Jump to content
Peugeot205

Creating a Skin step by step with Gimp

Recommended Posts

Hello guys

 

I'm not a professional skinner however I decided to create this tutorial to help specially people who wants to get started with this. 

 

What do we need?

 

1) A program , Gimp is the one I use:

 

http://www.gimp.org/

 

2) Patience

 

 

So we start opening Gimp.... And then,  we must go to file , create new image , and then we choose the size of the image and the "background" that it is called as "Fill with" , in that option we choose "Transparency" and press ok.

 

14598957387_8517661626_o.jpg

 

Then we go to the right part of the window , click with the right button and choose New Layer, 

 

14598829938_fc1751d9e9_b.jpg

 

Then we call the layer in this case we call it: Layer_1_Background

 

14598769780_340010fd13_b.jpg

 

And then we have the new layer if we select it we will be able to manipulate it and if we select the "eye" we can hide the template, then you will see that this is very important.

 

14762477896_247d42ebf1_b.jpg

 

Then , in this case is an example and in a real project this is never done , i'm going to paste from another pic, in this case from CadeteBra's Rafale the "bakground layer" that it is obtained unwrapping the 3D model , so I've copied it from the original source anf them paste it into the layer "background" with the right button and the option paste:

 

14598956437_1502bf9147_b.jpg

 

And then.....

 

14805317843_f1e2f9241b_b.jpg

 

Important remark: You can create the template from an already existing skin, which is more flexible

 

Then we create a new layer called "color" and then we are going to paint it with the main color of the plane , in this case "white"

 

14598828898_0a65e2fc32_b.jpg

 

To fill the layer with the color you just have to choose the rectangle select tooll and select the whole image.

 

14782323931_3b758b7ce5_b.jpg

 

Then once we have done this we select the option fill bucket with the white color.

 

14783115814_2a07d85ae9_o.jpg

 

And then with the left button we press int the image and........

 

 

14805317213_5a69bfe8f8_b.jpg

 

But if we press the "eye" button on the "color" layer...

 

14782323461_5a92c2bb94_b.jpg

 

The color disapears , so that we can choose the layers we want to see or not. Then we create a new layer called "panels"

 

14782323171_2cf4b7216e_b.jpg

Edited by FRPignon
  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok now we are going to work with the panels...

 

First of all we must find a pic that has the panels of the aircraft for example this one:

 

14782323351_351d706903_b.jpg

 

And then we start to draw them , to do this we do the following , we choose the layer "panels" and , as it is transparent we can work with it having  another pic below the panels to help us drawing them.

 

 

So once we do this, we us the option free select.

 

14805316983_b4b8ddae2e_b.jpg

 

Then we draw the panels following the reference

 

14805315913_d14aac43e3_b.jpg

 

And we have this.

 

14782322191_1d89de338d_b.jpg

 

Then we are going to paint the panels , in this case I'm going to use a grey color , to do this we use the "airbrush"  set with an opacity of 100%

 

14783114304_a61b453f3e_b.jpg

 

14762474976_618711f41d_b.jpg

 

Once we are done we activate again the "color" layer and...

 

14805314883_e0d3fbc5d8_b.jpg

 

There are different ways of doing this , this is the easiest so that's why I've chosen it. Then we are going to make  more real  panels by applying over them a small layer of airbrush with a low oppacity , so wtih the same color we choose and oppacity of 33.1% (Or other) and then we paint manually over the already created panels. And this is the result.

 

14785470135_a4e2726001_b.jpg

 

And we keep going and......

 

14762474366_541f400af2_b.jpg

 

14783113144_8dd87feab4_b.jpg

 

Much better.... Then we can create a new layer called dirty , to make "dirty" the skin with the same technique described in the previous step

 

14783113664_73e4f0d2dc_b.jpg

 

You can try with different colors , oppacities etc... It is up to you, and the more amount of time you use , the better.

 

Then we create a new layer called "bleu" in order to create the camo of the wing , to draw it we use again the free select option

 

14598952897_616abe8fa6_b.jpg

 

And then we paint it with the airbrush

 

14598952477_541e55c00a_b.jpg

 

Now something very important. The herarchy of the layers.

 

Let's assume we have these layers 1,2,3,4,5,6

 

Layer 4 affects to layers 5 and 6 if all of them are activated , and layer 1 affects to layers 2,3,4,5,6, if they are activated, so if the colors of the plane are for example at layer 1 and panels and dirty at layers 3 and 4 the panels and dirty won't be visible so the colors must be one of the "last" layers and the panels on the "first" layers.

 

As you can see here:

 

14598952477_541e55c00a_b.jpg

 

Then finally we do the cocarde for example, and we can export the template.

 

14598825058_bae9fc4fd5_b.jpg

 

Then, we save the image as XXXXX.psd

 

14785113332_05b5163049_b.jpg

 

 

And we press ok. And it is done. And now if you want to export the skin , you just choose the layers you want to see and then export it but at .jpg or .bmp and it is done.

 

Any question , suggestion, please post it here.

Edited by FRPignon
  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

you not only need the lined map, but the "solid" uv map. That one really lets you know where the mesh breaks are, in particular for moveable surfaces, and where to draw the lines

 

panels and rivets are made easier to draw when, in Photoshop's case, have the "grid" up. That's where the lined map is most helpfull

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

you not only need the lined map, but the "solid" uv map. That one really lets you know where the mesh breaks are, in particular for moveable surfaces, and where to draw the lines

 

panels and rivets are made easier to draw when, in Photoshop's case, have the "grid" up. That's where the lined map is most helpfull

 

Yep.... I should have use this as the base:

 

14601671909_1ca2103eb3_b.jpg

 

However most of the times you want to skin an "already skinned" aircraft and therefore you don't have the "solid" uv map...

 

 

I just wanted to show to everyone the basis 

Edited by FRPignon

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

well, in that case, if building from an existing skin (and I've done this COUNTLESS times!!), duplicate the original skin/background layer, and INVERT it.

 

This will cause the panels and rivets to show up as white, and much easier to see

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Now when I do panel lines,I dont bother with shading\highlights,bumpmaps take care of that...if model has them..(all my models since I found how to bumpmap,now have it).then if not use panel lines colour inverted to make the white lighter areas.

another thing I do for metal skins,is use actual metal textures and use areas to paste into panels...like here below.1st pic...of the p47n

2nd pic is with a gradient overlay...

3rd pic is with the metal pic and some dodge tool work creating the glossy look..

pic of mig 29 is plain black panel lines,opaque with the bumpmapping,for those that dont know,it gives the look of sunken panels and raised edges,bolts rivets etc...very good at saving you hours of work creating that realistic rivet look..

index.php?app=gallery&module=images&sect

post-1981-0-40998500-1406760115_thumb.jpg

post-1981-0-63251600-1406760152.jpg

post-1981-0-19074700-1406760223_thumb.jpg

Edited by russouk2004
  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Bump mapping is something interesting , however I think that it is more "advance skinning" than "basic Skinning" . So russouk2004 how can you create bumpmaps?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

it actually metal skinning I need to learn!! LOL!! (and yes, that would be an 'Advanced' skill)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I try to see if I can do the bumpmap?  I gave up, not getting the result I wanted.  I still need to learn the correct technique.  I had to zoom-in on the photos to see bumps... 

post-32885-0-98452400-1406845599_thumb.jpg

post-32885-0-53309400-1406845603_thumb.jpg

post-32885-0-52556900-1406845607_thumb.jpg

post-32885-0-46614000-1406845611_thumb.jpg

post-32885-0-14707900-1406845615_thumb.jpg

post-32885-0-95990000-1406845618_thumb.jpg

Edited by ace888
  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

ace,your bumpmaps are reversed,highlights rather than "depth"

using nvidia plug in if you use ps...bumpmapping is easy,just setting the depth and amounts is trial and error...

this is mig25k bumpmap.

and default settings in nvidia plugin...

there are stand alone progs to make maps from jpegs...

I only have the base layer panel lines set to normal opacity 100% no shading dirt weather layers showing,or areas that wont need that 3d look,like decals ,they obviously dont need bumpmap,

basic jpeg after hiding layers I dont want to show on bumpmap ( at bottom....)

 

post-1981-0-97366500-1406935189_thumb.jpg

post-1981-0-27571500-1406935202_thumb.jpg

post-1981-0-64090600-1406935211_thumb.jpg

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Russouk,

 

I am using GIMP.  Not using Nvidia Plugin... 

 

How do you get the bluish color?  

 

I am having problem of getting depth?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh I am pinning this for sure. Thank you for the hard work. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

https://code.google.com/p/gimp-normalmap/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jdo3ZmtPWk

 

After re-read Russouk's description... "PLUGIN"  I was missing the plugin!!!  I have uploaded the place to get the plugin and the youtube video showing how and the various basics.  This is for GIMP 2.8...

 

MAKE SURE YOU READ THE "README" FILE ON THE SETUP!!!

 

Try to upload the normal bump map, the file is too big.  But as you can see on the screenshots, SUCCESS!   I just have to work on the depth and other things.

 

Cheers!

post-32885-0-01123600-1406948158_thumb.jpg

post-32885-0-52624100-1406948159_thumb.jpg

post-32885-0-62593700-1406948160_thumb.jpg

post-32885-0-64830400-1406948161_thumb.jpg

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Normal maps (bumpmaps) along with specular maps,makes hell of a difference to even simple skins..


This ok for those without photoshop...standalone Bumpmap tool.

http://www.crazybump.com/

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok, as usual, I have been mucking around where I have no knowledge and I've screwed something up. So, here's what's up. I'm trying to create a skin for a VF-191 F-14D. I chose to go what seemed to be the easiest route available, since I can't seem to access the default tail decals from the game: take a relatively blank .bmp skin and put the markings on it I want. I've seem this plenty of times from Skins I've downloaded on here. Enter  using my sister's photoshop, tail markings etc. done. Drop them in, and now nothing from those bmp's are showing up on the plane, not the tail markings, heck, not even the tail, or wings, fo that matter. Nice two-tone grey and black. Checking things, I've noticed the smallest Photoshop will let me save it as a bitmap is 16bit. I noticed most of the others are 8bit. Is this the cause of the problem and if so, how do I fix it, and if not, what is, and how do I fix it. Thanks all

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

because the decals must be 32-bit tgas (24 bit RGB + 8 bit alpha)

 

there's a decal tutorial around here someplace, I'd suggest giving it a read

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok, here's me trying to decipher some of the lingo: I've noticed decals are usually .TGA, are the .BMPs that you place in the aircraft folder also considered decals? That was what I was messing with, the BMPs. So, on that note, I finally got it to work going off some of what I read in the tutorial. I had to save it as a 24bit (R8 G8 B8), and make sure not to use the lower case extension. Whatever that did, it worked. Check it out:

 

post-84119-0-90643000-1410991198_thumb.jpg

 

Left Side

 

post-84119-0-69024800-1410991258_thumb.jpg

 

Right side

 

Admittedly, it's not completely accurate, but then VF-191 never got to fly the D anyway, so not gonna strain myself too much worrying about historical accuracy on a should have but didn't happen reality :/ Thanks for the help, let's hope I don't start going crazy here, lol.

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The bmp`s are the actual model skin,(or now if you prefer jpegs)all decals are TGA`S Kyot54

I usual paint roundels etc that are "Common" to the a\c and saves room for more tga decals,as theres a linit per mesh( and a limit on whole model.)

Edited by russouk2004

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

×

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..