For worlds using only basic primitives like: cubes, "floors" etc. we use the Atmosphere Builder. But, if you like more complex objects you need to use a 3D designer tool. Our recomendation is the use of the product from Discreet: 3ds max. You can use it for Atmosphere and many other professional works.

But you will need also some other tools from a company whose name is View Point.

In the figure you see the 2 basic tools you need to download (it's free!).

When you create a scene in 3ds max, something like a island having a lake:

you will need to use the VP media Exporter to create 2 files having the extensions: .MTX and .MTS.

The VP Scene Builder has many submenus controled by the Tab menu item. Choose the Load submenu to load the .MTX file created.

But the the "lights" of your 3ds max object will not be exported and you will have a funny shadow that will not appear in the Atmosphere world. To erase this shadow open the submenu: Global Parameters and set Shadow : off.

It's possible that the ilumination of your object is not satisfactory. You will need to open the submenu: Materials and click in : Lightmap Lab. In the Documentation of the Scene Builder you can read more about the creation of a "light map" for your object but basicaly: we can change the position of 10 lights (5 in front of the object and 5 behind) to create an acceptable effect of ilumination. It's easy. Look the first example in the next figure. We put the 5 lights in the inferior-right position (it's like a spot...). Look also the result of this "light map" in the Atmosphere world.

At the second sample, the position was changed to left:

We can use colors in the lights. We have used "Blue = 1" only like a test:

You need to find the better composition of values and positions for the lights.

When you have a good solution, you select the subitem of menu: Publish and re-save the .MTX file.

Opening the Atmosphere Builder you can Import the ViewPoint Object. Will appear a "little man" for each VO object you import, in the Variable Tools window. Click in the "litle man" and in any wireframe view (Top or Side). You need to open the Player View to see the VP object. IT WILL NOT APPEAR IN THE OTHER VIEWS. WE WILL SEE ONLY ITS BOUNDING BOX IN THE OTHER VIEWS! Normally the initial dimension of the VP object is very little. You will need to use the SclObjs tool to enlarge it.

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