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... next project - more enemy "targets"

UncleTgt said:
Hi Ivan,

Paint Shop Pro 8.1 & lots of layers & masks. Some custom brush tips allow me to hand draw a reasonable "mop-head" applied camo.

I start with a mono colour blank & build up the details with layers. Once the camo pattern is established I use different filters & masks overlaid to build up the colour. It allows you to do fine adjustments without losing the original drawing work. Time-consuming, but flexible.

In this particular case I cheated a little. I used the camo pattern from "Tony32v2.zip" & selected everything with a green shade. I then created a new layer & filled the selection with a dark green, & began to soften & blur the edges slightly. Duplicate the layers & build the effects with differing transparancies & you'll retain the panel line details.

Same approach for markings, wear & tear & paint chips. Using masks & layers is the key - oh, and lots of patience!!!:biggrin-new:
Click to expand...

Dear Uncle Tgt,

You hit the nail right on the head! I have been preaching for a long time about using the latest PSP issues (or Photoshop... which I find no so friendly)!
To achieve good results one needs to use an UP TO DATE and FRIENDLY paint program... lots of layers, brushes, etc.
It is a lot of wasted time and effort to try to do stuff with the freebies... or OLD, OLD PSPs... (like PSP 3... it just does not have the versatility... good for its
time, but quite passe' now
Also, the more you can do... the better you get at it!! btw... EXCELLENT WORK on those camos...
Keep it up... (I am working on natural metal finishes now.. and learning a lot too)

G.
applause.gif
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My biggest issue right now is how to keep consisten "Mop Sizes". The scaling between Fuselage, Tail, Wings is all different, so what looks right while drawing usually doesn't look so right on the aeroplane. Also, matching all the mop patterns across the top of the fuselage spine is something I haven't worked out to look good.

Instead of PSP, I have generally been using GIMP for the layer effects. Guess I should look at PSP.

Thanks.
- Ivan.
 
Indeed...

Ivan said:
My biggest issue right now is how to keep consisten "Mop Sizes". The scaling between Fuselage, Tail, Wings is all different, so what looks right while drawing usually doesn't look so right on the aeroplane. Also, matching all the mop patterns across the top of the fuselage spine is something I haven't worked out to look good.

Instead of PSP, I have generally been using GIMP for the layer effects. Guess I should look at PSP.

Thanks.
- Ivan.
Click to expand...

I got GIMP just to try it... and found it 'unfriendly'... not very easy to figure out without instructions... I think you'll be happier with PSP... Photoshop is really great... notwithstanding the fact that it requires some knowledge of graphic arts... My son is a graphics artist and used it throughout his 4 years of college at the Ft Lauderdale Art Institute... so he swears by it... but I think it would be a long learning curve to know all the "ins and outs" to where I can work sort of automatically...
I am almost 77 now... so I figured... I've been using PSP as an amateur since the late 80s... at least I know what I am doing with it (almost)
too late in life to start a learning curve to be proficient with Photoshop... Once in a while I try it... and go back to PSP right away... lol
Like I said before... if you choose PSP... make sure you get one of the latest like from PSP x5 on up...
I am using X6 still... and it is sophisticated enough... X3 or X4 just don't have the wherewithal yet...
G.
 
Ivan,

Broadly agree with Gaucho on this, but for your information I 'm operating PSP8.10 on WIN7 quite successfully - occasional OOM (out of memory) issues, but that because my template files can be extremely large in size.

Little tip for matching mop brush sizes on different bitmaps - trial & error when you're sizing panel lines will give you rough ratios when working with different sized texture bitmaps. Once you get the panel lines to match in visual appearance on the model in sim, just use the ratio between the panel line widths as a guide for the respective increase/decrease on your "mop" brush size.
I'm afraid the rest is lot's of trial & error.

Just remember sometimes close enough is good enough - it's not FSX eye-candy after all, it's a Combat Sim!
 
Just cooked this panel bmp for the "Nick"

If anyone is interested... here it is... (available to all) just cook up a config file:

15076632581_93f3858c2a_o.jpg
 
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