63 réponses à ce sujet

[Proleric]

Traditionally, colour-on-colour isn't allowed, either... but in fantasy, everything is permissible.

[Tarot Redhand]

As a side note... Back in the old days of vinyl (although I hear that in some quarters it is now fashionable to have both the CD/download and the vinyl) albums were released with fancy covers. Back in 1975 Hawkwind released their 'Warrior on the Edge of Time' album (based on Michael Moorcock's eternal champion series of books (he provided guest vocals on the album as well)). This was one of those albums with a fancy cover. Even though it was only a single disk album, the cover opened to reveal an enlarged view of the exterior artwork. If you flipped this cover over it revealed (click image to download larger version) -

 

My impression is that it is a wooden frame covered with leather that has had the characters that make up the word chaos hot stamped into it. The frame and radials, which are apparently there to secure the leather, appear to be polished bronze. Finally, I have the impression that the central boss is made of copper.

 

Now I don't suppose anyone would care to make that into a NwN asset, would they?

 

TR

[Tarot Redhand]

Update - by the end of the day I will have (around about) 1790 coloured shield shapes. Next step colour the embellishments.

 

TR

[Tarot Redhand]

Little correction. I have now finished colouring the shield shapes and there are in fact 1627. I decided to not make additional 3 x 3 coloured designs as that would have been 210 variations (total 630). Instead there is one of each to be coloured only when and if needed. However in my previous post I accidentally counted them as having 42 variations each which accounts for the majority of the discrepancy in the number.

 

TR

[Tarot Redhand]

Just a little update. I am now up to 2210+ separate image files on this. Probably take a short break to catch up on RL stuff for a day or so.

 

TR

[Tarot Redhand]

Looks like there is still a lot of work to be done. I suspect I have a large number of base images that are too narrow and I could really do with more devices to apply to them. Then there is the little matter of getting them into the game... I've not done anything 'holdable/equipable before so am not that sure about the info in the ccg v3 (which for shields is sparse anyway).

 

Just to show that it's not all doom and gloom here is a picture of 25 shield designs that I put together earlier this evening -

 

 

Mind you I did have an 'accident' this afternoon while doing a pattern fill...

 

 

Not really medieval is it although it might be of use for a tinker gnome. Just a thought - if anyone wants to colour it in using this palette -

 

 

feel free (Just click on the above 2 images to download them). If you do, it would be nice if you post your result in here.

 

TR

[Empyre65]

S01, s5, and s25 would be "evil" because of the direction the creature on the shield is facing. I forget who and in which thread, but somebody mentioned that in a relatively recent thread (within the past year for sure). Sinister means left, and the creature is facing to the left of the person holding the shield.

[ShadowM]

Just add Unwrap UVW to the base model and move you points in edit to the new texture size and you good to go.

[Tarot Redhand]

I am now at a point where feedback on what I have done so far would prove useful to me. However I really ought to explain what I am trying to achieve. My aim is to release a set of parts to enable the (reasonably) quick creation of designs for the front of shields. This is in contrast to my original purpose which was just to create a number (say 20 to 80 or so) of generic shields. What I now plan to do is to create 20 shields that can be used as the basis for a user to create their own shields by just creating their own designs that they place into a hak positioned above my hak.

 

So what have I got so far? 2604 separate graphics files of which more than half are finished. I have separated them into base shield designs and embellishments. The embellishments are completed. However just under half of the base shield designs are too narrow by between 6 and 8 pixels depending on their design. I will delineate which ones later in this post. I have divided the embellishments into 3 categories - types 1, 2 and 3. Type 1 are an extension of the base shield designs, type 2 are the normal pictorial devices (such as dragons, griffons, crossed keys and lions) while type 3 are runes for magic shields. Actually type 3 are sub-divided into arcane runes (2 separate types), Nordic runes and Roman numerals. In creating the embellishments, I have positioned the devices and runes so that, when used, they are positioned in such a way as to not need any adjustments.

 

I have made all these graphics files with just one simple free (and open source) graphics editing program in mind - the Greenfish Icon Editor Pro (also a portable version on portable apps). As all the images are 128 x 128 pixels in size and are in png format (small, visible as thumbnails and usable by gfie) it is IMO the obvious choice for getting pixel-perfect positioning.

 

Some thoughts on the use of the files. While it is blindingly obvious to me... The base shield textures are the bottom-most textures. Type 1 embellishments are the lowest (in any stack) of all embellishments. Type 2 and type 3 embellishments are mutually exclusive (either 1 or the other not both at the same time. Load all your chosen graphics for ashield design into gfie at once and then copy and paste whatever embellishments you are using nto the base shield design. One thing to note is that until you deselect a pasted graphic, you can move it around if you are desatisfied with the positioning I have given them. Once satisfied with the positioning, deselect that graphic. When you have made your shield design save it remembering to give it a unique filename - you don't want to overwrite the base images. Also don't forget to convert this image to tga if you are going to use it in game.

 

If you are pleased with what you come up with, why not post it here. If you have a graphic that you would like to use as an embellishment the remember to resize it to fit. An embellishment must not be more than 100 pixels wide or 75 pixels tall in order to fit comfortably within the borders of the shield design used here. Also it would be nice to post any such embellishments that you are pleased with, in this thread for others to use and for possible inclusion in this package when it is finally done and released.

 

Known problems - The base shield designs that are too narrow are 20 - 28 inclusive, 30 - 38 inclusive, 40 and 41. Which makes a total of 840 files to be edited so bear with me on those. While gunner was kind enough to make a model for me, I still have to look into how to go about making 20 odd shields for use in game. Furthermore ones that don't overwrite existing game assets.

 

Anyway, for anyone wishing to give the graphics a try, they are temporarily (until I post the finished article) available via my dropbox here. (and the palette image her, if needed). Note unless you want a large number of folders to suddenly appear, extract the 7z into its own folder.

 

BTW I have already realised that those embellishment will work fine for a flag making kit of parts but that comes later...

 

TR

[Tarot Redhand]

OK, Little update - I have corrected a little oversight of mine and now have an extra device at my end - the NwN Eye. Seeing as it is such a small update it is not included in the download mentioned above. While I'm about it I will mention that one of the devices that is included is very much tongue in cheek.

 

TR

[Tarot Redhand]

You Know the only real drawback with dropbox? It doesn't count the number of downloads. So if anyone does take a look at what I have done so far can you let me know? In here, pm - I don't care. At least that way I will know that somebody is actually interested.

 

TR

[3RavensMore]

I downloaded it, and will look at in in a bit.

[3RavensMore]

I see what your trying to do.  Perhaps it would be helpful if you did a few in-game examples of how you envision the end results to look?

[rjshae]

Mind you I did have an 'accident' this afternoon while doing a pattern fill...

 

 

Not really medieval is it although it might be of use for a tinker gnome. Just a thought - if anyone wants to colour it in using this palette -

 

 

feel free (Just click on the above 2 images to download them). If you do, it would be nice if you post your result in here.

 

TR

 

A Gnomish "sunset" jigsaw.

[MerricksDad]

I'm looking at this concept, and I'm having a bit of a problem wrapping my mind around something. Let me list it as my brain sees it.

 

1) Why not divide the shield 3D object into regions, and paint those regions just with the color you want from your palette.

2) Why not make one large image file, with all your palette colors listed in the corner, or along one side as 4x4 color swatches.

3) Put all your decals in the same image, making them in triplicate. One white, one black, and one 50% gray.

4) Make a second 3D mesh which wraps the front of your shield and displays the decal. Tint the decal mesh with an override color, and use the gray version of that decal from the texture atlas.

5) Copy your shield type, with decal mesh placed correctly X number of times, and then for each copy:

a) offset the tvert placement of the base shield colors

b.) offset the tvert placement of the decal you want

c) if using 50% gray decal, apply the correct decal color tint so that it correctly matches your required palette.

 

If you did this with a gmax script, you would only have to merge the image files into one, and then make the 3d shapes for the shields. After you did that, all you have to know is the offset pixels in the texture and you can do it all the rest of the way with scripts.

[3RavensMore]

I'm looking at this concept, and I'm having a bit of a problem wrapping my mind around something. Let me list it as my brain sees it.

 

...steps deleted.

If you did this with a gmax script, you would only have to merge the image files into one, and then make the 3d shapes for the shields. After you did that, all you have to know is the offset pixels in the texture and you can do it all the rest of the way with scripts.

 

And it's just that easy! 

[Tarot Redhand]

@MD I am doing it this way so that those not savvy with 3D modelling can still make use of it. The only things that they will have to do is to copy and paste in gfie, use any of a number of programs to convert the result into tga files and use nwhak to make a hak file containing the tgas. Full instructions will be given. Pros & cons -

 

Pros

Easy with no 3D modelling

Thousands of colour/design combinations

 

Cons

Only one physical Shield shape (Even if I think that the model that gunner made is excellent)

Limited number of combinations (Even if it is in the thousands)

 

Re Number 2 - I actually have a pre-made (by someone else) swatch for PS (I also made a pattern file for the 4 ermines). I made that small palette file just for use in gfie which is simple to use.

 

With this project I am not going to be precious about other people using it as a springboard for their own methods to achieve their own shields. Thing of it more as a starting point.

 

@rjshae - It's probably me, but I can't download anything from that link. It just wants me to share with everybody...

 

TR

[rjshae]

@rjshae - It's probably me, but I can't download anything from that link. It just wants me to share with everybody...

 

I wasn't able to post it as an image. Not sure why.

[Tarot Redhand]

<hyper cheek and self promotion mode engaging...>

 

@rjshae Have you checked out the guide I made that there is a link to in my sig (3rd link)?

 

TR

[Proleric]

I am now at a point where feedback on what I have done so far would prove useful to me...

I tried this out in Photoshop. Very useful. Everything seemed fine, though of course I didn't test every permutation!

Just in case you don't already have enough to do (lol), for additional charges (embellishments), you might find Heraldry Clipart interesting. I expect I can figure out how to add my own charges to the base shields, but a tutorial along those lines would be helpful (see, for example, Lisa's Surcoats & Tabards).

I didn't go as far as making the shield models in game at this stage.

Nice work.

[rjshae]

@rjshae Have you checked out the guide I made that there is a link to in my sig (3rd link)?

 

I don't have a public folder on dropbox so I can't follow your instructions. Can you access this link?

[Tarot Redhand]

If you don't have a public folder (no longer created automatically since 4th October 2012) you need to create one yourself following the instructions on this dropbox help page. The instructions are about halfway down the page under "Creating a Public Folder".

 

Here is your image done following the instructions in my pdf.

 

 

TR

[rjshae]

Well, mission accomplished then. Thanks.

[Tarot Redhand]

Just thought I'd let you guys know that there will be a delay on this because my landlord has decided that my home needs to be rewired next week. There is one plus note that goes with this, however, in that I am going to get extra electrical sockets/outlets (yay somewhere to plug my chair into  ). So if my sanity is not totally shredded...

 

TR

[Tarot Redhand]

Well I have just found a tool that has just saved this project. Remember I had 882 textures to resize? They have now been done thanks to Bimp. So now I can get back to doing the modelling part...

 

TR