FanArt skins

[Krann Omins]

I was wondering if--(and this may be silly for me to ask, but i don't know all the ins and outs of all the filetypes)- more png files of skins could be posted if they aren't already...

I don't know how to access dds or such without learning the applications suggested, and I know i could do far better just photoshopping so all i did was edit the png on photoshop, save a backup of the zip-- open it & add the png, and change the text in the cal3d doc to refference that file instead.. it's not so long to load ps & check if you keep yourself in the right vicinity...

Anyway i was thinking if the pngs could be hosted somehere or a good converter suggested or such --i'm sure a lot of fan artists would be interested to try working the skins into fun interesting stuff that could someday be adapted into useful visuals--exxtra layers, or however your tech stuff works... pardon my ignorance.

[by the way--the photoshop tennis post had me questioning the contest approach slightly-- i think anyone would be glad to have their creativity adapted upon, if someone's adaptation is better it's hardly important who made the first cut or final cut, the point is a part of your idea has more chance of being used if it's also adapted upon by other artists... and there is a greater chance for better skins with colaborative minds. I think we all agree; the game being as good as it can is more of a goal than whether it's someone else's work, your own, or both- as cool as tose last 2 options are...]

Anyway--here is a list of stuff i would expect people to come up with, and would like to try a stab at myself-- some apply to all chars & npc, others just chars... I doubt most if any would be applied any time soon, as i would think it makes the game take more space... but here goes;

Weakness
Freeze
Flame burst
Rock armor
Armor damage/quality loss
Weapon  "" "" ""
(i'm gonna guess not EVERY, but some) specific weapons (ruby encrusted as example)
Helmet-type armor of the snug variety

And i figure a lot of hand done fan artists would be able to themselves or thru another stratch & fade their sketches crudely into proper shape for skins--and see what their art could look like in game..


I get the impression someone will reply saying that all this already exists on some other board or such... but i'll clarify now, in case the photoshop tennis part didn't, this idea is mainly to allow people to post ideas in fanart so they can be built upon to hone skills & familiarity with skin shapes/display in game; to perhaps one day be of more use as actual contributors to the game-- but more importantly, making more potential to inspire ideas among those currently working on it...

hope i'm not asking for something silly

[Karyuu]

Are you using Photoshop by any chance? It has a .DDS plugin :] Very handy, and very easy to use. If not, I don't see any problems with posting .PNG versions of some skins - you'll just have to mention which you would like. All NPCs? All characters, armors included?

I'm not sure I understand your list however - can you explain a bit more what that is for?

[Krann Omins]

the list is just  few things i thought of that i intended to try (showing visible effects of) on the skins for fun, & figued others might like to take  stab at as well... like icicles from frost or such... --as opposd to the completely random junk you'll see more tries at like the spidersilk armor...

& while i would like all the everythings... i figure to start with just npcs or just characters.. they're the ones people will most likely be psyched to see... or start with whatever you think could use new skins as was done with rats.....
Tho i have to admit i would also see a lot of potential in adapting many texures onto one enother like a 'tefustang skin'-based leather armor for example...

[Karyuu]

Ooh, I see.

Contests is really the only current way to get your stuff in-game though - just so there's no confusion :} I don't know when we may run the next one. Regardless, playing around with textures even just for yourself is great.

I think this thread fits more in the Fan Art section than here, since the Wishlist is for things you want to see in-game.

(I'd love to post the .PNGs myself, but ack, no access to game client at the moment. Hoping someone will do that!)

[ArcaneFalcon]

by the way--the photoshop tennis post had me questioning the contest approach slightly-- i think anyone would be glad to have their creativity adapted upon, if someone's adaptation is better it's hardly important who made the first cut or final cut, the point is a part of your idea has more chance of being used if it's also adapted upon by other artists... and there is a greater chance for better skins with colaborative minds. I think we all agree; the game being as good as it can is more of a goal than whether it's someone else's work, your own, or both- as cool as tose last 2 options are...

Don't question the contest approach.  Erik and I are just messing around a bit, using it as an exercise almost to get me back in the swing of things.  What you're describing here is that it doesn't matter if a bunch of people collaborate on one piece, but you're thinking too small.  A bunch of people collaborate to make a whole game, and they collaborate one texture at a time (or one model at a time, or one script at a time, or..one...code chunk...at a time...).  The contest approach is perfectly valid, and we understand the reason for wanting to keep the entries behind closed doors until they are submitted (it's the same policy for any other potential final artwork).  We're just...as Karyuu said, a handful.

[Krann Omins]

Not to be a nag... but this thread is already nearly off the board's first page... could anyone post those please?

[Karyuu]

You are using Photoshop as far as I can tell, so all you have to do is just install the .DDS plugin. Then you can open the .DDS files and export them back out in whatever format you wish. Go here and download the "Adobe Photoshop Normal Map and DDS Authoring Plug-ins." It's an .exe, so you just download and run.

[Krann Omins]

thanks