Is there a "How to " guide for skinning?

[BBQ_Bob]

Hello there, just started to fool around with making custom skins, lot of fun I might add, and now that I have a custom skin what do I do with it? I can see it in the skin viewer but would like to take a look at it in the offline mode. Is there a guide anywhere on how to save it so I can view it?

[United]

So you've edited your bmp and are ready to save:

Create a new folder in your C:/Program Files/HTC/Aces High II/Skins folder named 1

Say you are editing a spit 5.  The original Spitfire V folder is named spit5.  So, you would create a new folder named spit51.

Then save your NEW bitmap as a 256 color bmp file into the spit51 folder.  Be sure to name it the same thing as the original file, but NOT in the same folder.  If you save it in the same folder, then you will lose the original skin.

So, you will now have your skin in the C:/Program Files/HTC/Aces High II/Skins/spit51 folder named as SPIT5SD or whatever the original bmp is called.

Now that it is saved, open up AH and go offline.  Scroll down to the plane you edited and select it.  Now, go up to the select skin bar and you should see a file named Spit51 or whatever plane you edited. If you did it right, your skin will be there.

Hope this made some sort of sense to you.

Edit: Noticed I wrote a (confusing) process on my site, http://ahskinning.netfirms.com/final.html

[sullie363]

I there was a guide I would be lighting this place up with skins.  You have no idea. Wow.

Drunk right now also.

[Gnoeferd]

Try http://www.skinnersheaven.com

It has several tutorials. Though they use the skins for the IL-2 series, the working proces is just the same.

Beside that you can find many resources like, markings, fonts and colors you need to make skins.

[United]

Here is another pretty good tutorial.  Go on the navbar to the side and click Tutorial Stuff and you'll be there.

http://www.aluminumcloud.com/

[navajoboy]

Originally posted by BBQ_Bob
Hello there, just started to fool around with making custom skins, lot of fun I might add, and now that I have a custom skin what do I do with it? I can see it in the skin viewer but would like to take a look at it in the offline mode. Is there a guide anywhere on how to save it so I can view it?

what programs do you recommand for creating skins?

[United]

Originally posted by navajoboy
what programs do you recommand for creating skins?

I use Paint Shop Pro 7.  Another great program is Adobe Photoshop.  Thats what the majority of skinners here use, I believe.

What you want most in an editor is the ability to create many "layers" so that you can lay down each piece of your skin one at a time, and can edit that one piece without messing up the rest of your skin.