Reskinning

[cvkiwi]

Ho do I go about reskinning
What is involved
chris

 

[JCitron]

Reskinning involves using a photo-editing program such as PhotoShop, Gimp, Serif PhotoPlus to edit the textures of an asset. The recommended process is to clone the asset in CM, open the asset for Editing in Explorer, then open up the texture files. Essentially this is similar to repainting a plastic or brass model in a real model railroad.

Keep in mind that in many cases, no matter how good your new texturing is, the model may not look correct. This is due to the original UV-mapping or texture placement and type used.

I've done some minor reskinning like placing a logo on a loco and removing text from a couple of station buildings and an industry.

John

 

[boyerm25]

I was wondering how to do this but I can't seem to clone content. Maybe I have to also download it directly from the DLS and then I will have two copies, one of which I can change?

 

[Euphod]

I was wondering how to do this but I can't seem to clone content. Maybe I have to also download it directly from the DLS and then I will have two copies, one of which I can change?

I doubt this is the problem. I don't know how the Mac version works though. When you RC on an item in CM, do you have the option to clone?

 

[pfx]

I know that the forum search function is pretty gash but if you try looking for reskinning, there should be numerous threads on the subject, all of which essentially describe the same thing.

First off, grab yourself a free image manipulation program as mentioned in post 2 (Gimp and Paint.NET are free) then try the search. You will find the learning curve very shallow indeed, the real difficulty is in honing your technique but that comes with mastery of the image manipulation software you use.

Another good piece of software to use would be PEV's mesh viewer which allows you to check your progress as you go along.

 

[boyerm25]

I know that much, but there is no clone content option. I think one time I managed to clone the Amtrak F40PH 398, but I have deleted it and have no Idea how to clone. Maybe I will just modifiy origianals that I don't like.

 

[shaneturner12]

As you have the Mac version some features may not be available, but do check if your content manager tool has a 'right click' option.

Shane

 

[boyerm25]

When I right-click (control-click on a mac), I get:
Get Info
Download
Delete
Open For Editing
Submit Edits
Revert Edits
Revert To Original
View Errors And Warnings
View Dependencies
View Dependants
View Asset Versions
View In New Window

 

[Euphod]

When I right-click (control-click on a mac), I get:
Get Info
Download
Delete
Open For Editing
Submit Edits
Revert Edits
Revert To Original
View Errors And Warnings
View Dependencies
View Dependants
View Asset Versions
View In New Window

If you choose to open for editing, what happens then? I think I see the point of your question: if you make a new texture for the object and change the kuid number to reflect your own, and then Submit the Edit, does it overwrite the original?

 

[boyerm25]

Oh. On a mac you have to make a copy while the content is open for edit and then give it a new KUID. I now have two copies of the Dragon's Pass Junk Loco. Once I manage to get Photoshop,if I want to modify my new one, do I edit the .jpg or the .im file in photoshop?

 

[Euphod]

And then what? How do you Mac guys get it to the point of being able to change the texture?

 

[boyerm25]

Oh wait. I got it now. I just did it. You open the content for editing. You then copy and paste so you have 2 copies in the editing folder. Then you submit the edits on one of them. One the other, you go in and change the image file (bmp, jpg, whatever, also, you want to change the on in body, not shadow) in a photo editing program. I use a free one called seashore. Once you have modified the photo/texture, you save it as a .jpg into the place where you found it. Then you modifiy the main.texture.txt and copy.main.texture.txt (I think) to say ______.jpg instead of bmp or whatever it originally was. Change the KUID, give it a new name, drag into content manager, submit edits, delete folder from editing, and you're done. Also, I don't think you can reskin built-in content, as that uses .texture files instead of image files. simple (or complicated) as that.