[REL] Flag Mod - Textures V1.0

[Nauticalwolf]

Small Texture Mod for Flags

Flag Mod - Textures V1.0
by Nauticalwolf
19 Apr 08

Old Flags
http://static3.filefront.com/images/personal/n/Nauticalwolf/134495/kqufkagqhy.jpg
New Flags

Simple texture mod that makes the game's flags look a little better
This mod will provide new textures for all the game flags.

http://static3.filefront.com/images/personal/n/Nauticalwolf/134495/hobpokndix.jpg


7Zip: http://files.filefront.com/Flag+Mod+Textures+V107z/;10036198;/fileinfo.html
RAR: http://files.filefront.com/Flag+Mod+Textures+V10rar/;10036213;/fileinfo.html

Credit/thanks:
LukeFF - Original Concept - I have borrowed LukeFF's concept but researched and reworked all the game flags a little differently. If you have LukeFF's Flag Patch then this mod is compatible with it.

This mod will provide new textures for all the flags.

The mod contains both Normal Res and Low Res - reworked files are the same size as the original files except for American flag (added lighting effect).

Thanks:
Ubisoft - For a great game

Special thanks:
jimimadrid - For sending me a new .dds plugin that helped me start making mods

Captain Cox, Digital Trucker, Ducimus, jimimadrid, Kriller2, LukeFF and Dave "LeoVampire" - For all their excellent mods that make the game so enjoyable.

Extra Special thanks:
My partner for being such a wonderful lady.

Issues:
Normally none - this is just a re-texture.

**Please note:** this mod contains historically accurate textures for the German merchant and naval vessels. (yes that does mean swastikas). If you don't want the swastika flags just delete german.dds and german_m.dds BEFORE you install/activate the mod.

Install:

JSGME Ready - Extract anywhere, copy "Install Flag Mod - Textures V1.0" to your MODS folder and activate with JSGME

Manual Install - Extract the archive in a location of your choice and copy normal and low res textures to /Data/textures/TNormal/tex &
/Data/textures/TLowRes/tex
Note: If using manual install method - Please, always make a backup of the original game files; so that if you don't like the changes, you can go back.

History:

V1.0 [REL]

I would have liked to include the correct ensigns for Norway and Sweden;
http://static3.filefront.com/images/personal/n/Nauticalwolf/132200/nltrgoinxi.jpg http://static3.filefront.com/images/personal/n/Nauticalwolf/132200/kuwbsgwotz.jpg

But the corect ones should both be swallow tailed and I think the 3d flag model would have to be changed to cut away the flag properly for them. :hmm:

I don't know how to do 3d modding. :damn:

Enjoy

[castorp345]

nice one!
:up:

cheers
hc

[Jace11]

If you added an alpha layer to the dds would it allow swallow tailed flags...???? Would the dat file need an edit too or not...?

[Nauticalwolf]

Thanks Jace, tried that already. But the alpha didn't mask out "in game". So I thought it must be a 'material' problem on the 3d model.
_____________
| / If not a material thing, then I thought maybe move some of the
| / vectors.
| \
|__________ \

I'm still happy doing textures at the moment, might come back to this one later (need to start learning 3d :) )

[LukeFF]

Good job! What process did you use to get that effect with the larger-texture flags, such as the American one?

[Nauticalwolf]

Thanks Luke,

I build up the flags in Layers, starting with some of my own cloth/satin/silk textures.

The American flag was layered over three textures (varying opacity) and instead of "multiplying", I used equalize once merged.

Then I adjusted levels, hue/balance, contrast and finally colour balance.

Then added a lighting effects filter so that the stars have a real satin look to them. (this plus compression is why the american flag ended up at 129Kb instead of 86Kb).

Compression on most is DXT1 RGB 4bpp with no alpha. (American is DXT3 ARGB 8bpp explicit alpha)

I tried to make some variety in the flags and this was done by varying the order of layers / amounts of adjustments.

[DeepIron]

Man, I love detail work like this. Very nice indeed!:up:

[jimimadrid]

Thanks - Downloading.... :up:

[RocketDog]

Thanks! I had been wondering how the ships kept their flags so dazzlingly white.

Cheers,

RD.

[W_clear]

Nice !

But all too dark.If i use it,must change it to light at first.so can you do it to a little ilght?

[Nauticalwolf]

Hi W_c,

I always develop and test my mods in a "clean" vanilla game, If you have changes to lighting levels etc, it may be the reason the flags look to dark.

Also; now that the flags are textured, they don't "glow brightly" at all hours of day or night and are far more susceptible to ambient light conditions. When it gets dark they are harder to discern (as with real life). Therefore in the morning or evening light they are not as easy to make out as the old glow in the dark ones.:cool: The screenis above were made between 1000h and 1400h.

If you could post up a "screenie" of how a flag looks in your game, it would give me an idea as to how much to lighten up the flags for you.:hmm: I'll be happy to adjust them.:up:

[Nisgeis]

That's very nice work. Even more impressive as it was from scratch.

[AVGWarhawk]

If you added an alpha layer to the dds would it allow swallow tailed flags...???? Would the dat file need an edit too or not...?


Good question....if that can be handled I suspect you could even make the flags look battle/weather worn. You have seen the flags get that shreaded look from flapping in the breeze. Nice flags!

[Schultzy]

lovely flags and i really like the Norwegian/Swedish flags, hope this alpha layer idea works, i really would love to see them in....

Thank you :)

[Sailor Steve]

Looks real good!:rock:

[LukeFF]

If you added an alpha layer to the dds would it allow swallow tailed flags...???? Would the dat file need an edit too or not...?

Good question....if that can be handled I suspect you could even make the flags look battle/weather worn. You have seen the flags get that shreaded look from flapping in the breeze. Nice flags!

I tried that out, and unfortunately it didn't work for me. :(

[Nauticalwolf]

LukeFF,

I tried adding an alpha layer to make the cut outs too;
All it does is turn out black.

I don't know enough about 3d models to know why. I thought that it could be how the materials were assigned or something.

So then I thought maybe changing the model, by moving/removing the parts that aren't needed might be the way to go.

I need to learn some 3d modding and then I was going to have another go at the swallow tail flags.