Re: Modders \'How To\' guide.
 

I use a method similar to Atrocities’ with heavy emphasis on the ACDSee. Where it differs though, is that I’ve found how to pack much more details into the minis. Instead of drawing them in the 36x36 space, I use the portrait size 128x128. I can put tons of detail into the ship that way.
Another method I use is to take a texture from the portrait to get a base hull color. I fill a 36x36 square with it with some variations so it has a random look about it. Then I take another 36x36 in black with the outline of the ship cut out, and drag and drop over the texture square, and you have an instant ship! All that is left to do is add details to it.
Finally, to take away the “hard edged” look the minis might have, I resize it through ACDSee a few times, and it softens and blends the colors to give it a better (I think) look. When you do this just remember to fill the black with a contrasting color to take out the ‘halo’ around the ship that will be visible in nebulas, and if its bad enough in the system and combat windows.
Hope this helps! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Modders \'How To\' guide.
 

Not to toot my own horn, but I would recommend reading my article here
http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/11...eempir-04.html

I tried to provide a preliminary roadmap for mod makers and mod Users.

Re: Modders \'How To\' guide.
 

Tampa:
Any chance you can put some variant of your article up here? (I understand you may be restricted by your contract with the magazine.) It certainly makes a solid core to a Modder's Guide.

Re: Modders \'How To\' guide.
 

Actually he is under no contract so feel free to repost if needed or just to link to the cdmag posting.

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Sarge is coming...

Richard Arnesen
Director of Covert Ops
Shrapnel Games
http://www.shrapnelgames.com

Re: Modders \'How To\' guide.
 

Dubious - I posted the link over in the "Modding and other Help Tools/Information" Category. Once CDMAG stops hosting the article as a feature, I will put the .PDF Version instead of the link. This way it will be saved for future Users http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Modders \'How To\' guide.
 

Tampa:
Ok, as long as you PROMISE to post it when CGM stops carrying it :-) (I've had SO many pages vanish on me; even using Mind-It to track them doesn't help all that much.)

I 'll see what I can pull together, but I won't even be able to get started until next week ... so don't expect anything until the 20th at the earliest.




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"All sources are dubious until their reliabilty has been repeatedly proven. Even then their information should be independently verified." - The unwritten "spooks handbook"

Re: Modders \'How To\' guide.
 

For even more modding info, check out the SE4 Modding 101 Tutorial.