Author Topic: New P-47 skin - need critiques (Read 543 times)

oboe · « **on:** May 03, 2004, 07:21:14 AM »

Been through so many interations on this I'm getting stuck. I'm looking for comments and tips. I have newfound apprecation for all you skinners out there! Using Photoshop 6.0. Thanks a bunch you guys, I hope I can get this cleaned up enough to get it accepted.

oboe · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2004, 06:47:45 AM »

Still hoping for some feedback or tips. This is a P-47 from the 353rd FS, 354th FG in Europe, 1944, btw.

Kweassa · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2004, 07:57:18 AM »

Some more pics would help oboe.

The first thing that comes into my mind is that the panel lines are a bit too emphasized in the 3-dimensional aspect. It could be either the difference between the highlight and shadow of the panel lines being too great, or the "offset" between the highlight and shadow is too much.

oboe · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2004, 08:12:45 AM »

Thanks, Kweassa. I think the 3D aspect of the panel lines is overemphasized too, but wanted others opinions.

The panel lines were created by scanning a diagram from a book, the dark lines have a color overlay of x535353. The light lines are a duplicate of the dark lines, with a color overlay of xFFFFFF. Then I "nudged" this light panel line layer 1 px down, 1 px over (towards the tail).

I just can't seem to get the tight, narrow lines I want. I've tried changing the panel lines file to mode Duotone, and then use the sharpening filter, but it doesn't help much. Maybe I need a better scanner that can scan at higher resolution?

There's a problem too with the anti-glare color on the top of the fuselage deck, but I can't touch that color in the bmp file so I just tried to skin around it. Not sure how to handle it.

I'm a nearly a complete noob at this but learning a lot. I have no clue how Citabria's panel lines are so nice on the P-40. Does he redraw them from scratch using a drawing tool? I not sure I could ever get that quality from a scanner.

Anyway, still having fun and learning. Appreciate your help!

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2004, 09:35:50 AM »

Just a suggestion, but try upping the graphics quality I.E. Anti Aliasing when you take the picture. That way we can see the skin even better.

Reschke · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2004, 10:52:01 PM »

Oboe,

The panel lines appear to be "Too recessed"...If that is even a phrase of sorts. I think you already noticed that but they seem to be over emphasized in the way you have the skin. Also if you haven't gotten around to it you may want to add areas like exhaust smoke/oil in the areas around the cowling and exhaust areas. Just take the spray tool in PhotoShop and run it about 65% opaque and then smudge it a little in a separate layer. That should give you a fairly nice effect but if you think you need a little more then stop and ask someone for another opinion as it can be overdone easily.

Citabria · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2004, 11:26:08 PM »

just add transparency to the highlight and shadow panel line layers.

Citabria · « **Reply #7 on:** May 04, 2004, 11:28:46 PM »

actually its best to redraw the panel lines rather than use the origional drawings.

just draw a black line layer of single pixels and rotate it 90 degrees or whatever needed to match the lines on the drawing.

make another layer for the rivets too. just make a string of rivets an copy it over and over and rotate it and place it as needed.