My First (sorta customised skin)

U

UK_Widowmaker

Guest
This is my first proper go at messing with skins (must remember to copy the original..not just start work on it!)...so try to be kind!...hahahaha

I am using Photoshop with the Nvidia plug in, but I have a few questions for photoshop users please?

1) The stripes etc look a bit 'clean' in comparison to the marvellous weathering of the original (the skull and crossbone looks weathered due to using blend options (namely 'Darken' ) But this didn't happen with the stripes, which I made using the rectangle tool....is there a trick to this?)

2) the text saying 'Widowmaker' (hard to see I know..cos I placed it without taking the cockpit into account) looks ok... but on the otherside it's spelt back to front... anyway of changing that?

The red stripe is misaligned a bit..but I know what went wrong with that.

I know what I am doing so far, can not be even kindly called 'skinning'...Not even close....but everyone has to start somewhere I guess...and most importantly...I am really having fun!!

Thanks for any tips / tricks /advice!!
 
UK_Widowmaker said:
This is my first proper go at messing with skins (must remember to copy the original..not just start work on it!)...so try to be kind!...hahahaha

I am using Photoshop with the Nvidia plug in, but I have a few questions for photoshop users please?

1) The stripes etc look a bit 'clean' in comparison to the marvellous weathering of the original (the skull and crossbone looks weathered due to using blend options (namely 'Darken' ) But this didn't happen with the stripes, which I made using the rectangle tool....is there a trick to this?)

2) the text saying 'Widowmaker' (hard to see I know..cos I placed it without taking the cockpit into account) looks ok... but on the otherside it's spelt back to front... anyway of changing that?

The red stripe is misaligned a bit..but I know what went wrong with that.

I know what I am doing so far, can not be even kindly called 'skinning'...Not even close....but everyone has to start somewhere I guess...and most importantly...I am really having fun!!

Thanks for any tips / tricks /advice!!
Click to expand...

You can make the stripes (or anything) seperately and add layers, upon which you can place dirt etc. Opaque those layers (experiment with different amounts) or even make the canvas of them transparent so that only the dirt is left visible (opaqued or otherwise).

Once you've got the look you want you index (flatten) the layers (under "mode" in "Image", then back to "RGB" and can then save the output in many different extensions (BMP would be the one you'd need I think). Then paste the image onto the skin.

That's a general gist, I'm not much good explaining stuff from memory. I've had a quick look at a skin in Photoshop but I burned out on IL2 skins a long time ago and the feeling I got when I looked at the Camel was "Egh...bog off!" :icon_lol:
 
Make one layer. Make the stripe in that layer. Choose "multiply" and adjust the transparency of the layer accordingly. Do that for every different stripe.
Great start by the way! :applause:
 
Salute! Widowmaker and All,

Snazzy looking Alb you have there Sir. Very nice work.

So...what will I need in terms of programs to actually do some custom painting of my plane? I currently have my old Adobe PhotoDeluxe BE which I have used for anything and everything over the years. Any direction and advice on this will be much appreciated.

Salute!

Lou
 
Looks great Widowmaker! Way better than my first skin. Can't help you with the tech stuff though. I dont use photoshop.:isadizzy:

-Rooster
 
Mmmm, black n white stripes on your plane and your from Newcastle.
Theres a surprise then! :ernae:
 
Thanks for the replies guys... That's given me something to work on!

Thank you Giant2111... I shall ensure that that goes on my German Skins!!

Will the layer thing help with the back to front writing?

RAF_Louvert apparently you can also use Paintshop pro...and Gousgounis has written an extremely good tuitorial for that program, and skinning in OFF
 
Rooster89 said:
Looks great Widowmaker! Way better than my first skin. Can't help you with the tech stuff though. I dont use photoshop.:isadizzy:

-Rooster
Click to expand...

Thanks...But I really should point out, that only the stripes and Skull were my work, on a brilliantly skinned Alb... I am a long way off from the full camo thing!...lol
 
UK_Widowmaker said:
Thanks for the replies guys... That's given me something to work on!

Thank you Giant2111... I shall ensure that that goes on my German Skins!!

Will the layer thing help with the back to front writing?

RAF_Louvert apparently you can also use Paintshop pro...and Gousgounis has written an extremely good tuitorial for that program, and skinning in OFF
Click to expand...

The back-to-front writing is a mirroring issue, mentioned in the tutorial. :)
 
UK_Widowmaker said:
Thanks...But I really should point out, that only the stripes and Skull were my work, on a brilliantly skinned Alb... I am a long way off from the full camo thing!...lol
Click to expand...

Yep. I know all about it. My first job was a "striper" too. lol. It should be the first screenie over in the "Showing Some Skin" thread in the P1&P2 forum. One thing I can advise is to keep that screenie saved on your PC somewhere. If you keep at it, over time, and if you look at your latest and then your first skin, you'll be amazed at how much better you've become at it.

-Rooster
 
UK_Widowmaker said:
Will the layer thing help with the back to front writing?
Click to expand...

Sure. You put the text in its own layer. Then you select it and use whatever Photoshop command mirrors selected things left-right. I'm sure there's another command to flip selected things from top to bottom, as well, and another to rotate them to the desired angle.

Layers are the whole key to skinning. Put EVERYTHING on separate layers. That way you can edit them without hosing up other parts of the plane, but even more importantly, you can vary their opacity so you can see lower layers through higher ones, or make some areas on a given part very faint compared to others. This is really important if the upper and lower parts of the plane are different colors, because structural things like panel lines and rib shadows show up differently through or on top of different base paint colors. Thus, you usually have to have different opacities for the structural parts on upper and lower parts of the plane, which requires them to be on different layers.

Take the top wing's upper surface. You'd have separate layers for its insignia, main paint, aileron separation lines, and any "pretend" rib shadows (assuming the 3D model doens't have ribs built into it already, which lower wing surfaces usually don't). Then probably another layer for dirt, another for water streaks, etc. So maybe 6 layers just for that 1 part of the plane, although I usually have universal grime and streak layers that work everywhere on the plane. Then do the same for every other part of the plane. It's not uncommon to end up with 50-60 layers for 1 skin.
 
nice paint job......reminds me of RB3d spending more time painting up my mount than flying....so much easier back then just using paint!!!

Bullethead is right--use lots of layers to get everything tuned. I always start with a first layer that is roughly what I want(like, a big white stripe), and then use the other layers to play, that way if you screw up, you just toss the offending layer. It's daunting at first, but when you get the hang of it, you'll be amazed at how good things will look.

My wife uses photoshop all day long so I picked it up from her mostly----but I always love to show her something I did, and she remarks that it reminds her of something she would have done back in 1st year of art school..........and then she gives me a cookie.:bs:
 
Hi, WIDOWMAKER
Directly translated, it would be "Witwenmacher", as GIANT said.
But as you mean the spider, it's name is "Schwarze Witwe" in German (wich would be Black Widow in English, to confuse the whole).

I find it great, your skin. At once, out of nothing - great!

If you want to create a black stripe on a wing, you can frame the area with the rectangle choice, and then try colour balance, or "variations" (darker), to get it blacker and blacker, without loosing the weathering.

The mirrored name is easy to correct - you must mirror the text on one of the sides (I think, on the upper) in "Transforming" (or how it's called in Old Blighty).

I usually work a simple way. I choose a bright plane (best: overall white) for changing it to very bright colours like pale blue. Or a black and a yellow plane; and cut the bits/stripes out of the one, and place them on the other, to get a black-and-yellow plane. And so on. Hope it helps.
You can ask me any questions; I'll try to help you getting on.
 
You guys are the best... I swear, I sometimes feel this forum is like one big family!

thanks so much
 
Yeah!!! One big family of Trial and error Dead pilots....haha:faint:
 
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