'''  0 A.D. basic 3D implementation guide'''  [[BR]] In this guide we will be using [http://www.blender.org/ Blender] to create the 3D model, [http://www.gimp.org/ GIMP] for textures, and [http://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Notepad++] for basic coding. All three of these programs are free and opensource, although other programs may be used to achieve similar results. You must also have an Alpha release of 0 A.D. installed on your computer. (SVN versions can also be used)

To keep things simple, we are going to create a simple crate.


[[BR]]'''Actor file setup'''
[[BR]]Lets begin by creating an 'actor' xml file that will link our 3D model with the texture file and crucially make them visible in Atlas (0 A.D.'s Map/Scenario Editor).

 * Navigate to the 'mods' folder in the game's installation directory: binaries\data\mods

 * In the mods folder you will have a 'public.zip' file that needs to be extracted into a folder also called 'public' within the 'mods' folder.

 * Once the public zip is extracted, navigate to the following folder: binaries\data\mods\public\art\actors\props\special\eyecandy

 * Make a duplicate of the actor file called 'crate_a.xml' and call it 'crate_test.xml'

 * Open the 'crate_test.xml' file in Notepad ++ (or any code editor). You will see this:[[BR]]
 [[Image(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w73/purepics/0AD/actoropen.gif)]][[BR]]

 * We need to change the file locations for 'mesh' and 'texture' to these:[[BR]]
 <mesh>props/wrld_crate_test.dae</mesh>[[BR]]
 <texture>props/crate_test.png</texture>

 * Save the file (as 'crate_test.xml') and close Notepad ++

[[BR]]'''Texture creation'''
[[BR]]Here we will create a basic texture file so that we can skin it onto our model later.

 * First thing we need to do is find a texture we can use for 0 A.D. Remember our textures are released as [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ CC-BY-SA], so the texture you use must be compatible for it to be released. One of the websites we use is burningwell.org which has many public domain images. Search for 'wood' and I found [http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/v/textures/buildings/fences/wood966.jpg.html this] texture

 * Download the texture and open it in Gimp. Most of our texture files are square, so we're going to crop the texture and resize it to be 128x128 pixels
 
 * Save PNG file called 'crate_test.png'

 * Move PNG file to the following location: binaries\data\mods\public\art\textures\skins\props

 
[[BR]]'''3D modeling'''
[[BR]]Here we will go through the basic requirements of creating a textured (UV Mapped) model and exporting it as a Collada DAE format 3D file

 * Open Blender

 * Select cube

 * UV Map cube

 * Export as DAE
 
 * Move the DAE file to the following location: binaries\data\mods\public\art\meshes\props

[[BR]]'''Viewing model in Atlas'''
[[BR]]After saving the actor file, creating the texture, and exporting the 3D model, we can now open 0 A.D.'s Atlas Editor to view the crate in-game

 * Run 0 A.D. and in the menu select Tools & Options > Scenario Editor

 * Open Atlas

 * In the Actors(all) list find props\special\eyecandy\crate_test.xml