Tutorials -- Microsoft Train Simulator Lighting

Please note: This tutorial was originally written for 3D Canvas 7. It has not been fully updated to reflect the changes made in 3D Canvas 8. An updated version will be made available in a future version of 3D Canvas 8.

Microsoft Train Simulator Lighting

In this tutorial we will describe how to add lights to a Microsoft Train Simulator model.

Note that if you are using 3D Canvas Pro, the features of 3D Canvas Trainworks need to be enabled before you can export to a train simulator format. To enable the Trainworks features:

	Select Options... from the Tools menu.
	Click the Misc. tab.
	Check Enable Trainworks Features.
	Close and re-open 3D Canvas Pro.

This tutorial assumes familiarity with 3D Canvas and that the earlier Train Simulator tutorials have been completed.

The Scotsman model we imported is only lacking one thing: lights.

Train Simulator supports two types of lights: Glow lights and Cone lights. Glow lights are simulated lights. They do not actually produce light that affects surrounding areas. Cone lights do affect surrounding areas, but are limited to a single forward facing light per model.

Point lights and spot lights added to a model in 3D Canvas are automatically exported to Train Simulator by the Train Simulator Wizard. A 3D Canvas spot light translates into a Train Simulator glow light. A 3D Canvas point light translates into a Train Simulator Cone light.

First we will add two spot lights to the model for the two front lamps. Make sure to drop them on the model itself to ensure they are exported with the model. Lights that are not in the model hierarchy are not exported. These lights give the illusion of light, but do not actually illuminate the surrounding area in Train Simulator.

For illumination we need a point light. Train Simulator permits one and only one of these types of lights per model. If you add more they will simply be ignored.

The color of the light in 3D Canvas is the color of the light in Train Simulator. So setting a light color of orange will create an orange light in Train Simulator.

The real Scotsman does not have any rear lights, but as a demonstration we can add rear and side lights. We will set the rear lights to be red and the side lights to be green.

Run the Train Simulator Wizard to export the model. There are no additional settings required so you can just click the Finish button.

The front lights.

The rear lights, side lights and the orange head light.