Author Topic: Show Some Skin! (Read 4935 times)

Bullethead · « **Reply #30 on:** January 18, 2004, 09:47:14 PM »

Damn, Dux, those are some sweet skins! I especially like the Stuka, but they're all great.

United · « **Reply #31 on:** January 18, 2004, 10:35:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bullethead
United said:

When you 1st export the skin, it's in 256. Your very 1st step in editing should be to increase the color depth as high as it will go. In Paint Shop Pro, you need to do this anyway so you can use layers. Then do all your editing and save the file. Then save it under another name, like by putting an extra character in front. Then with that new copy open, merge all the layers, then reduce the colors back to 256, then save it as a .bmp without the extra character in front.

The reason for making the copy with that extra character is in case you accidentally hit SAVE instead of SAVE AS after you've collapsed the layers and reduced the colors Ask me how I know this is a good safety tip...

That's what I do, except using MS paint it may change the colors more than Paintshop. i dont know since Ive never used Paintshop ever. Thanks forthe help[ though!

United · « **Reply #32 on:** January 18, 2004, 10:37:15 PM »

Love that Stuka Dux. Beauty right there. Put it in CT!!!

Dux · « **Reply #33 on:** January 18, 2004, 10:51:08 PM »

United, I think I know what's happening to your colors... when you save it down to 8-bit from 24-bit, make sure you're using an adaptive palette (should be worded something like that). I bet you're using a web-safe or system palette, which is a very limited and specific palette. It will convert a color into it's nearest match, and sometimes it's not even close. An adaptive palette will use the actual colors already in your file, for the closest color match.

Also, if you have an option for diffusion dithering, I recommend using it.

Thanks guys, they're fun to do. Actually, all the skins I do end up either in the CT or in Special Events, so check them out when you can.

Corsair, I'll send you the Betty skins, but not the rest just yet. Don't want to steal anyone else's thunder.

United · « **Reply #34 on:** January 19, 2004, 03:07:27 PM »

I checked it out and did some research, but I cant find anything about adaptive pallet. I understand what you mean, but how may I go about changing it?

Thanks!

(I know I piss a lot of people off with all my questions.)

Dux · « **Reply #35 on:** January 19, 2004, 03:37:50 PM »

Nobody's getting p'd off, don't worry.

You may just be hitting a wall with MSPaint. Paint's really not meant for serious graphics work... you may want to find a cheap (or free) copy of something better.

United · « **Reply #36 on:** January 19, 2004, 05:23:36 PM »

I do have the free Serif 5.5 photoshop, but I cant get it to save anything as a bitmap. Its all .srf, serif use only.

I do have one more editor but its for picture imaging only. I may have to break down and get paintshop...

What do you use Dux?

United · « **Reply #37 on:** January 19, 2004, 05:33:56 PM »

Ah, success. I found out how to convert Macromedia Fireworks .png files to .bmp. I'm all set now. Thanks for your time and patience all who helped, especially Dux!

Dux · « **Reply #38 on:** January 19, 2004, 06:19:07 PM »

Cool. I use PhotoShop, but many use PaintShopPro. There are other programs, too... bottom line: use whatever works for you, as long as it can do the job.

Dux · « **Reply #39 on:** January 20, 2004, 10:45:58 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bullethead
...And thanks for the compliments. I'm pimping for a job in the scenario skin department.

Bullethead, if you're serious about this, send me an e-mail.

Dux · « **Reply #40 on:** January 20, 2004, 12:35:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by United
Absolutely astonishing bullet. Where do you get Ideas for skins like that? I'm struggling!

Another great reference source I like to use are modelling review articles online... they usually have great pictures, and the modellers who are good enough to post reviews usually are very thorough in their research and are historically accurate.

Do a Google search on something like "hellcat 1/48 review" or "stuka 1/72 review" and see how many great sites it returns, all with pictures.

Bullethead · « **Reply #41 on:** January 20, 2004, 07:39:22 PM »

Dux said:

Quote

Another great reference source I like to use are modelling review articles online... they usually have great pictures, and the modellers who are good enough to post reviews usually are very thorough in their research and are historically accurate.

Yeah, this is a great source. I found a cool Dora model with not only good pics but 3-view drawings and even color profiles. The cool thing about this one is that it's a product of the dispersed assembly with zero time for fine-tuning, so the it's got all kinds of paint mismatches, plus bare metal here and there, and the upper wings are only 1/2 camo'd, the rest being primer

. Looks like a complete abortion but it definitely has character.

Corsair · « **Reply #42 on:** January 21, 2004, 05:11:03 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Corsair
Dux, those skins are great. Can you send them to me?

My email

Dux, did you send the Betty skin to me? If so, I think it was accidentally deleted.

United · « **Reply #43 on:** January 21, 2004, 05:11:56 PM »

Make yer own! All you gotta do is put some red dots over the German insignia!

Dux · « **Reply #44 on:** January 21, 2004, 05:12:15 PM »

D'oh! Will send it tonight.

lol... it's a little more than that, United. Here's a shot from one of the recent Friday Squad Ops that used it.

needless to say, Sandog did not survive very long after this.