Standardized Artwork Set

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: csatahajos

Air guys, please do not forget that there is already a fairly uniform set from [size="-1"]Cathartes [/size]and they are absolutely nice, not to mention that he did already two versions, an early war and a mid war one, and hopefully he will give us a late war one.

So as for the sides I think it would me wasted work to duplicate that.

You can check it here: http://mathubert.free.fr/witp_files/All ... 42_1.0.zip

As much as I'd like to use Cathartes work, he has not lent his permission yet. When he does you can bet it'll be in there...

[Akos Gergely]

Your set with BigB is quite nice, but let me add that Dixie's and Fremen's camouflaged and graphic like ship sides are also very very nice, so if we do this I'd opt for an all camouflaged ship set on the allied side and if possible using all gray for the japanese ones (or camo if applied). I think we can tone it for scale as well and I really don't think that we should count the pixels so closely (nobody can tell 2-3 pixel differences). On the other hand I fairly agree that we should divide the ships into 3 groups depending on their length, so we can have at least some ddetal for PTs.

Just my 2 cents worth..

[Akos Gergely]

Yep, it'd be nice, we should try to contact him. He aslo started out on a planetop project as well btw...

[Dixie]

Before now I've not really properly scaled stuff. Most of my later stuff is scaled by class, ie carriers 180-200 pixels, cruisers 140-160 and so on.

The left hand side are the 'properly' scaled ones, the right hand side are older unscaled versions.

[Akos Gergely]

Looks so much better in scaled format for me !

[kokubokan25]

I'm now very busy in other "mods", however, i'm glad to colaborate in this "project" but have a important question to Don:
 
This complete stock art ship you need/the game need is WITHOUT "camo ships", does mean only "grey ship sides"??
 

[Akos Gergely]

I seriously hope they are not meaning grey ships . just check what Dixie put up in this thread, it is wonderful! Correct size, historical camos, extremely superb !

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: fremen

I'm now very busy in other "mods", however, i'm glad to colaborate in this "project" but have a important question to Don:

This complete stock art ship you need/the game need is WITHOUT "camo ships", does mean only "grey ship sides"??

My personal preference is for gray. The intent of camo is to confuse the shape of the ship and it does a very good job for my poor old eyes. And, as you note, Matrix went with gray in the original set.

I know several people that feel strongly on both sides of this issue. I have also heard several interesting ideas, including gray sides and camo shills or even two complete sets.

This is something for the team to decide.

Don

[JWE]

ORIGINAL: Don Bowen

My personal preference is for gray. The intent of camo is to confuse the shape of the ship and it does a very good job for my poor old eyes. And, as you note, Matrix went with gray in the original set.

I know several people that feel strongly on both sides of this issue. I have also heard several interesting ideas, including gray sides and camo shills or even two complete sets.

This is something for the team to decide.

Don

I do rather tend to agree with Don. If we can create a self consistent stock art set replacement, it will give the modders a consistent point of departure. Much like Cathartes (sp?) is doing for planes, the mod community can package an evolving cammo scheme; measure 41 --> measure 42 --> dazzle.

IMHO it may be best to begin by laying out a basis in vanilla (spicy vanilla, with a touch of nutmeg) first. To my mind this is a more preferrable way to accommodate the auxiliaries and dinks in a manner consistent with the warship graphics. Annoying perhaps, but only a little annoying, and equally annoying to everyone.

I like the multiple set idea, and the more I think on it, the more intriguing the Cathartes approach appears. That way, the cammo people and the upgrade people can be satisfied, without the undesirable effects of slot clog.

JWE

[Akos Gergely]

Yeah that is a good idea and there is that switch software for the sets. On the other hand I think if we want a vanilla then for allied ships it is mostly (well there are exceptions like HMS PoW) their prewar one tone grey/blue camo, and for the japanese side it is all grey. So basically it does not hide anything from your eyes and it is pretty easy to pick out which class is that. While vanilla might be easy to recognize it detracts from the art's value so much. But thi is just an opinion from somebody on the sideline .

WHatever way you decide I'd be glad to have it.

[Dixie]

My personal preference is for gray. The intent of camo is to confuse the shape of the ship and it does a very good job for my poor old eyes. And, as you note, Matrix went with gray in the original set.

 
Personally I prefer camo.  My eyes aren't as old as Don's though [:'(]

[Monter_Trismegistos]

I prefer ships without camo. Maybe a compromise? Shipshides without and shils with camo?

[Bliztk]

You can do two versions, so everybody is happy [:'(]

[JWE]

The more I think on it, the more I like the Cathartes method; a soft switch.

That way, we will not need to put upgrade ships in additional slots, or worry about whether one kind of cammo pattern or another is appropriate for 1942, 43, 44, etc..., or have to create a hybrid art set.

Let's say every Tennessee will have bm #0180, but the soft switch replaces the PH stock grafik with a 1943 Tennessee in 1943. Similarly, for cammo people, they can create a Measure 41 folder, a Measure 42 folder, a Western Approaches folder, a dazzle folder, yadda yadda. Since changing art does not effect a game in progress, this seems to be an ideal solution. A player can have a set of subfolders for 1942, 43, 44, 45 holding only those ships whose appearance changed in that year.

No additional "upgrade" bm slots are required; no arguments about how a particular ship was painted and when; you can add radar; add/delete scout planes; keep or replace the X turret in certain JP destroyers with AA; you get the idea.

In order to provide the cammo folks and the upgrade folks with opportunity, it seems that vanilla is the way to go for a basis.

Who wants to carry this flag?

JWE

[Akos Gergely]

Second to that JWE!!!

Perhaps Dixie or Fremen should pick this up still , or maybe you?

[JWE]

ORIGINAL: csatahajos

Second to that JWE!!!

Perhaps Dixie or Fremen should pick this up still , or maybe you?

Not me!! I like hazegray and Maizuru gray, along with some house colors, rust and red lead. I have enough trouble with shelter decks than to have to cammo them too. Dixie and Fremen seem to know a bunch about cammo patterns .. sooooo

JWE

[Dixie]

Plain gray is just so dull [:D]
 
Whilst I prefer to have camo, I can understand why some folk want a plain gray scheme.  I'm happy to go with either, but camo schemes are that bit more realistic. 

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Prefer grey. Camo obscures art.

Bye...

Michael Wood

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: Mike Wood

Hello...

Prefer grey. Camo obscures art.

Bye...

Michael Wood

I agree.
Camo is very pretty but it works too well in this game.

Of course, that dosen't mean you guys who like camo can't make your own alternative set(s)...

B

[Dixie]

What is being counted as camo?  Obviously dazzle schemes obscure the art, but how about the USN measure 22?  Or the RN camo circa 1945 (Gray with blue 'block')?