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#2949579 - 01/29/10 02:20 PM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info ***** [Re: Dart]
Dart Offline
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Registered: 09/02/01
Posts: 16602
Loc: Alabaster, AL USA
This is just too darned useful to let slip away.

For the cheap at heart (no photoshop), the .dds conversion to .bmp tool I use is DXTbmp.

Direct link to app: http://www.btinternet.com/~mnwright/programs/dxtbmp.htm, but be sure to look at the whole of the site, http://fly.to/mwgfx/ as it has a lot of useful stuff.

From the .bmp file, I use GIMP (which is no-cost) to tinker with skins and then DXTbmp to put it back into .dds.

While not perfect - I get some pixellation here and there - it is definately "gooder enough" for my tastes.
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#2949739 - 01/29/10 06:45 PM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: Dart]
PJ666_Reverend Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 07/22/09
Posts: 36
S! Folks,

Thanks for the help so far. There's a couple of questions I still have (and I'm sorry if they've already been covered and I missed it).

1. What's up with the void downloads linked on the ROF main site? I try to download by following the directions, but it keeps wanted me to install some kind of software, but since I can't read or speak Russian, I can't figure out what's going on. Didn't Jason say he'd get that fixed? Or was he going to host them elsewhere (if so where)?

2. I am using Photoshop CS4 with the DDS plugin. I have problem that the skins display so extremely dark that I can barely see what I'm editing.

Masaq's excellent tutorial video shows what I'm talking about. The details of the skin in the dark areas are very, very hard to see.

I could lighten them by adjusting the bright/contrast of the image file of course, but then I figure they'd display super bright in game. Is there a way I could brighten the view without changing the brightness of the actual image file? Without resorting to maxing out the hardware brightness settings on my monitor (and yes, my monitor displays other games and graphics at an acceptable brightness)?

Any insights are appreciated.


Edited by PJ666_Reverend (02/01/10 01:32 PM)
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#2949795 - 01/29/10 08:59 PM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: PJ666_Reverend]
SC/JG_Oesau Online content
Member

Registered: 08/26/07
Posts: 430
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Remove some of the layers listed under "advanced" in the PSD file such as "Weathering" and see if that lightens it up for you.
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#2949878 - 01/30/10 12:26 AM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: SC/JG_Oesau]
PJ666_Reverend Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 07/22/09
Posts: 36
Thanks for the suggestion Oesau. Unfortunately I'm working off non layered DDS files (making them into my own PSDs as necessary), since I don't know where to get the templates (due to the the shady Russian web installer weirdness when trying to download from the ROF site).

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#2949885 - 01/30/10 01:02 AM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: PJ666_Reverend]
777 Studios - Jason Online content
Senior Member

Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 2958
Loc: Redlands, CA
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#2949887 - 01/30/10 01:06 AM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: 777 Studios - Jason]
PJ666_Reverend Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 07/22/09
Posts: 36
Fantastic! Thanks Jason, that's exactly what I was looking for, I just didn't know if you'd posted them because I couldn't find them. But now the links are in this sticky thread!

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#2949888 - 01/30/10 01:14 AM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: PJ666_Reverend]
PJ666_Reverend Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 07/22/09
Posts: 36
Ok, I'm playing with the Dr.I PSD and found that turning off the "LEVELS" layer in the Advanced Users folder is solving my brightness issues (turning off "SHADOWS" and "WEATHERING" layers also help when I need max visibility).

I just gotta remember to turn the layers back on before I flatten and go DDS.

Thanks again Jason and Oesau, I am now a happy skinner!


Edited by PJ666_Reverend (01/30/10 01:25 AM)
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#2950852 - 02/01/10 08:16 AM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: PJ666_Reverend]
BigDuke66 Offline
Member

Registered: 08/21/06
Posts: 105
Anyone able to make a guide/Video for Gimp users?
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#2951937 - 02/02/10 10:34 PM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: Masaq]
wheelsup_cavu Offline
Lifer

Registered: 12/03/08
Posts: 20388
Loc: Corona, California
Originally Posted By: Masaq
Skinning tutorial now watchable. It's been processing for three hours now and it's still working on it - full HD-level quality will be the end result, however.


Cool Tutorial Masaq. thumbsup


Wheels


(Post # 3100)
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#2963576 - 02/19/10 09:45 PM Re: ROF Skinning: Templates, Training and Info [Re: PJ666_Reverend]
Blazingstar Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 02/02/10
Posts: 33
Hello,
I thought I'd add a bit of information here that I just learned the hard way.

The nVidia DDS Photoshop pluging does not work for the 64 bit version of Photoshop CS4 frown

After some searching, I was able to find that nVidia Command Line Tools are a viable workaround.

The Wiki for the Tools is HERE.

Not nearly as convenient but better than nothing.

If someone as a better solution, please share.
Cheers!


Edited by Blazingstar (02/19/10 10:02 PM)
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