Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Amaazee on September 11, 2010, 06:20:10 PM

Title: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 11, 2010, 06:20:10 PM
I am reading Krusty's tutorial and I am sure I am gonna have multiple questions. One Question being:

If you aren't able to run MAX. settings, are you still able to do the skinning process?

Also, does it have to be done with CS3 or CS4, because I have CS5...



Thanks in Advanced


 :salute
Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Fencer51 on September 11, 2010, 07:46:32 PM
Yes you can do it without running the max settings, but you need to download and enable the hi-res pack in order to successfully save the "default" skins and work on the 1024x1024 version.

Any editing program which has layers should be fine to work on skings.

Good Luck
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 12, 2010, 01:35:15 PM
How do I upscale a skin, I guess you could say?

Uh, I don't know how to ask the question. But here is my situation: I have a Ki61 Skin and it is 256X256 and in Krusty's, the skins need to be 1024X1024.
How do I increase the size so that it is 1024X1024.


Thanks in Advance


Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: StokesAk on September 12, 2010, 01:40:08 PM
Downlod the hires texture pack for skins, it is found under downloads at the AH homepage.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 12, 2010, 01:49:14 PM
I have the high res. pack.

I will just start off with an updated plane, nevermind. I will need to know in the future though.



 :salute
Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Fencer51 on September 12, 2010, 01:53:05 PM
If you are trying to do a KI-61, don't.  Do a skin which has already been updated to the AH2 standard.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 12, 2010, 01:54:52 PM
Yeah, I just started on a F6F skin, since it is my 2nd favorite plane. :)

Okay another question, when I am changing the color of the plane wing how do I put the detail lines back into the plane?




Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 12, 2010, 01:57:41 PM
Oh and Also if you are wondering which skin I am trying to make here is the link: http://www.markstyling.com/F6F.03.htm

I am trying for 28. F6F-5 2 flown by LtCdr Robert A. Weatherup of VF-46, USS Independence, April 1945
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Krusty on September 12, 2010, 09:56:07 PM
I thought it was outlined in my skinning tutorial, but for those reading this thread:

You re-create the details such as panel lines from scratch. You put them on their own layer, then you put a "paint scheme" layer below this. In fact you put many layers below this.


Remember, Luke Skywalker had the Force, you have the Layers. Use them!
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 13, 2010, 08:21:25 PM
Another question, sorry if I am bugging anyone, am I doing this correct so far. As you should be able to see, I made the panel lines by scratch, and made a new layer then made the paint.

With the paint, am I supposed to paint it the color I want it to be in the finish product or do I paint it gray, then go over and revise it with the color I am supposed to paint it.



Thanks in Advance


Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 13, 2010, 08:36:48 PM
It won't let me upload the picture for some reason now  :furious, will put a link for it here in a moment.



Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Krusty on September 13, 2010, 11:58:45 PM
In my tutorial I fill in a solid color. It happens to be grey. You can choose another shade. It's not the only way to do it, but it's a good start.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 16, 2010, 05:02:21 PM

This is the picture I meant to post earlier, but I got a bit caught up. Also it wouldn't let me post it, but here it is now.



Amaze


Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Skuzzy on September 16, 2010, 05:15:55 PM
Click on the "Addtional Options" to get the option to post a picture in this forum, when you make a post.

Not all the forums allow pictures to be posted, but this one does.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Krusty on September 17, 2010, 01:11:40 AM
Amaazee, the purpose of the solid color is to block out the area you're going to work with visually (so you don't have to reselect it by hand every time), to block out the default skin below it so only your new work shows through, to let you see your panel lines and other details as you begin crafting them. Once you are ready this layer gets turned off, or simply covered with the navy blue (in the F6F example).

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 18, 2010, 08:41:06 AM
To Skuzzy- Thanks.  :aok


To Krusty- I am not getting what you are saying.


Skinning process a bit difficult if your new, figuring that out the hard way.  :rolleyes:



Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Krusty on September 18, 2010, 04:56:32 PM
Another question, sorry if I am bugging anyone, am I doing this correct so far. As you should be able to see, I made the panel lines by scratch, and made a new layer then made the paint.

With the paint, am I supposed to paint it the color I want it to be in the finish product or do I paint it gray, then go over and revise it with the color I am supposed to paint it.

Amaazee, the purpose of the solid color is to block out the area you're going to work with visually [...] to block out the default skin below it so only your new work shows through, to let you see your panel lines and other details as you begin crafting them.

What part is confusing? You 1) cover up the default (you "block out the area") so you can 2) work on top of it. Once you work on top of it, your own work shows instead of the default skin underneath.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 18, 2010, 06:13:21 PM
Ahh, okay I am sorry. I get it now. When I work on top of it, how will I get the textures back to it?



I am almost done with the checkertail, will post an image of that soon as I am done.



Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Kazan_HB on September 18, 2010, 06:33:22 PM
Ahh, okay I am sorry. I get it now. When I work on top of it, how will I get the textures back to it?

Convert your psd file back into the format bmp with 256 colors
(http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6913/indexedj.jpg)

Remember to make backup files
 :)
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: cactuskooler on September 18, 2010, 06:53:44 PM
Remember to make backup files
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Kazan_HB on September 18, 2010, 07:03:38 PM
not grammatically? :uhoh
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: cactuskooler on September 18, 2010, 07:06:12 PM
It's wise advice worth reiterating.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 18, 2010, 10:14:40 PM
Convert your psd file back into the format bmp with 256 colors
(http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6913/indexedj.jpg)

Remember to make backup files
 :)


The F6F was never 256 colors it was 1024 bmp. Krusty said to start with an up to date model that way I don't have to resize and all of that other long process stuff.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 18, 2010, 10:19:50 PM
Also, do I merge the indexed color with the my work at the end?




Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Krusty on September 19, 2010, 02:21:25 AM
You work in full RGB. You export as 8-bit, also known as indexed, also known as 256-color.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Kazan_HB on September 19, 2010, 04:59:09 AM
Also, do I merge the indexed color with the my work at the end?
Amaze

(http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/4466/folderga.jpg) (http://img541.imageshack.us/i/folderga.jpg/)




Save your new F6F51.bmp to F6F5_1 directory.
You need an additional file (F6F5.txt) with short information about
your skin.
Example:
VFxx / USN by Amaazee

 Photoshop tutorials for skinning
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/forum37-photoshop/

You know Polish or German language?  :)
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 19, 2010, 08:12:00 AM
I know a small, decent amount of German.


Thanks for the help again guys.



Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 21, 2010, 09:30:45 PM
How do I view my skin in skin viewer?  :headscratch:




Amaze
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Krusty on September 23, 2010, 12:21:43 AM
If it shows up in-game, it will show up in the skin viewer, and vice versa.


Edit: Okay, let me clarify.... Do you have it showing up in game? If it's already in place, run the skin viewer, select your plane model from the drop box. The second drop box will have the names of directories (i.e. F6F5_1) and you choose the skin folder you are working in rather than the default.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 23, 2010, 04:24:37 PM
Where do you get the markings? Do you create them yourself, or copy and paste or what?


 :headscratch:



Amaazee
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Kazan_HB on September 23, 2010, 05:29:40 PM
Where do you get the markings? Do you create them yourself, or copy and paste or what?


 :headscratch:



Amaazee

http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=3
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 23, 2010, 05:33:57 PM
 :aok


Thanks Kazan
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Krusty on September 23, 2010, 11:30:36 PM
I don't like to use those, myself... It's a good starting place, but overall you're probably better off creating yours from scratch. Those are good for patterns, ratios, proportions, maybe... But the quality on some was lacking when I started out so I just made my own and I think that's ultimately what you want to do. Considering you're just starting, I wouldn't totally discourage you from using those... I just won't suggest you use them on every skin.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 24, 2010, 06:03:40 PM
When I wanna view my skin offline, do I save the skin in the F6F1_1 directory as a .bmp?
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Kazan_HB on September 24, 2010, 06:36:00 PM
When I wanna view my skin offline, do I save the skin in the F6F1_1 directory as a .bmp?
exactly :)
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on September 25, 2010, 04:11:47 PM
It is giving me a disk read error,  :uhoh. Did I do something wrong?
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on October 12, 2010, 08:13:45 PM
Okay I have added the Plug-In Bright and everything, it is still giving me Disk Error Message, do anyone know what is wrong?


Kazan I will send you all my most recent PSD file tonight.

School been interfering a lot lately with my AHII work and what not.

Hope to be done soon, will continue to post my WIP pictures.

It still isn't done, but I am trying to view it offline.
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: Amaazee on October 12, 2010, 08:35:10 PM
Here is the message it is giving me...


Also when I name the directory I have tried to name it F6F51 and everything else just about and it keeps giving me this message...


(http://i56.tinypic.com/351yhwi.jpg)
Title: Re: Skinning Help
Post by: jocko- on October 14, 2010, 09:01:47 AM
I don't like to use those, myself... It's a good starting place, but overall you're probably better off creating yours from scratch. Those are good for patterns, ratios, proportions, maybe... But the quality on some was lacking when I started out so I just made my own and I think that's ultimately what you want to do. Considering you're just starting, I wouldn't totally discourage you from using those... I just won't suggest you use them on every skin.

Agreed. The RAF markings available for DL are especially bad with regard to proportion and colours used. I make my own by making separate solid circles of the various colours centered over one another in layers like a wedding cake and then flattening them into one layer. The thing to remember is there is "standard" and then there is what the actual aircraft you are skinning looked like in RL. Photo evidence always trumps written markings guidelines.