Sharing tips for creating new vehicles.
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Close Combat Series -> Modding Workshop

#1: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2010 5:11 pm
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Well title says it all, got any tips to share about modding the graphics of the vehicles? Talking about CC4 onwards here.

What I would most like to know is:

-in what image type should I start drawing (TGA, JPG, BMP)? does it matter or not?
-How can I copy a vehicle from a drawing?
-At what size should I draw? I've noticed that if you start big then shrink it, a lot of details are lost, If I start small I can't see very well. So is there a sweet Image size from where to start?
-Should I draw shadows or left the vehicle color plain?
-Any other tips you would like to share.

Using gimphoto here.

#2: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: platoon_michaelLocation: Right behind you PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2010 8:14 pm
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Good idea for a thread.
I hope CSO_linebacker will share his advice as he did do some really nice Vehicles for a once attempted "Race to Bastogne" mod for CCV.
I only have created one tank and I haven't touched it in weeks.Not sure I really like it yet.It's supposed to be an M36 Pershing Heavy Tank.
Have you played TT's Mod?Or Firefox's version of it for WAR?
You can see his Vehicles there.

from the WAR Workbook:
CC Standard Scale:
Soldiers are 1 m = 10 pixels
Tanks are 1 m = 7 pixels
Maps are 1 m = 5 pixels


The Hull of the Panther from TT's Mod is 30 pixels Wide and 60 pixels Long

I started with a Jpeg image but moved it to a TGA,and always do all my work with in a .TGA format.
(I don't know if that's right or wrong)
I scaled the image down from the web site posted in another thread.
Then I used Layers to draw in the areas that get blurred out.
Changing the Opacity so as to not be so Bright/Dark.

Be nice if someone could post us a nice blueprint to follow,by that I mean one completed but still in Layers


Last edited by platoon_michael on Sun May 16, 2010 12:42 pm; edited 1 time in total


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#3: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: TejszdLocation: Canada PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2010 8:41 pm
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The scale does have some variation to it.

Soldiers - Depending the pose can be anywhere from 10 to 12 (probably closer to 11 on average)
Tanks - Are 7 or 8 with the size increasing over time as people wanted more detailed tanks. Some mods went as high as 10 (Stalingrad) though some said that was too big compared to the men and buildings
Maps - need to stay at 5 pixels per meter as it is hard coded into the game engine. Though if desired  things could be drawn a bit larger

#4: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2010 11:45 pm
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That's a very nice tank Michael, The one I did looked like a cartoon lol.

- How you got rid of the shadows form the original image?
- How did you separated the turret?

Also I didn't get how the hot point for the turrets and hulls works, I changed mine for the sherman I did following Atilla's advice, but the turret was all misaligned and the hull rotated very weird.

#5: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 6:19 am
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Doing my second attempt now, it is going well, things I've learned:

-Much more easier for artistically challenged people like me to use drawings already painted instead of doing the painting by hand.
-The clone tool (GIMP, but I'm sure most photoeditors have one similar) works great for eliminating the shadows of AA guns on the turret and of cannons on the hull for example, and for painting over empty areas.

To remove the turret or leave the hull:
-Make a copy of your original drawing.
-Paste it in another layer above the original
-Paint all the things you don't want with the brush in the new layer, use black.
-use magic wand to select all black
-Invert selection
-Paste in another picture

Now you have only the thing you wanted, repeat for the other part of the tank and make sure to 'clean' the edges.

#6: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 8:27 am
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Rather than black better use some other strong color like red, because when selecting black some other shadowed parts of the tank might get selected too.

#7: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 9:12 am
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Finished my second try at vehicles, MUCH better now, though still some adjustments need to be made.

New things learned:
-Gray doesn't really stands out, I painted the AA gun gray to contrast more, but it resulted in the opposite.
-Don't go overboard with black under the turret, make only a small circle do not try to cover all the space that the turret occupies.
-Still can't get hot points right
-Light effects and shadows don't look to well in miniature form.
-You have to really look for white spaces on the borders as they stand out a lot in game.

Attached is the source and the end result.



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source
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2nd tank
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#8: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: platoon_michaelLocation: Right behind you PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 11:25 am
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Testing

#9: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: platoon_michaelLocation: Right behind you PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:03 pm
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Im having problems posting.

The white dots your seeing is because that area is NOT a True white (255,255,255)
A True white of 255,255,255 will not show up in the game for Vehicles.

After selecting the Shadow area (for larger shadow areas)
Use the Image/Adjustments/Curves to remove larger shadow area from pictures.
Just grab the line in the graph in the middle and move it forward.
I have also used this method for changing the color of Vehicles,You don't select anything but rather just have that Layer selected.

I do not understand how the Hotpoint is determined for the Muzzle flash of the MG.

Something I also seem to be interested in is trying to bring out more detail in the edges for that I
Duplicate the layer
Choose the New layer and desaturate that Layer
Go to Filter/other/High Pass and use a setting of around 10.0
Change that Layer to Overlay and reduce the Opacity to around 40
The Image of the JagdPanther is Left=before Right= after.
I seem to enjoy a little bit of a darker vehicle for some reason.(Got that through the Curves adjustment)I just had to go over the white area with the eraser tool as the curve adjustment changes that too thus it;s no longer a true white and my tank had a box around it in game.

Not to mention they hide very well within the brown trees of WAR when darker.



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#10: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: -Jager-Location: stockholm PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:26 pm
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just my try to edith some texture
Some one know of a good tutorial? for edith vehicles?



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#11: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:27 pm
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Thanks for the shadow tip Michael! much better than painting over it lol. Just need to see if gimp has that option.

About the white, yeah I figured it was because the dots weren't true white because otherwise the whole box would appear as you mention.

Did you managed to make that king tiger work? any in-game shots?
Do you have other method for removing the turret?

Also I don't know what you meant by this:

Quote:
trying to bring out more detail in the edges


I mean, I think you mean the edges of the vehicle, but I don't know why the edges?? what is wrong with the normal ones?

#12: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:34 pm
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-Jager- wrote (View Post):
just my try to edith some texture
Some one know of a good tutorial? for edith vehicles?


Those look awesome! the panther looks tilted, is it?? did you edited all 17 images? any videos or moving gifs? if they are not, you do realize you could have moving threads effects right? just change the threads a little in each image.

I figured this thread was about making some sort of guide or whatever because I hadn't found one either, but looks like you are very good anyway, maybe you could share some tips?

#13: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: platoon_michaelLocation: Right behind you PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:54 pm
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jager,
They look pretty good.
The Tiger looks like you can see tread on one side but not the other (front that is)
I suggest correcting that.
I cant pinpoint what I dont like about it.
It's either too zoomed in or too bold of strokes for the camo.
Out of focus,something

The Panther looks much better except for the red on the back.
But you've done waayyyy better than I have to date.
I too would like to know jager is doing and compare it to me.

As for more detail on the edges,im just trying to figure out a way to provide more detail.I don't know if it helps or not.

I think im the ADHD king when it comes to modding CC as I get bored or frustrated with one thing and move on to another.
I'll see if I can get that Pershing in the game,and somehow make it look better.


great thread kanov

#14: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: -Jager-Location: stockholm PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 5:21 pm
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Pzt_Kanov wrote (View Post):
-Jager- wrote (View Post):
just my try to edith some texture
Some one know of a good tutorial? for edith vehicles?


Those look awesome! the panther looks tilted, is it?? did you edited all 17 images? any videos or moving gifs? if they are not, you do realize you could have moving threads effects right? just change the threads a little in each image.

I figured this thread was about making some sort of guide or whatever because I hadn't found one either, but looks like you are very good anyway, maybe you could share some tips?


No the Panther is not tilted! It's a Bannana Panther!
How do you get the 17 images?
I just use the XTank tool and get 2 image turret and hull..

The Tiger looks like you can see tread on one side but not the other (front that is)
Yea that was a battle damage! But it's dont look good when you got same tanks

#15: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 5:36 pm
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-Jager- wrote (View Post):


No the Panther is not tilted! It's a Bannana Panther!

hahaha what?? new german secret weapon?

-Jager- wrote (View Post):

How do you get the 17 images?
I just use the XTank tool and get 2 image turret and hull..


Use RtB tool, it extracts and repacks every image but editing each one is very time consuming.

#16: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: -Jager-Location: stockholm PostPosted: Tue May 18, 2010 9:00 am
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that might be over the top.
to edit all 17 image.
I remade the tiger But the cammo dont show up.
I might try to giv it a new cote of cammo
I think they got that cammoflage in  battle of bulge. dark yellow,dark brown,black

Some one know of a good resorse site?
Of the german panzer



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#17: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: Pzt_KanovLocation: México PostPosted: Tue May 18, 2010 4:52 pm
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I'm using these sites:

http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Vehicles.htm

http://www.onwar.com/tanks/index.htm

#18: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: papa_whisky PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2010 10:26 am
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For just line drawings one of the most complete sites is

http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/

#19: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: CSO_Talorgan PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2010 9:52 pm
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For line drawings of unusual and exotic vehicles there is the Bradford - Stackpole series of books.

#20: Re: Sharing tips for creating new vehicles. Author: CSO_Linebacker PostPosted: Fri May 21, 2010 6:20 am
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Pzt_Kanov wrote (View Post):
-Jager- wrote (View Post):
just my try to edith some texture
Some one know of a good tutorial? for edith vehicles?


Those look awesome! the panther looks tilted, is it?? did you edited all 17 images? any videos or moving gifs? if they are not, you do realize you could have moving threads effects right? just change the threads a little in each image.

I figured this thread was about making some sort of guide or whatever because I hadn't found one either, but looks like you are very good anyway, maybe you could share some tips?


Have you tried this recently? I tried this 3 or 4 years ago when drawing the vehicles for Jim's Afrika '40-'41 mod of the original CC5. Despite using RTB tool and making 17 different images to create the moving track effect, it did not work in the game.  The tread remained stationary throughout and did not actually animate as hoped...and expected.

Just curious as to whether or not you had tried this on the update exe of with WAR or TLD, and actually got it to show up in game.



Close Combat Series -> Modding Workshop


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