PhotoShop Experts, help please?

[Madox58]

I usually bug danlisa with PS questions but I saw he has not logged in for awhile and may not answer my PM anytime soon.

I need to place 30 bolts in an even pattern on a Deck Gun plate texture.
That's 12 degrees of rotation for each bolt.
The bolt is a brush for PS so that's the easy part.
(I'm big on easy!)

I have a script for old versions that used .esp scripts but that has changed with CS5

Is there an easier way aside from doing a butt load of layers by hand?
:o

[Dowly]

You could try changing the brush spacing and angle (to 12 degrees) from the
brush settings (should be on the right hand side, near the color palette).

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/Dowly/Privateer.jpg

[Madox58]

:o
I saw that setting once and forgot all about it.
I can kind of see what I'd need to do now.

Create a new brush from the one I have, moved off center the needed distance, then do the rotation 30 times.

That sound right?
:hmmm:

DUH!!
I just noticed the spaceing setting.

[Dowly]

Alles klar then?

[Madox58]

Aye.
I think it will do the job after I fumble with it all for awhile.
:haha:

I really need to learn to do some scripting with PS though.
:yep:
Is there a record feature to help with something like that?
So I could record some of what I do to a script?

[Dowly]

Well, there is the "Actions" function (Window->Actions from the top) that allows
you to record your actions and then save it as a new action. (guess it's kinda like a script :hmmm:)

Actions function explained:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIvL8hB8ibY

[Madox58]

Roger.
Just found that myself.
I'm thinking if I record the first rotation/offset I could adjust that to do the other gazillion.
:D

Of course I will probably waste more time doing this then the texture would take by hand?
But I may need this in the future for other projects.
And of course others may like something like it if I can pull it off.
:yep:

Thanks Mate!!
:rock:

[Dowly]

You're welcome. :up:

[Madox58]

I opened the .esp file in PS after a few small adjustments in NotePad.
It gave me a use-able layer with the perfect layout for the bolt spaceing.
:yep:

I still have to place the bolts by hand at this point but it's WAY farther ahead then I got the last several days!
:rock:

I can use Dowly's advise to do the placements now and it's not to bad.
:yeah:

[Madox58]

Here's what I came up with that works for me so far.

Copy this script and save with the.esp extension......
-----------------------------------------
%!PS-Adobe-3.0 EPSF-3.0
%%BoundingBox: 0 0 400 800
%%Creator: Gernot Hoffmann
%%Title: N Circle Segment
%%CreationDate: November 07/2008

/mm {2.834646 mul} def
/x 100 mm def
/s 100 mm def
x x translate
s s scale % 1 --> 100mm

0.25 mm s div setlinewidth
0 0 1 setrgbcolor

0 0 1 0 360 arc
stroke

1 0 0 setrgbcolor

/N 30 def % N segments
/da 360 N div def
/an 0 def
1 1 N
{pop
0 0 moveto
an cos an sin lineto
/an an da add def
} for
stroke

showpage

----------------------------

N 30 is the division so change that as you wish.

Open it with PS as the default 8.5 by 11 document.
Use the Magic wand to select the outter ring and scale that as needed.
Save as needed and use it as a template for placeing stuff.
:rock:

I can whack out those 30 bolts real quick now!!
:D

[Herr-Berbunch]

I really need to learn more about using it other than just HDR toning (cheat!) and a bit of basic cutting/layers/colouring :doh:

[Madox58]

With Dowly's and danlisa's help?
I got it done without the postscript file.
:D

Dan had me create a circle with the Marquee Tool,
right click that and select Make Work Path.
I used .5 as the setting.

Then I selected my Bolt brush and edited the values somewhat as Dowly pointed out.
I select PATHS in the right window and right clicked on Work Path,
then Stroke Path.
:rock:

I had to fiddle with the size of the brush and the spaceing a few times but I finally got them set to produce 30 bolts around my circle path.

Brilliant Guys!! Thanks for the lessons.
:salute: