Wonderland

This is an overview of the issues around importing content into wonderland and possible solutions or work arounds. It is important to understand that Wonderland 0.5 is currently in development, so bug and problems are rife and this is subject to change.

Models need to be in either aGoogle earth kmz format or collada format to be successfully imported into wonderland. The kmz file is basically a zip file with the collada and texture files within, as well as an xml file for geometry details. These files can be opened and viewed using a package such as WinZip or winrar. The folder structure is typically this.

These files can be drag and dropped into the wonderland world.

Collada files are a type of export from 3D packages. This method requires a direct import method to be used using the insert model option in Wonderland.

Importing Collada

Another method for creating content for wonderland is to use SketchupPro. This modelling package allows us to export to directly to a kmz format. Unlike professional packages such as Maya or 3Dsmax, sketchup is simple to use, but with an advanced modeller, more complex models and methods can be used to create better models. Texture mapping in sketchup is very simple and straight forward and doesn’t allow option for texture baking lighting and shadow to the maps.

Importing 3D models

Tips for sketch up creation for Wonderland

My solution for this aspect, is to create the model within sketchup, export this model to an obj file which can then be imported into Maya/ 3Dsmax, here we can use radiosity and advanced lighting techniques to create texture files which can then be applied within sketchup to create models with higher level of realism ready for export to kmz format.

It is very important to make sure that ALL texture files are in PNG-24 format

When importing a model into wonderland, make sure that once imported the model is deployed to the server to allow others to view it.

Common issues with importing models into wonderland are that due to the current build, they don’t always import with the textures. The base model imports but the texture files can’t be found.

Textures Missing

If this issue happens, it is important to open up the kmz file and check that the textures are located within the folder. If not, then this could be the problem. If the texture files are there, then it could mainly be due to the current build of wonderland, as this is still under development.

Issues with importing content

Opacity by use of alpha channels in a texture file are also currently under development and as such don’t fully work within wonderland.

A current work around can be found here

These are planned to be introduced with further development.

Other current issues that are being worked on are;

-Objects cant be held by avatars hands as well as Avatars sit down on seats -

-No Physics within world

Wonderland forum