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| 7.3.3: Skinning 101 -Sared - May 22 04:52am | |
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(In the beginning, there was a newbie...) This will cover the absoloute basics on the file types, associations, programs needed, and basic technique. (Not nessaceraly in that order). To start skinning (for any Q3 based game), you will need a basic set of tools. First off, a program that can manipulate and save JPEGs. Now before I go on, let me make a note on this; sometimes the author of the skin will save one or many of the images as .TGA (Targa) file. In some cases (such as the skin that goes on the Mara Jade model which uses one single .tga for the entire skin) this may be best, but in other cases, it is much more size-efficient to convert these to a jpeg. This can be done if you have either an image conversion program, a demo can be found at: HEY LINK If you have a program such as Adobe Photoshop 7 or Corel Draw 9 then this should be a simple process. Enough ranting . Now, to actually access the .pk3 (hereafter refered to as a 'package file') you can use one of two programs. Winzip (a fairly recent version) the demo of which can be downloaded here: HEY LINK or you can get a very useful (and free) program called Pakscape (which I prefer) which you can download here: HEY LINK Now, we are going to take a popular skin from jk2files and mess with it. Go to HEY LINK and download the skin of Darth Maul. Yes, I know it may be sappy but it is a very simple and uncomplex skin to start with. Now here comes the big difference between pakscape and winzip when it comes to viewing package files; with winzip, you will view all the files in the package without a clear feeling of what file is in whitch folder. With Pakscape you will view four folders, (to view these if you only have winzip, unzip them all to a folder of your choice and make sure to keep them in their subdirectories). You should see the folders: botfiles, models, scripts, sound; extract all these to a folder of your choosing. for right now, the only folder you should concern yourself with is the models folder. open the folder and go to the players/Maul_deluxe folder and you will see a group of files, for right now, only concern yourself with the JPEGs. Lets start by opening maul_torso.jpg. You will see a big black area around each portion of the skin, this I will refer to as the 'void'. Simply put, the void is the section of the JPEG that the model will not display. Some images have voids, others might not, but always remember that any thing you wish to be shown should be kept inside the void. The next step can be as simple or as complicated as you wish it to be. You can do something simple like draw your name on the torso, or do something like recoloring each and every tattoo. When you get better at graphic design then you can even design a whole new torso for the skin. Make what changes you wish, and save the image as a JPEG with the same name. Do this will as many of the images you want. In the end, edit the icon_default.jpg and make any changes you see fit. Now open up the folder that you extracted the images too and that you saved the images too. Boot up Pakscape and selecr File, then New. A box should pop up, drag the four folders containing your work into this box and select save. Now all you have to do is drop the package into your base folder and boot up the game with your skin. Well people, that about it for now. I am tired so I am wrapping this up as quickly as possible. Make any suggestions and this will be refined to become an even better tutorial! |
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| Comments |
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Count Dooku - Student 
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The easiest way to skin is to follow the guidelines through this video tutorial done by my friend Bael. He has finished video tutorials for creating animated signatures and avatars as well, so if someone is interested in creating them too, just tell me in my profile and i can send all that stuff to whoever wants via MSN for example. Anyway, here is the link: http://www.lucasfiles.com/?s=&action=file&id=689 _______________ "Twice the pride, double the fall" |
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Rosales - Student |
some one see a yoda skin? please let me know. _______________ yo soy rosales |
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NeoTepZ - Student 
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Any photoshop/paintshop etc tips on changing the skin to something new, maybe a lighter colour robes?... or any good techniques to use whilst making your own skin in photoshop? _______________ Wax On, Wax Off... |
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Steinin - Student 
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Could we have some info about messing with the different .glm, .skin and other files next? _______________ 362 Ohi on! |
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