How do I make a skin?

[timeisnotlinear]

?

[timeisnotlinear]

Found it.

[timeisnotlinear]

Nope. That's a lie. I can only find the viewer.

[The Fugitive]

Here is a short tutorial to get you started http://www.nakatomitower.com/skins/

other tips can be found in the skins section of the message boards. Search Greebo for many tips.

 http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,131372.msg1408664.html#msg1408664

[Vraciu]

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,391559.0.html

I can walk you through how I got started.   There are others who are better at teaching techniques.

Have you chosen a program to use for drawing/painting your skins yet?

You'll need that (.bmp is the format) and will have to save the default skin to use as a your reference for starting.

[timeisnotlinear]

Thanks guys, I'll read up.

Vraciu, do you have a preferred program?

[Devil 505]

Good luck.

[Vraciu]

Thanks guys, I'll read up.

Vraciu, do you have a preferred program?

I use PaintShopPro 5.   You can find PSP7 online for free.  While super easy to use PSP5 is fairly basic in its capabilities.  7 does more.  GIMP does even more. 

I have to use GIMP for some things that PSP can’t do—and that’s what Devil uses primarily, I believe.    Perhaps try both, or start with PSP and work up to GIMP.

 

[Devil 505]

I use GIMP for everything except the final conversion of the Normal map from grayscale.

[TequilaChaser]

Devil505,  Vraciu,

Have either of you thought about or looked at trying PIXARRA'S "TwistedBrush Pro Studio"

It's an awesome graphics/paint program that y'all might want to check out

I got my Daughters Mom and my own Mom turned on to using it like 12 to 14 years ago and it has just kept getting better and better with each new update or version over the years

It's like having Photoshop Pro, PSP, Gimp, Paint.net, CorelDraw and a few other programs all rolled into one....

It might be of interest to some of you

~S~

TC

[Vraciu]

Haven't heard of that one, TC.  I will take a look.  Thanks for the tip.  OP might want to do the same.

[Greebo]

I have always used Paintshop Pro for my skinning work (over 350 skins) and have only upgraded it once when the old version wouldn't work with Windows 7. I am still discovering useful features of PSP after all this time. Other programs I have dabbled with other programs like GIMP, Photoshop and others can do exactly what PSP does but its not really worth the effort for me to spend months learning how to use them as the end product would look no different from a skin made with PSP. So long as the program can handle layers it does not matter much which one you use, its just a question of getting good at using all its features.

Having said that PSP does have one limitation with AH, it cannot save in the 32-bit bmp format that AH3 skins use for the diffuse and normal maps. So I use a copy of Photoshop I got with a graphics tablet to do that.

[Vraciu]

I have always used Paintshop Pro for my skinning work (over 350 skins) and have only upgraded it once when the old version wouldn't work with Windows 7. I am still discovering useful features of PSP after all this time. Other programs I have dabbled with other programs like GIMP, Photoshop and others can do exactly what PSP does but its not really worth the effort for me to spend months learning how to use them as the end product would look no different from a skin made with PSP. So long as the program can handle layers it does not matter much which one you use, its just a question of getting good at using all its features.

Having said that PSP does have one limitation with AH, it cannot save in the 32-bit bmp format that AH3 skins use for the diffuse and normal maps. So I use a copy of Photoshop I got with a graphics tablet to do that.

What version do you use?  They are different in terms of capability.   PSP5 sure can't do whatever it is you are doing with yours.

I have to use GIMP to convert my BMPs to 32-bit.   PSP5 won't do it.    I don't like some of the changes they made with 7 so I'm dragging my feet leaving 5 behind.   If 7 would stop changing the format so 5 can't see it I'd consider it...    I'm not good with change. 

But as you said, layering is the key to everything.

[Greebo]

Currently I use PSP X8 and IIRC prior to that it was PSP 7, there were quite a few versions of the program between those two. X8 has a few new tools which are useful time savers, but nothing that really improved the look of my skins. OTOH the mouse scroll wheel zoom is nowhere near as good as PSP 7's and that is a constant irritation.

When a new PSP version comes out I have a look at its list of features to see if there is anything useful to me but there never is. Most new features are either tarting up the UI or are aimed at those users editing digital photographs.

Many of the skin templates I still use were originally created with PSP 7. I may have added all the AH3 effects files with PSP X8 but that was mostly copying and pasting layers. Any improvement in the look of those skins is more down to my learning new tricks as a skinner and in HTC adding those new lighting effects.

[Vraciu]

The mouse zoom on PSP7 is great.  PSP5's is such an irritant that I added a second monitor to mitigate it some.   (Not their fault.  I don't think mouse zoom was much of a concept when PSP5 came out.

I may have to give 7 a real try after I finish this skin I'm working on.  Maybe I'll use it to create a "blank" NMF airplane in order to learn its features.

To the OP: As you can see, there are plenty of options.   Devil and Greebo are using different programs with excellent results, and TC has made a good suggestion that perhaps you can test out for us.