Archipelis SL Exporter V1.0

January 2008

Introduction:

Archipelis SL Exporter is a software that converts 3D models from Archipelis Designer format into Linden Labs' Second Life (SL) format. With SL Exporter, you can easily create models in Archipelis for use in SL. It is a standalone utility, available for models created in Archipelis Designer. With Archipelis SL Exporter you get the power of Archipelis Designer technology (i.e. creating 3D models simply by drawing their 2D outlines and shapes) applied to Second Life, thus you have the best and easiest way to create new, unique and realistic SL content.


Purchase:

Please use the button below to get this tool for $5. Paypal is accepted.

Requirements:

It is important to remember that you will need
  • a registered version of Archipelis Designer to create 3D models.
  • a Second Life account.
  • some L$ (Linden dollars) in order to pay Linden Labs (owner of Second Life) for uploading images. L$10 are taken for every uploaded image. A 3D model from Archipelis Designer will be converted into images to get scuplty prims definition (one image per shape and one image per texture of a shape). Thus L$100 to L$200 is required for one model (hopefully, it is a small amount of real dollars).

Archipelis Designer restrictions use:

In order to get good 3D models in Second Life, in Archipelis Designer, it is requested to:
  • not use any operators like intersection or difference (only union is possible).
  • not use the mirror feature (please draw yourself the mirrored part).
  • not use the relief modification.
  • use a simple definition of every contour (mostly like a banana). Obviously, you can create a complex model but this model should be based on a set of "simple" shapes.

How to use Archipelis SL Exporter?

Step 1 - Export to sculpty prims (also called sculpties)

Once you have created a textured model with Archipelis Designer, just drag and drop the corresponding .archipelis file (or .designer file) to the icon of SL Exporter (located on your windows desktop for instance) or to the center of the SL Exporter window when open.




Then, the export process starts immediately. Wait for one or two minutes and you will find in the directory of your initial file a new subdirectory called "Something.ScultedPrims" (you may have to confirm the deletion of this directory if it already exists). Inside, you will find BMP images (geometry_XX.bmp and texture_XX.bmp) and two LSL scripts (ArchipelisBase.txt and ArchipelisRez.txt).


Step 2 - Connect to Second Life

Then connect to Second Life and go to a place where you're able to build objects (a sandbox area for instance). As previously said, you will need some L$ to upload all the images.

Step 3 - Uploading all the images


With the menu "File > Upload Image (L$10)..." and then the button "Upload (L$10)", upload all the images "geometry_XX.bmp" and "texture_XX.bmp". Close the windows corresponding to these images. All these images will appear in "My Inventory > Textures". Click on "Inventory" to see that. Note that before all that you may clean up this directory (to avoid conflict with previous uploads).

Step 4 - The object ArchipelisBase

Go in build mode with the menu "View > Build B". Click on "Create" button. Click somewhere on the floor to create an object (whatever it is, cube, cylinder...). Here it is important to set the name "ArchipelisBase" to this object.
Drag and drop all the previously generated images that are now in "My Inventory > Textures" into the content of the current object you are editing.




Click on "Content". Click on "New Script...". Double click on the script called "New Script" that has been created. Copy the content of the file called "ArchipelisBase.txt". Replace the definition of the script by a paste action. Click on "Save" button and close the script window.


Select the object you are editing and with the right mouse boutton click on "Take" to put it into "My Inventory / Objects".

Step 5 - The ArchipelisRez object

Click on the "Create" button of the build window. Click somewhere on the floor to create a second object (whatever it is, cube, cylinder...). You can call this object "ArchipelisRez" but it is not mandatory.
Click on "Content". Click on "New Script...". Double click on the script called "New Script" that has been created. Copy the content of the file called "ArchipelisRez.txt". Replace the definition of the script by a paste action. Click on "Save" button and close the script window.


Drag and drop the object called ArchipelisBase you created at step 4 (it is in "My Inventory > Objects") into the content of the current object you are editing. Then, delete the object "ArchipelisBase" in "My Inventory > Objects".

Step 6 - Completing the export

Leave the build mode by closing the build window. Click on the object ArchipelisRez in front of you to rez. Your 3D model appears. Now, you can delete the ArchipelisRez because it is no more usefull.
By going back to the build mode (menu "View > Build") in "Edit" mode and by selecting all the shapes of your model, you can rotate or translate all that.


Once all is OK, you can click on "Take" by activating the right mouse button to put this model into your inventory. It will be "My Inventory > Objects > ArchipelisBase" and you should rename it with a better name.

Example

Please find here the example of the rhino that has been exported to Second Life.

Thanks

Archipelis SARL would like to thank the SL citizen "BestMomo Lagan" for his help and the generation of the LSL scripts and Philip Staiger from TheBest3D.com for assisting with this document.
Second Life is a trade mark of Linden Labs.