Decals
From MW4:Wiki
(→Transparent Decals) |
(→Prepping the Image) |
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<table> | <table> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| - | <td width="600" valign=top>The first thing I will do is delete the black area of the image I don't want to be visible. | + | <td width="600" valign=top> |
| + | The first thing I will do is delete the black area of the image I don't want to be visible. | ||
| + | '''Photoshop''' | ||
In photoshop, the magic want set to a tolerance of 5 works well. | In photoshop, the magic want set to a tolerance of 5 works well. | ||
| + | [[Image:Magic wand.jpg]] | ||
| + | *Use the wand to select the black areas and press delete twice. That will leave us something similar to the image to the right. | ||
| + | **Make sure the layer you are working isn't locked. If it is, duplicate it to a new layer and delete the locked layer. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Gimp''' | ||
| + | *Go to Layer > Transparency > and select 'Add Alpha Channel' | ||
| + | [[Image:Fuzzy select tool.jpg|thumb|x100px|left|Fuzzy Select Tool Settings]] | ||
| + | *Select the 'Fuzzy Select Tool' | ||
| + | *Set the threshold to '10' | ||
| + | *Select the black area and press delete twice | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
| - | <td> | + | <td valign=top> |
[[Image:decal1.jpg|left|thumb|Deleting the extra stuff]] | [[Image:decal1.jpg|left|thumb|Deleting the extra stuff]] | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
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<table> | <table> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| - | <td width="600" valign=top>Next, I will select everything and give it a heavy border. I want to do that so the border is easily visible when I shrink it down to 32x32 pixels. | + | <td width="600" valign=top>Next, I will select everything and give it a heavy border. I want to do that so the border is easily visible when I shrink it down to either 64x64 or 32x32 pixels. |
| - | *In photoshop, go to Layer>Layer Style>Stroke. Change the stroke color to black and the size to '10'. | + | |
| + | '''Photoshop''' | ||
| + | *In photoshop, go to Layer>Layer Style>Stroke. Change the stroke color to black and the size to '10'. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Gimp''' | ||
| + | *Select your main layer and create a duplicate layer by going to Layer> and choosing 'Duplicate Layer' | ||
| + | *Using your Fuzzy Tool, click in the transparent background area. | ||
| + | *Select the skull by inverting your selection. Go to Select> and choosing 'Inverse' | ||
| + | [[Image:Stroke.jpg|thumb|left|x100px|Stroke Settings]] | ||
| + | *Create the Stroke by going to Edit> and choosing 'Stoke Selection' | ||
| + | *Copy the settings from the image to the left | ||
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| + | [[Image:30 stroke.jpg|thumb|left|x100px|Stroke Effects]] | ||
| + | You will end up with something that looks like this. | ||
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| + | [[Image:15 stroke.jpg|thumb|left|x100px|Stroke Corrected]] | ||
| + | You should still have the outline of the skull selected. | ||
| + | *If you do, simple press delete and you should get an image similar to the one to the left | ||
| + | **If you accidentally deselected the skull, just use the fuzzy tool to select the skull in the other layer, invert the selection, and press delete. | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
| - | <td> | + | <td valign=top> |
[[Image:decal2.jpg|left|thumb|Adding a border]] | [[Image:decal2.jpg|left|thumb|Adding a border]] | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
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<table> | <table> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| - | <td width="600" valign=top>Now I want to | + | <td width="600" valign=top>Now I want to flatten my image to one layer so it's easier to work with. |
| + | |||
| + | '''Photoshop''' | ||
*In photoshop, the easiest way for me to do this is to create a new transparent layer below my current one, then merge it down. Go to Layer>Merge Down. | *In photoshop, the easiest way for me to do this is to create a new transparent layer below my current one, then merge it down. Go to Layer>Merge Down. | ||
| + | **Using Layer>Flatten Image will fill in my background with white which is something I don't want. | ||
*Now I can use my magic want to easily select my image by clicking the empty area, then inverting my selection by going to Select>Inverse. | *Now I can use my magic want to easily select my image by clicking the empty area, then inverting my selection by going to Select>Inverse. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Gimp''' | ||
| + | *In Gimp, simply go to Layer> and choose 'Merge Down' until you only have one layer left | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
<td> | <td> | ||
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<table> | <table> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| - | <td width="600" valign=top>Now | + | <td width="600" valign=top> |
| - | + | Now I can easily create my Alpha Channel. | |
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| + | '''Photoshop''' | ||
| + | [[Image:Alpha.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Layers Window]] | ||
| + | In photoshop, I go to the channels window by going to Window>Show Channels. I now see four channels: RGB, Red, Green, and Blue. | ||
*Create a new channel by clicking 'Create New Channel' at the bottom of that window. That gives me a black square with an outline of my crossbones. | *Create a new channel by clicking 'Create New Channel' at the bottom of that window. That gives me a black square with an outline of my crossbones. | ||
*I want to fill that area with white so it will be visible in my decal. Go to Edit>Fill and use White. | *I want to fill that area with white so it will be visible in my decal. Go to Edit>Fill and use White. | ||
| - | *If you want to blend it to let some of the dirt and paneling of the mech show through, make a color that is 80% grey and fill the crossbones with the paintbucket | + | *If you want to blend it to let some of the dirt and paneling of the mech show through, make a color that is 80% grey and fill the skull and crossbones with the paintbucket. |
*After you fill it, you can deselect the image. | *After you fill it, you can deselect the image. | ||
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| + | '''Gimp''' | ||
| + | [[Image:Alpha2.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Layers Window]] | ||
| + | *In Gimp, right click on your layer and choose 'Add Layer Mask'. Choose 'Transfer Layer's Alpha Channel' and press 'Add'. | ||
| + | *If you want to blend it, select your skull (Fuzzy wand/Invert) and use the paintbucket with a color of 80% grey and fill the skull and crossbones with the color. You should see the grid behind it slightly show through. | ||
| + | *Once you are done, right click on the layer and choose 'Apply Layer Mask'. | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
| - | <td> | + | <td valign=top valign=top> |
[[Image:decal4.jpg|left|thumb|Adding the Alpha Channel]] | [[Image:decal4.jpg|left|thumb|Adding the Alpha Channel]] | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
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<table> | <table> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| - | <td width="600" valign=top>The only step left now is to re-size the image. | + | <td width="600" valign=top>The only step left now is to re-size the image. You are left with two options; You can choose to make it a 32x32 image and be done with it, or you can go an extra step and make it a 64x64 decal with transparency. |
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| + | ====Resizing Your Transparent Decal==== | ||
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| + | '''32x32 Decal''' | ||
*In photoshop, go to Window>Show Layers and select your layer. | *In photoshop, go to Window>Show Layers and select your layer. | ||
**Resize your image by going to Image>Image Size. Change the width and height fields to 32 and press OK. | **Resize your image by going to Image>Image Size. Change the width and height fields to 32 and press OK. | ||
**After resizing, I would suggest creating a completely black layer under your image layer to ensure there isn't any white spots on the edge of your transparencies. That is completely optional though and usually not necessary. | **After resizing, I would suggest creating a completely black layer under your image layer to ensure there isn't any white spots on the edge of your transparencies. That is completely optional though and usually not necessary. | ||
*Save as a .tga and select 32 bits/pixel. Anything less won't retain the alpha channel. | *Save as a .tga and select 32 bits/pixel. Anything less won't retain the alpha channel. | ||
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| + | '''64x64 Decal''' | ||
*To create a 64x64 decal with transparency, you will need to take an extra step using Gimp [See top of this page for a link]. | *To create a 64x64 decal with transparency, you will need to take an extra step using Gimp [See top of this page for a link]. | ||
| - | **First re-size your image to 64x64 | + | **First re-size your image to 64x64 and save it as a .tga file. |
**Then open your .tga in Gimp. You should see the transparent area as being a tinted checkered pattern. | **Then open your .tga in Gimp. You should see the transparent area as being a tinted checkered pattern. | ||
**Go to Color>Posterize. A slider with a number going from 1 to 255 should appear. The program will probably automatically select the optimum number of colors you need for your image. For my crossbones image, I only needed three. To keep your file size under 5KB, you will have to use 16 colors or less, and possibly even fewer than that. | **Go to Color>Posterize. A slider with a number going from 1 to 255 should appear. The program will probably automatically select the optimum number of colors you need for your image. For my crossbones image, I only needed three. To keep your file size under 5KB, you will have to use 16 colors or less, and possibly even fewer than that. | ||
| - | **After you press ok, to to 'Save As' and overwrite your file. A window allowing you to use RLE compression should appear, press Yes and save. Check your file size. | + | **After you press ok, to to 'Save As' (Don't simply press 'Save') and overwrite your file. A window allowing you to use RLE compression should appear, press Yes and save. Check your file size. |
If it's under 5KB, transfer it to your 'customdecals' folder and try it out. | If it's under 5KB, transfer it to your 'customdecals' folder and try it out. | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
