[TEQ] How to make custom emblems in Photoshop
 

Ok, here's a quick and dirty way to create your own emblem using Photoshop.
I do not know how this works in GIMP as I've never used it



Go here and download the DDS plugin
http://www.filefront.com/7970519/dds.8bi

*Note: As far as I'm aware this plugin does NOT work with 64 bit versions of Photoshop


Put the plugin in your main Photoshop folder:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop\Plug-Ins\File Formats

Ok.

Download Etheberges "A Fistfull of Emblems"
http://174.123.69.202/~subsimc/radio...d.php?t=164789



In Photoshop open the "custom" dds file in the "Fistfull of Emblems" folder
Data/Textures/TNormal/Tex/custom.dds

This window should open in Photoshop
Select "Convert Images to 32 bit"

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/DDS/open_dds.jpg



You should see this image
Select "All" and delete the image of the playing cards

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/DDS/1_open_dds.jpg




Go to channels and delete the playing cards ALPHA channel
We don't need this because you are going to create a new ALPHA

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/...te_channel.jpg


Go back to LAYERS
Import the image you want into Photoshop. Resize it to fit if needed.
Make sure the image is on a single LAYER. FLATTEN the image in LAYERSs if not.
Now make a selection OUTSIDE of the image as shown below.
In my image I clicked on the white background.

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/DDS/3_select.jpg



Now select "INVERSE"

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/...ct_inverse.jpg



Go to CHANNELS and CREATE A NEW CHANNEL. This now appears as a new ALPHA

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/...te_channel.jpg



Now simply press DELETE

Your image now has an ALPHA (Remember. White = image. Black = transparent)
Click the top ALPHA CHANNEL marked RGB

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/...ct_inverse.jpg



Now SAVE AS the dds file

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/DDS/7_save_AS.jpg


This window should pop up when you SAVE AS dds file.
Select DXT5 as shown

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/...ave_AS_DDs.jpg



You're done! Simples.

http://www.data.blackspotdesign.net/DDS/alpha.jpg

I noticed someone posted in another thread that they had a white background to their emblem in the game.
I guess the reason this is happening is because there is no alpha channel saved with the image.

Think of it like this. The alpha channel, pictured above, is acting as a mask.
Anything in the alpha that is black is transparent in the resulting image.
Anything white in the alpha is solid in the resulting image. Therefore the black is acting like a mask.

So, what if the white of the alpha is not white, but grey?
Well, depending on how dark the grey is, it adds transparency to final image.

Eh?

Well, it would be a mix of white and black (gray). So if the white part of the alpha has black in it (black is transparent) the final result would be a semi-transparent image. Geddit?

What about bumpmapping... to make the image look like its painted on an uneven metal surface, whats the best rout for this? I've tried making some emblems and they look artificially smooth even with some texturing painted on.

Does SHV use bump mapping? Maybe someone can clarify.
I'm not even sure bump mapping is the answer anyway. The emblems need a bit of grunge and grime. This can be done by painting onto the alpha channel. I'll add a tutorial soon. (Wife has got me gardening at the moment) :wah:

The way to do it would be to use grunge brushes in Photoshop on the alpha channel to chip away at the paint. This would have the effect of making areas of the emblem transparent so it shows the hull paintwork underneath.

Already working on that with Etheberge. Results are promising so far!

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...=164789&page=3

Looking nice :salute:

Any help is appriated NOTE** I am doing this using Gimp not photo shop, but pretty much have all the same options that photoshop does, the image I wish to make into a emblem I arleady have made it into a .dds file but i do not know if it works because im out of town everyone is welcome to please test my emblem and see if it works but currently iam unsure and do not think it works... My problem occurs were you "delete the playing cards ALPHA channel" i do not have a RGB so it locks the Alpha channel and does not allow me to edit it, the next problem is when i try to skip that step i can't inverse the photo. Also please try to test my emblem in game for i can not at this time unt'ill wednesday of this coming week.
If anyone has any suggestions thanks?
Download Link:
www.filefront.com/16019579/Captain%27s%20Emblem.dds
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1840/semblem.jpg

Link not working.

UPDATED link:

http://www.filefront.com/16019579/Captains-Emblem.dds/

just download and put in just go to the directory (were you installed the game) Once in the "tex" location you should see many other emblems... or atleast a couple
\Data\Textures\TNormal\tex

Gimp works too.
 

I have managed to make emblems using gimp with the .dds plug in. it can be done. the process is similar to the photo shop version.