Alternative to Trainz Paint Shed??

[Alek77]

I like TPS but let's face it. I can only change the colors on certain parts of equipment. Is there an alternative to TPS where i can make more intricate and prototypically correct paint schemes?

 

[mjolnir]

Depends. How familiar are you with image processing software, and 3D modeling? There are applications in either product area that are not particularly hard, and give sophisticated tools, abut they may involve a signficant learning curve. With more information about your present skill set, I can give some recommendations.

ns

 

[Alek77]

well i am a bit familliar with paint and photoshop, etc.

 

[mjolnir]

"A bit familiar with photoshop" is like saying "I'm a bit familiar with astronomy"; it can mean different things to different people, and in your case I don't know whether the more appropriate interpretation is "I've seen it on the shelf in my local computer store", or "I've did a little image processing in a basic computer class", or "I can conceive of some object, and using photoshop, prepare a photorealistic illustration from scratch."

Search these forums for tutorials on using Photshop to reskin models, and do an internet search using your favorite search engine using the parameters "Trainz", "skin" "assets" and "Photoshop", and you'll probably find tutorials that would help you get started.

I would note that if you look at the download station contents, a surprising amount of the material on the DLS is re-skins of paintshop models.

ns

 

[johnwhelan]

I like TPS but let's face it. I can only change the colors on certain parts of equipment. Is there an alternative to TPS where i can make more intricate and prototypically correct paint schemes?

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz Asset creation. It's called reskinning and it's quite simple. At it's simplest open the folder, Edit, edit in explorer in content TS2009, find the .tga file and edit it. Commit the changes (<Ctrl>M) and you're done.

I use clone first to make a different copy, and you'll want to clean up the config.txt file as well. Don't upload unless you have permission to reskin for the original content creator.

Cheerio John

 

[Johnk]

The Trainz Resources Directory has two tutorials listed. One is called Reskinning by Phil Campbell and the other Texturing Locomotives by Josh Harvey. They're both for photoshop but any good paint/photo software will do. Just click the link above and look towards the bottom of the listings.