PlaneShift
Gameplay => General Discussion => Topic started by: Fozzharn on March 07, 2007, 03:47:21 pm
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I am not very much into making graphics and things neither I'm very creative at all but I had a real big laugh when we had this Halloween happening and I saw Trepors wobbling around in the gold mine ...
My question:
Is there any way to change the character-skins for personal issues ?
I mean ... maybe "Tail-Warmers" for Enkis, or Helmets with one of the Horns broken ?
I'm for sure not able to do such things and the reason I'm asking is ... has anyone here tried such things ?
Can I see those ? Try those ?
I'd sometimes like to have some "variety" in game ... \\o//
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If you change any character model you change it only for you to see and no one else and it shows up on all models
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People have tried such things. Its easy enough to make changes that will make your character looks as though they are wearing items that are included in the game client download but not actually implemented, thats just a case of changing around names in the character.zip file. (sometimes not quite so simple.)
It is also possible to add skins that you have created by substituting the thing you have made with one of the things already in the characters.zip file. The only problem would be having all the other characters that use the item you substituted having the same changes.
E.G.
Suitably regal golden Chain mail armor for a Kran
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/im_idoru/gold.jpg)
The problem here would show up as every other Kran that doesnt have any armor equipped showing up in golden armor.
Its easy enough to play around with things and see what works, just always make a back-up of what you intend to change.
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If you change any character model you change it only for you to see and no one else and it shows up on all models
Oh, yes ... sure I know that ... it is only to be seen by me ... I know.
People have tried such things. Its easy enough to make changes that will make your character looks as though they are wearing items that are included in the game client download but not actually implemented, thats just a case of changing around names in the character.zip file. (sometimes not quite so simple.)
It is also possible to add skins that you have created by substituting the thing you have made with one of the things already in the characters.zip file. The only problem would be having all the other characters that use the item you substituted having the same changes.
E.G.
Suitably regal golden Chain mail armor for a Kran
The problem here would show up as every other Kran that doesnt have any armor equipped showing up in golden armor.
Its easy enough to play around with things and see what works, just always make a back-up of what you intend to change.
Ah --- yeah ! That's what I wanted to hear (see, read).
okay .. are there more examples ?
anyone want to show me some selmade skins ?
I promise I would try to play them ...
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Check out some old threads in the fan art section. There's quite a few. Including some simpsons skins :P
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PlaneShift-related: doesn't belong in Hydlaa Plaza :]
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"D'oh"-Nuts!! (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=25737.0); Simsons skins
Niko's GUI mods (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=22758.0); name says it all.
I have been looking into making my own skins for the game. Only problem I have had is making a dds file on the mac. Guess I'll have to look round for a good image converter as what I have now just will not do it. I have had my mind on doing a Thundercats theme skin for fun though.
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Only problem I have had is making a dds file on the mac.
You don't have to. The image may be any format you want. Well, "any"
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a few hours later ...
I am absolutely fascinated by the idea to be able to change the skins of the characters.
I searched the "art"-folder and found what I was looking for.
Now I thought ... for a first attempt of changing something, I just tried to place a "red-dot" on the knee of the female enki.
Well ... I converted the dds file and painted the dot where I was thinking the knee would be ...
but failed ... it was on the left side of the thigh when I started the game ...
My problem is ... seeing the skin does not mean seeing the "body" it surrounds ...
(and my english is not helping me describing the problem)
So what do I want ? err ... is it possible to paint in a dds-file while seeing it wrapped around the body it depends on ?
(Uuh ... any germans here ? I can hardly explain it in english ... but maybe you understood)
Thank you.
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I think you have explained yourself quite well, what you want is to be able to edit the textures/skins while they are wrapped around the mesh? And I have no idea if that is possible :)
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Yeah, I dunno squat about it, but it sounds like you want a 3D art program.
Maybe 'Blender'? Ask Karyuu or Cherpow or someone in the fan art forum :P
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ViewMesh to the rescue!
This is what I use when I texture - you won't be able to paint directly on the model, but you won't have to load up the game every time you want to see what changes you have made. Viewmesh can load the model in a split second, you can rotate it around, move the camera, etc. I can't live without it :)
Here is a viewmesh tutorial (http://vaalnor.mine.nu/psdoc/?q=node/11), and feel free to ask questions if there is any step you don't understand, or if something gives you problems.
A quick way to load a model instead of opening viewmesh, clicking on "Load," browsing to the proper folder, etc., etc., is to open up the command prompt, cd to your viewmesh directory, and load the model file from there. For example:
(http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3457/0030fh4.gif)
Then you can just hit the up arrow to load it over and over, if you are making multiple changes.
*edit*
Another very important way to save time and increase productivity is to use Photoshop Actions or GIMP Scripts. Say for example you are working on a 1024x1024 texture that needs to be rotated, scaled down, and exported into a certain format to be used on the final model. You can do this all by hand, or you can use an action, assign it to a keyboard key, and within a second continue about your work. Between using the command prompt and this shortcut, you are saving quite a bit of time without interrupting your workflow.
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Heya Karyuu
thank you very much ... that tutorial really looks good and helpful ... but (there's always a but ... I'm sorry) the link to CrystalSpace Binary Artists Package doesn't work ...
can I get this anywhere else ?
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Mm, looks like that needs to be updated, and some binary SDKs aren't yet on the CS site. I've uploaded it for you here (http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/491022/Viewmesh.exe) :]
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(http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3457/0030fh4.gif)
You don't have to type, copy/paste it or whatever. You can right click .cal3d and choose "open with", then browse to the vievmesh.exe and since this moment it will stay on the short list, so you won't have to browse it again.
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Unless you're editing the text within .cal3d file as well :) In which case assigning it back and forth from a text editor to viewmesh may be less effective. I consider using the command prompt faster, personally.
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Only problem I have had is making a dds file on the mac.
You don't have to. The image may be any format you want. Well, "any"
Well, in that case I will just have to find a nice quick dds converter and the photoshop-foo will fly. Thanks for the heads up Nikodemus. I shall return soon™ with some new skins.
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Well, in that case I will just have to find a nice quick dds converter and the photoshop-foo will fly.
I always use http://www.amnoid.de/ddsview/
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yeehaa ... thank you all, especially Karyuu.
I will try this all out at the weekend and maybe I can show some results soon ...
Thanks !
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Well, in that case I will just have to find a nice quick dds converter and the photoshop-foo will fly.
I always use http://www.amnoid.de/ddsview/
Thanks ThomPhoenix for the heads up but I am using GraphicConverter X 5.9.5 (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/263) to do some char. changes. Although, it all seems for not as of yet. I have changed the dds to jpg did some work on them; using that to replace the old files first as jpg then as dds. Had problems even know I zipped the folder back. Making all the names and everything look the same as it was before. Then upon loading the game to get a quick look it stopped at the char. screen. Then prompted me to run an update due to the server sending an invalid file name. Meaning I suppose it did not like the changes I made and required an update to fix it. I am not quite sure how to remedy this problem yet. Anyone else have a similar problem with skinning on a Mac?
::Edit:: Smacks head,"I could of had a V8!". Thanks Karyuu, I was totally oblivious to the obvious once again. Capn' Obvious to the rescue! :D
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If you use another format, you just have to edit the .cal3d or .spr file of the model to reflect this.