Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Kev367th on June 05, 2006, 10:03:31 AM
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Had a few people ask me how I do my bare metal stuff.
This is a basic outline.
Hope it helps.
(http://www.cyberonic.com/~kreed/metal.jpg)
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This is what it looks like prior to weathering, stencils, roundels etc.
Only change is I am showing rivets, screws etc and the aluminum painted ailerons.
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I'm curious to know what you do to "break up the smoothness". I've played around with several filters etc then played with the blending, but I have a better system for wearing down paint than I do for disrupting BMF.
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It just a layer that has very random 'splodges' (for want of a better word), in greyscale set to overlay.
If anyone has a way of hosting can zip up the layers and the gradient I use so people can get them.
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is the deform tool and blue tint essential, because im using Photoshop 5.0 Limited edition and i cant find them anywhere
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Blue tint is just a blue colored layer on very low opacity.
Deform tools - Have to ask a photoshop user, I use Paint Shop Pro.
Tutorials for photoshop here (try the mesh warp)
http://www.rnel.net/tutorials/Photoshop/Photo_Manipulation/32
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ok switched to Paint Shop Pro, but I cant find differant layers! Argh!
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I, too, use PS 5.0. I did a little searching on that link you gave, and it seems that the warp tools were introduced in 5.5 and 6.0, so no joy for me (lol). You can do it another way, it just takes patience, and a lot more time (multiple free transforms one section at a time, starting at one end working your way up)
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How do you get the blue tint if you are in greyscale? Im confused. For me it just comes out, well, grey!
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You can't be in grey scale mode.
You have to be in RGB mode, and if you want grey you just choose the grey you want.
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ok, and then how do you get the shape of the wing, for lack of a better example, onto the Bare metal gradient?
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That's where he used the deform tools, which we don't have access to in Photoshop 5.0. You could take the gradient and use the "transform > distort" tool. You just have to distort part of it at a time. Start at the base of the wing, and narrow it just a bit. Then re-select and do it again, on a part further out, narrowing it each time.
That's the only way I could think of.
What I've done, however, is I've used gradients at angles. Rather than making a straight gradient then manipulating it to the shape, I used several different layers to create angled gradients, that when all added together look like they fit the wing shape.
It's not easy though.
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ok, so do you use a template or do you just guess the shape of the wing?
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I use the default as a background layer and lasso the outline I want around the part I want.
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ok thanks, will try this. I'll keep you posted on developments!
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Ok small thing here, not even essential. How blue do you make the Blue Tint? Does it really matter?
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krusty, im getting very frustrated with this and I still hardly understand how to actually get the bare metal colour onto the actual shape. Ive lasooed the shape, copy and pasted it onto the colour but when I delete the shape again, It just leaves a giant hole! What do I do? Can you please talk me through it step by step as to how to get it? (My excuse for being so totaly terrible is that it is the first skin I have ever made, so take pity on me!)
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Can't help you with photoshop.
But for blue tint layer I use-
RGB - 69:87:255
Opacity - 9%
Mode - Overlay
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Do you think I have chosen too hard a theme for my first skin? Is bare metal a bit beyond what I am capable of? Whats your advice?
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okay, first thing you have to have is your "layers" window showing. If it's not you can go to the window menu and show it. You have to be in RGB mode to use layers.
With the backgroun being the original skin, hit the "new layer" button at the bottom of the layers window. Use the lasso tool. You can still see the bottom layer but you're not working directly on it. You never want to work directly on the original layer, because you'll need it.
So, take the lasso tool so you have the right shape, then do what you want on the other layers. Create more as you need (I think you're limitd to 50 total). Example, use the lasso tool to get an outline of the wings, then use a paint bucket and fill in the wings on a different layer. Don't forget to name your layers so you can understand them.
From there it's basic photoshop skills. There are lots of webpages and books and the like that have general use tips.
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You only learn by trying.
You should see some of my first skins compared to what I do now.
You'll find some great tips, tutorials and advice here -
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com
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I did it! The bare metal effect is on! Im so happy! Now just got to complete the model and im ready for take off! Thanks for all the help guys! I couldnt have possibly done it without you! By the way, does any body have a template of the panels and rivets the C 47?
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Hey Kev,
Thanks for that, I see it now. Now if they can only update the skin viewer.
JR
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Hey, Ive completed the skin, but its not very good. Im first to admit that. But i cant fly it in the game. My skin is there in the Skin Dropbox, but when I select it, it just goes back to the default skin! Help!
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You will only be able to use it offline.
Only skins submitted and approved by HTC are available in the on-line game.
Only WW2 historically accurate skins will be considered for use in-game.
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I am trying it off line, im not too keen on onlne play anyway, im not very good. So why isnt it working?
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OK I think I know the problem -
The default skin you downloaded folder is probably called "C47"
To 'see' your skin create a folder called "C471"
Put your new skin file(s) only in this folder
It will show up in the drop down menu as C471
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Make sure you saved it as a 256-color bitmap. You were working in RGB mode, which is (I think) 1.6 million colors.
AH will only recognize 8-bit bmps (256 colors)
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Thanks Krusty, will giive you an update as to the progress
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ok, STILL isnt working. Ive changed it back to 'Indexed colours' or something like that, which is 256 colours and flattened the image. Could it be because Ive got two of the same image? If not then Im finished. Its just getting frustrating
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Okay here's the checklist
directory named "c47a1" ?
8-bit (256 color) bitmaps saved in "c47a1" ?
bitmaps are properly named "c47a1.bmp" and "c47a2.bmp" ?
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ok, all three are CHECK and ready to go, but it stiall aint goin! Now im really confused
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Okay, next step checklist:
Start up AH ?
Go to hanger and select C47 ?
Click the drop down box for skins, does one say "c47a1" ?
If it does, have you selected it ?
Does it display on the skin in the hangar ?
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AH starts up, My skin is there, called Orange and Silver Colour, but I cant select it, it just goes back to default, and it doesnt display in the hanger.
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Okay then it's one of two things.
Either it's the way you saved the file, or where the file is.
Check that "c47a1" (the directory) is located under "Aces High II\Skins\C47a1" and not some other path.
Then go back and check how you saved these files. In photoshop, you go to Image > Mode > Indexed, select adaptive or whatever options you want, click Okay. It should ask you if you want to flatten all layers somewhere in this process. NOW go to File > Save As... and select bmp and name it either c47a1 or c47a2 depending on which file it's for. When you select "Save" it should ask you how many bits you want to save it as. Select windows, 8-bit. Hit okay.
Try again in AH.
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done both of those things first time round. Still no go.
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Well there must be some step of the process you've missed somewhere. If your skin shows up as an option but does not display when you select it, it must mean there is something wrong with the file itself not being recognized.
Right click on the bitmap file, select Properties. Select the "Summary" tab on top, then hit the "advanced" button. There will be an entry that says "bit depth". if it doesn't say "8" something went wrong when saving it.
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personally I dont think its me. I know that most people would say this, but Ive downloaded several skins from the internet and their not recognized either.
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Well... one last thought.... Do you have "disable skins" checked off?
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knowing me, thats probarbly exactly it. Where abouts is that
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I think it's in the screen you set resolution with. It's ether there or in the game's options > graphics tab.
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So much for a simple solution. It is unchecked
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Okay, go to the skin viewer. Go to something other than the c47. Click the Save Default Skin button.
Go to that directory, copy the main bmp file in to your c47a1 directory. Delete c47a1.bmp and replace it with whatever you just copied in (i.e. pull in a 109e4 skin and rename it to c47a1.bmp).
Then see if it works. Note you can use the skin viewer, and once it shows up there it will show up in-game as well.
EDIT: sorry I posted before I was done typing.
If it works you should see a totally jumbled up c47 skin. If it works it means the files you were trying to use as a skin weren't the right format, or something.
If it doesn't, ask HTC because I'm stumped.
If it shows up jumbled we can try one or two things.
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I also just downloaded Kev's Bare Metal Seafire skin and have exactly the same problem
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contact HTC I guess...
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It worked! I used the Stuka skin and it deformed the original skin! How come I can muck a plane up but not make 1 better! Over to you Krusty!
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Then it's all how you're saving these files.
You have a file in RGB mode, and you have to work in RGB mode. Do some work, whatever, create a new layer, paint bucket fill it with white (as a test). Then save the file as a PSD. After saving, flatten all the layers (layer > flatten image) then go to mode > indexed, select adaptive, 8-bit, Okay. Then Save As... and choose BMP from the drop down box. Name it exactly what the other file is called (the original bmp file) and click "Yes" when it asks you to overwrite, THEN click "Windows, 8bit," and leave un-checked the "compressed" option at the bottom. Then close photoshop (do not save if it asks, you already did), and start up AH. You SHOULD have an all-white aircraft now. Or, all white on the parts that used that bmp file.
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Originally posted by macleod01
I also just downloaded Kev's Bare Metal Seafire skin and have exactly the same problem
You have to extract mine into a folder called "seafire3" (without quotes).
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It must have been the actual picture. I tried again doing what you said and it worked with the correct skin. When I put in my custom one, it reverted to default. By the way, thanks kev, I never knew that
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Gradient fill... brilliant!!!! have to do that as well!!
Tex
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macleod, when you work on these things, save with increments, like the filename is xxxx, save xxxx_1, then xxxx_2, whenever you make enough changes that you think it warrants a new name.
When you go through the process to create the 8-bit bitmap, you flatten the image. That means that you no longer have any layers (it's all one image).
So, do 2 things.
First thing is save the PSD file before every bitmap you make from it. If anything goes wrong you have the saved file (not that anything would).
Second thing is, if you're going to work on it more after exporting (if you are using the skin viewer for example) make sure your history window is showing, and after you have saved the file as a bitmap, click one level above the "indexed color" in the history -- thus undoing it, and undoing the flattening of the image. You should be able to continue work from that point.
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Thanks I'll try that. Im kind of putting it on hold for a bit. Im trying a much simpler (theoretically) skin for the B 26. I'll let you know if any problems arise, and the will, believe me, the always do
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Hey Krusty! That C47 is FINALY up and going and i think it looks quite nice, but probarbly not to you as its my first. If someone could tell me how to get screenshots up onto the internet, Id show you some pics! THanks for all the help and thanks Kev for inspiring me to try Bare metal. I am now a Baremetal freak and totaly love it! Thanks guys!
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You can either host the images and link to them or you can attach them directly to the end of the image (only here in the skins forum). I'd suggest creating your own thread for it, but then just make the images 800x600 or less in size, and you can click the "Attach File" button just above the "submit reply" button.
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how do I find the darn things?
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Specify please?
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where abouts do I find the Screenies?
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found them and i have a new thread up and going. Would appreciate ur comments on it