Basic questions about MD3 format

I found this article about the MD3 format.

I am pretty certain that the normals are not exported with MD3 at least not in the tarational XYZ form. Its been awhile since I used the format though. So could be a lapse in memory playing here.

MD3 is a binary format, its created by exporting the model from 3DSMax to an .ASE file, the pop'n'fresh or ID's older converter tool is then run over the .ase file to convert it to the binary format. .ASE is a text format so to answer your question in an indirect manner, you can have the format as txt and binary.

Thanks for the answers.

It's very interesting to know that MD3 is based on an ASE format.
Considering that an ASE (ASCII Scene Export) file can store the vertex normals, it is strange MD3 not to contain them...

But I agree with you, lubby: The normals are not exported in MD3 or there is something wrong with them, at least in my shading tests.

Quote:

Original post by Mari_p The normals are not exported in MD3 or there is something wrong with them, at least in my shading tests.

Read the article linked to by SKATIN_HARD, particularly the very end. The normals are stored as spherical coordinates (longitude, latitude). You have to convert them to cartesian coordinates (x,y,z).

Quote:

Original post by directrix Read the article linked to by SKATIN_HARD, particularly the very end. The normals are stored as spherical coordinates (longitude, latitude). You have to convert them to cartesian coordinates (x,y,z).

Sorry friends, I had not gotten to see that link on this computer. I thought the link was not working. I will open it on another computer. Thanks!