PYR 0 ''Facing'' 0

When I find something I want to get a screen shot of, I get just close enough to be able to see it (if it's dangerous) and I take a quick demo of it. I use a bind which I think I stole from Tony:

/bind <key>  "beginchat /demorecord "

When you hit the bind key, it sets up the /demorecord command, and I just type in unique name. After a second, I have a demostop bind set to shift+the same key I used to start the demorecord with.

Next, I load up the demo file in a text editor like notepad (I've become partial to Crimson Editor) as well as the above text. First, I replace the Name of Map with the map name from the new demo file (should be the second line, it'll have the same Map command). Then I find the NPC I'm looking to take a screen shot of. I replace Name of Target with the NPC's name (though this isn't really necessary), Model with the model's name, and Model XYZ with the numbers that indicate the NPC's current position (POS).

I then check the PYR numbers. I round the middle number to nearest number on the Model Facing chart below. This will make it easier to position the camera it the model is facing one of the 8 cardinal directions. Since Camera facing and Model facing are opposites, you can use the same number to make sure the camera is facing the NPC. For example, if the NPC is facing south (0), you can make the camera face north by using the same number (0).

Model Facing

2.356	3.1415	3.927
1.57075	+	4.71225
0.7853	0	5.4976

Camera Facing

5.4976	0	0.7853
4.71225	+	1.57075
3.927	3.1415	2.356

Next, I position the camera. I use the following chart to decide how to move the camera. If the NPC is facing east, for example, I subtract from the X coordinate. For most NPCs, I move the camera about 5 (yds?). The middle Z number also needs to be changed. I usually add between 4 and 5 points to the number the NPC has, depending upon how big it is.

Moving Camera