Attempt At Late War IXD2 Skin

[danlisa]

Hi all, this is my first post, however I have been frequenting this forum for about 1 year. I am in constant awe with the progress made by all the modders present here, not only in improving gameplay/immersion but also with the sharing of information and co-operation in helping not so talented people try their hand at recreating some of the genius achieved.

That said, I have had a crack at doing my own skin as mentioned and would like feedback and information/solution the highlighted area....

First I must say that I have used Fubar's excellent skin as a base which I extracted from GW1.1a:rock:. I hope that is ok with Fubar/GW Devs.

I want to create a skin which seemed porly maintained and run down/rusty, as I assume from late 1943 onwards U-Boat would not be 'dry-docked' for too long for hull painting etc.

Here goes, be gentle.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3387/ixd2detailbj5.jpg


Hull in more detail (image edited, as too dark)
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7274/ixd2detail3gr3.jpg

I don't know if I have accomplised much in the way of realism however it looks totally cool in game.

Now to my small annoyance with this skin.
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1288/contowertq5.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5136/contower2vy2.jpg

I think this 'glitch' may just be due to some clipping on the original TGA as it is wrapped around the model, however I am unable to correct it.

I would be gratefull if someone could please confirm this for me or offer a solution. At the moment this is the only thing buggin me about this design.

On a side note, I'm a bag of nerves at the mo, must be because I'm in the presence of Gods:yep:

RELEASED:
http://rapidshare.de/files/33851775/IXD2_Skin_Dark.7z
http://rapidshare.de/files/33852990/IXD2_Skin_Light.7z

Complete with all Conning Towers
http://rapidshare.de/files/33967960/IXD2_Skin_Light_Complete.7z
http://rapidshare.de/files/33965848/IXD2_Skin_Dark_Complete.7z

[Safe-Keeper]

It's actually a really pretty skin.

As for that strange circle of light, I have no idea on how to correct that.

[GT182]

Very nice skin, it has lots of class. :up: Hope you get it sorted soon, I can't wait to give it a go. Using the black D2 skin now, but I love the looks of this one. :D

[Pants]

Looking good :up:
hope you get it sorted

[danlisa]

@ Safe-Keeper
As for that strange circle of light, I have no idea how to correct that. :rotfl:
You kidder!

However, I'm glad you like it. I'm nearly 100% certain that it is just an image wrapping issue with the IXD/3 Conning tower.

Will keep trying.

[danlisa]

I have sent a PM to Fubar asking for guidance regarding this issue, as he is the 'King of Skin':yep:. I have also asked him for his permission to release this as I used his GW Skin as a base. Just waiting on a response.

The skin is useable and looks v.good in game, I just wanted to fix the above issue if it was at all possible.(I suspect not:cry:)

If it is released, it will be JSGME ready and will only include a skin for IXD2 + IXD/3 Tower. I may work on the other towers if so required.

Thanks for your support

[kylania]

The glitch is the little black line at the base of the conning tower right? To be honest, had you not pointed that out I don't think I'd have noticed it. :) Great skin though!

[Jimbuna]

Looks good to me...you should be feeling well pleased :up:

[SquareSteelBar]

...As for that strange circle of light, I have no idea on how to correct that. Maybe Bernard's aureole...http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/happy/046.gif

[GT182]

Shame on you SSB. :lol:

Dan, I too thought you meant the white circle. LOL I wouldn't worry about the 2 spots as they look like they should be there. Unless they leak. ;)

I see that CCIP has the same skin.... wonder where he got his from.

[danlisa]

@Kylania

You are probably right, most would not notice, maybe I was a bit picky:oops:. I have checked the other available skins for this Tub/Tower and they all contain this....
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8199/ixd2problemeg8.jpg
Therefore I am resigned to the fact that there is no way to fix this.

@Jimbuna
Thank You I am very happy, but it's was only possible with the tutorials and info taken form this great forum:yep:.

@SquareSteelBar
I didn't expect Bernard to raise his head in this thread, he gets around.
I do like the Bernard Jokes.

[kylania]

Ahhh! Ok, from that angle I see what you mean now. To be honest, even highlighted previously I hadn't noticed anything really wrong, but I can certainly see how knowing it's there would bug you to no end. :)

Sadly, I know little about texturing and have no idea how to fix that. :(

[danlisa]

Well here goes...
The following are two versions of the above skin. One is a Dark Version (as pictured above) & the other is a light version (which I felt was a bit 'pinky') but you can decide.

As I said earlier this is JSGME ready and contains the dat files for the IXD2 + IX/3 Conn tower.(I have a feeling that if you use the IXB/IXC + IX/3 Tower with this skin enabled it may replace the standard one).

Please feel free to leave any feedback/sugestions (opening a can of worms!!!).

My thanks goto Fubar who not only inspired me to do this but also granted permission to use his skin in this release.

I have only uploaded to Rapidshare (groans!) but will in due course upload to Filefront + Terrapins Site.

http://rapidshare.de/files/33851775/IXD2_Skin_Dark.7z

http://rapidshare.de/files/33852990/IXD2_Skin_Light.7z

Right now it's time for bed.
Woohoo - my first release

[danlisa]

Would a kindly moderator please edit the thread title to read 'Late War IXD2 Skin - Released'. I can't seem to find a way of doing it myself.

Thank You

[GT182]

Thanks Dan, I have them both now and on my way to put them in my career. :up: :D

They are big uns too. LOL

[MothBalls]

I think they look great, nice work and thanks for the effort.

I wish I had artistic talent. I have none at all. The good thing is I know I don't so I quit trying, and happily enjoy the work of real artists like you.

[basilio]

Hello and THANK YOU for your great skins.
Very, very nice indeed!
Could you make a matching skin for the conning tower type #1 and 2, also?
I usually use the conning tower #1 with the type IXD2 and would be great to have a "complete" new skin for my boat.
Again, many thanks

[danlisa]

@Basilio
I will of course do matching skins for both towers, but you will have to give me some time as I am at work at the mo. Maybe tonight.

I am very glad many of you like it.

[danlisa]

@ Mothballs
Thanks for your kind words. I think the best way is to never give up trying. If you gave me a pen and a bit of paper, I probably couldn't come up with much. I've just always been able to do this stuff on computers - product of the tech age I guess.

To all...
I had toyed with the idea of releasing templates of all the U-Boats so that anyone could have a go at their own skin. This would be accomplished via correctly named layers in a Photoshop format for example. So all that would need doing is for you to colour/texture to your likeing and save as a TGA.

I know that not everyone has access to Photoshop so I am open to suggestions. However I think the TGA's must be done on separate layers.

This will also be a big task and require time.

What do you think?

[danlisa]

Requested by Basilio, I have included skins for all the conning towers.
http://rapidshare.de/files/33965848/IXD2_Skin_Dark_Complete.7z
http://rapidshare.de/files/33967960/IXD2_Skin_Light_Complete.7z

The first post will be updated too.

Thanks