A couple of questions about decals

[amariani 4,744]

First, how can make a decal out of an image, like from a picture? Second, is there a tutorial on how to make multi-color decals? Thanks.

[Wrench 9,733]

First, how can make a decal out of an image, like from a picture?

 

the same way as you do any other ... make sure the image is square (128x128, 512x512, etc) and centered in image (directly in the middle I mean to say) Convert image bmp or jpg to 32bit tga with alpha channel. Done it, literaly, a few hundred times.

 

Second, is there a tutorial on how to make multi-color decals?

 

No different than any other ... as seen on the several hundred full color nose arts I've done.

 

A little more detail is required; like, are we speaking of text with different colored letters within the words??? Or images (ie: nose art?) or things like serial numbers? (hint: get familiar with the paint bucket or flood tool)

 

TKs decal tutorial is in the downloads section, probably in the Utilites sub-section. Reccomended Required reading. Other than he states "4 decals max per mesh" -- rule of thumb that seems to work better, is "no more than 3 per mesh", as has been recently seen.

 

one main thing to remember, is the alpha channel acts like a hold-out matte (if you're familiar with how motion picture special effects mattes work), blocking all but the parts you want to show, from showing.

 

also having a really good image manipulation tool helps -PhotoShop is still be best, but GIMP comes fairly close (and it's free!!)

 

wrench

kevin stein

Edited December 31, 2009 by Wrench