Matrix Games Forums

Hi All,

Here is a IVE skin Mod for you all. I hope you like it. As always JSGME ready and the download is in the next post.

Regards John

Hi All,

Here is the download for the Mod.

Regards John

Thanx John, I hope you someday will write a little skinning tutorial. I open those DDS files and see the full 3D model in 2D, and I'm really not sure where to start [;)]

John,

Each new release is better than the last.

Very nice.

Keep up the good work!

Regards

S.

very beautiful!

at least i know where ur xtra time goes for pbem,lol![;)]

keep them great mods coming, plz!

thx,

himmel

John,

I don't know if you would consider this but your could move to highres (1024x1204) textures at some stage (or release a hires pack) They do look much better up close. I don't know what tools you use but you could also start work on the normal maps (which give the small flat details a nice 3D look without extra geometry). I think with your talent and a wider "canvas" of tools to work with you could make some killer stuff!

Just a thought

S.

Hi All,

Thank you for the kind words. It is always nice to know your work is appreciated.

Hi Stridor,

I have not looked into Hi-Res yet but I have been thinking of it lately. Is there a way to convert what I have already done? The tools I use are Paint Net and Corel Photo Paint 12. Thanks for the encouragement.

Regards John

John,

You can resize the dds to 1024x1204 from the 512x512 but you will need to redraw the details at the new res as the resize won't add any extra detail.

What I would do is to resize the dds in your paint program to 1024x1204. Then make it slightly transparent. Then in a new layer ontop of the resized dds start drawing new detail. When you are done save your base work as a bmp (for future use or distribution in a non-lossy format) then convert it to a dds. Call it body.dds (or whatever the model expects) and there you go a high res texture which will look much better close up.

Whilst you are there take a look at the normal.bmp. You can hand edit these but it is better if you have a plugin to make them for you. The nvidia photoshop dds plugins do this automatically. If you add new details (esp 3D like rivets, etc) to a texture you should redo the normal map so that when the player pans around the model the lighting will pick them up and show them in pseudo 3D for a more detailed looking model.

I don't use Paint net or Corel (can either of them take photshop plugins?) but I am sure if you looked there would be a program somewhere out there which does the same thing (re: normal map generator from texture) as the photoshop plugins do.

The normal maps if done well do make a big difference esp for things like rivets, weld lines, cracks, bullet holes, dents, etc, hatch lines, hatch handles, vents, etc.

Nice job, John, added to my Mods!

I agree with Stridor, you're doing great work but you should explore the 1024x1024 high res option and take a look at the normal maps too. Between those two, you can really make the vehicles eye-popping.

Hi All,

I discovered a small artifact around the spare tread wheel which I have now fixed. Please update your files with the arrachment below. It will overwrite the current file.

Regards John

ok - dumb question - is this a replacement for one of the "generic" entries, or is replacing the skin for an existing unit model?

Thanks
Rick

z1812's first line is this is a skin mod...

Yes, for an exsisting model.

Edit, should be used in battles after mid 1943.

Very nice. thanks.

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

z1812's first line is this is a skin mod...

Yes, for an exsisting model.

Edit, should be used in battles after mid 1943.

Ok thanks, - just making sure I understood what "skin" meant - U never used any mods with CMBB so wanted to make sure my understanding of terminology was correct.

Thanks
Rick