How about some Graphic tips eh?

TheLamerGamer · Post by **TheLamerGamer** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 6:57 am

Well it's great that everyone knows how to program and make games and all that happy jazz... but where's the graphics discussion? Can't have a 2D/3D game without some visualization. Everyones typing posts about their projects but what about the people that need help with making Textures or just images to put in their game(s). I'm gonna start off by giving some tips/tutorials on texturing and making images.

Firstly, the Program you use is crucial... You're not going to have very good tools using Microsoft Paint. so h ere's some Choices of programs that you could use:
Adobe Photoshop- I'd go for Version 7 or higher, but it's still a very powerful art program.
Jasc Paint Shop- I used it once... never again... but it gets the job done.

That's all I can think of right now, I mostly been a Photoshop person.

Now just ask away on questions you have like... How do I make stars? or Galaxies, Planets, Fire, Light, Brick, Soil, Liquid, etc...

monster · Post by **monster** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:13 am

but where's the graphics discussion?

Here, possibly?
http://www.ogre3d.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=8

TheLamerGamer · Post by **TheLamerGamer** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:19 am

nobody posts anything about asking for help about other then 3D... I know 3D is cool and all but just a simple 3D model isnt gonna be outstanding unless you have some texture. And i'm a newbie here so

discipline · Post by **discipline** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:35 am

That's a pretty large signature. It's bordering on screenshot size.

I'm interested in 2d graphics, and I know I will need them extensively in my project. However for me, I have so much groundwork to build before I'm ready to put 2D into place.

Still to contribute to the discussion, I use gimp both on linux and win32. I've used photoshop, impres (dos days), paint shop pro and have liked all of them. I use the gimp because it is readily available (being free), multiplatform and does everything I need as of yet.

I would love to see tutorials created in the wiki for things you just suggested. Making a 2D stone tile texture in <graphics program>.

TheLamerGamer · Post by **TheLamerGamer** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 4:00 pm

Well I could teach ya how to in photoshop, if you could give me a link to Wiki I could figure out everything quickly. Oh and i'll change my signature just for you

Chris Jones · Post by **Chris Jones** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 4:40 pm

a link to the wiki? theres 1 at the top of this page, and on the main page

TheLamerGamer · Post by **TheLamerGamer** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 5:59 pm

I didn't know what Wiki was, I barely knew what Ogre was, Trying to start a convo on Making Textures and stuff. Now if you want me to help i'll be gladly to do so. I'll post some download links to Tutorials on my server. Right now I gotta make them. So please request and I shall make

discipline · Post by **discipline** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:31 pm

Ok, I've got something for you. How can I make a realistic looking egyptian stone texture? I'm thinking sand colored, like the temple of ramses and the pyramids. I'd like to have a base texture that I could mold into different wall shapes, apply relief and painted heiroglyphics to and have as a plain building material. So first, how can I make the stone texture? Then another question would be how to then apply effects to it like cracks, relief carvings, paintings, weathering, etc. Even though you use photoshop, I'm sure I could remap the process to The Gimp.

http://www.melissaapplegate.com/AbuSimbel.htm

[edit]By the way, thanks for changing your sig. You didn't include your video card in your specs though. That's the most important thing for this community![/edit]

DaesDemon · Post by **DaesDemon** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:17 pm

If you are looking for a good program to make an infinite number of texture , have a look there:

http://www.i-tex.de/

The help explains how to make some very realistic textures in three (or four

) click.

Really Impressive.

Not free, but worth the price and trial version avalaible.

Example from the tutorial
1 - Generate Perlin Noise
2 - Generate Bumpmap From it
3 - Mix with Emboss
=> Result Seamless

TheLamerGamer · Post by **TheLamerGamer** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:21 pm

The people that like photoshop the most and feel comfortable with it should use photoshop, no point in wasting more money for another program when you can do the exact same stuff with photoshop and more.
Photoshop is more powerful and has alot more capabilities

Chris Jones · Post by **Chris Jones** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:00 am

Photoshop cost ALOT of money, and i doubt many people can afford (weird how so many people seem to be using it tho

)

i think many people would benefit from tutorials about making great textures etc, using totally free software

TheLamerGamer · Post by **TheLamerGamer** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:51 am

Well alright, If you think so then give me links to every free program that isnt infected with viruses, bots, keyloggers, and every kinda file attachment that screws you over, for making textures

Personally, you don't need the most powerful verion of photoshop to get great artwork, Photoshop Elements 3.0 i's $99 + Tax, and if you don't have enough money for any programs then how can you create a game without the programs.

Robomaniac · Post by **Robomaniac** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:41 am

http://www.gimp.org/

DaesDemon · Post by **DaesDemon** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:36 am

@TheLamerGamer:
I think if you want to exchange tips on graphics on forum, you should at least have a look on links that are proposed.
I use photoshop, and i can say that it cannot do what TextureMaker can do with the same work.
These are different programs and are builded to make different things.
If you are only a Photoshop maniac, then put Photoshop tip on your message title.

to every free program that isnt infected with viruses, bots, keyloggers, and every kinda file attachment that screws you over, for making textures

I don't understand what you mean ??

@Chris Jones
TextureMaker in demo version allow the creation of 512x512 textures, but they cannot be save (but you can screens them, i don't know about the law there

) and there is a little DEMO text at the bottom of them.
However the program is only $65 IIRC and i repeat it , this program is a wizard

for texture making

For free Soft ,I agree Robomaniac: Gimp Rocks but everybody know that (almost) (no comparaison possible with Photoshop element

)
There's little other programs like Pixia (but perhaps it is only in French http://pixia.free.fr/) and Paint.net ( http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/ ) only on Windows

PS: However, talking about pro software to make texture, i like much better Painter than Photoshop which is more "Image Editing oriented" than "Image creation"

Chris Jones · Post by **Chris Jones** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:17 pm

im a programmer (i suck at gfx), i dont mind spending money on buying VC++ etc but when it comes to getting software for making gfx with, i dont want to spend any money, (it doesnt help that i dont have a job)

i think its alot more usefull to have tips etc about free software (which everybody can use) rather than having tips that will only help a few people.
itll be alot harder to get good effects with free software, so that means tips will be even more usefull for free software

also, i dont want to be using demo versions or anything like that because of the limitations, if i ever release my games i dont want my content to be illegal in any kind of way

DaesDemon · Post by **DaesDemon** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:58 pm

Yes , i check it TextureMaker trial version is only a trial version for evaluation, so no possibility to use it until you paid the license

Chris Jones · Post by **Chris Jones** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:33 pm

whats the point in using trail software anyway? you get a limited time, so a game thats going to take months or years to make, youve gota make all the textures in under a month. its not very usefull

TheLamerGamer · Post by **TheLamerGamer** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:59 pm

DaesDemon I said post links to all the programs that are free without any of those infections becuase like it or not most freeware is used to get into your info or mess with your computer, Example! Kazaa the free version had spyware on it and would get into your information. And Chris jones is a logical thinker! Your trial versions are pointless for people not wanting to buy programs. So before you go off on me you should think about things first. And Photoshop is not just for Creating images from scratch. Adobe Photoshop was meant to do everything, just takes alittle work. You're all into less commands. I'm into more control

Kentamanos · Post by **Kentamanos** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:24 pm

You're right, a lot of "freeware" has an agenda, and people with a clue usually avoid it. That said, there are still some good "freeware" stuff out there (XnView comes to mind).

You should examine the difference between "free" software and "open source" software though. Programs like GIMP for instance do not contain spyware etc. because if they did, someone would just remove that code and offer up a fork of it (making it pointless to try and put spyware in to begin with).

I don't want to start a whole "free as in beer vs. free as in speech" thread, but don't assume that "most" free (as in zero cost) software is evil.

Minion · Post by **Minion** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:09 pm

whats the point in using trail software anyway? you get a limited time, so a game thats going to take months or years to make, youve gota make all the textures in under a month. its not very usefull

The point is to try it to see if its worth buying?

I've been using photoshop for more than six years and I can assure you that TextureMaker is worth buying. Its random generation effects are *far* superior to photoshop.

TheLamerGamer · Post by **TheLamerGamer** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:30 pm

Egagh! Lies! I still vote photoshop, Texture maker may have skills but Adobe photoshop has more, and which version are you even talking about? every version below 6 sucked balls for photoshop, 6 was alright, 7 was a extreme major improvement, and 8 awesome also, I havent tried Photoshop Elements but i'm pretty sure it's just as good as 6.

And minion... you should think about everything else Chris Jones said... I think he knows pretty well it's for evalutaion... He doesnt want Evaluation though he wants freeware!

Chris Jones · Post by **Chris Jones** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:20 am

ugh, screw photoshop! its not usefull having tutorials about using something many hobby game developers cant afford and will probably never be able to use

Minion · Post by **Minion** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:36 am

TheLamerGamer wrote:Egagh! Lies! I still vote photoshop, Texture maker may have skills but Adobe photoshop has more, and which version are you even talking about? every version below 6 sucked balls for photoshop, 6 was alright, 7 was a extreme major improvement, and 8 awesome also, I havent tried Photoshop Elements but i'm pretty sure it's just as good as 6.

Umm I've been using it since version 4, I upgrade every time a new version is released. At the moment I use CS1 exclusively but only because CS2 has response problems with my graphics tablet. Photoshop is the industry standard for a reason, but that is irrelevent here because my main point is that when it comes to random generation, Photoshop doesn't even come close to TextureMaker.

I love photoshop but it's not the end-all application of graphic design.

And minion... you should think about everything else Chris Jones said... I think he knows pretty well it's for evalutaion... He doesnt want Evaluation though he wants freeware!

Then he's going to be in for some serious disapointment because freeware graphics apps pretty much stop at Blender, Gmax, and Gimp.

DaesDemon · Post by **DaesDemon** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:20 am

@ Chris jones
No the trial version never expires (it seems) and you can work on it until you are able to afford it

( I work on the trial version for now )

@TheLamerGamer
The problem with you TheLamerGamer is that you are Strange.

You talk of something you don't know and assure your opinion to others.
What is the problem i put a link on a software you don't know and what 's ?
That's a good software, i never said it was free, i never said it is a concurrent to photoshop. It was just an informations that's seems to me to be valuable, as , i ( and it only engage me) find no better software for texture work. That's it.

So please, take it down a little.

Continue your brilliant exposed on 'photoshop do everything', that will be of the greatest interest.

And thanks for all.

PS:Photoshop element, IIRC is only an organizer for your pictures and has only minimum graphic tools.

Post by **jacmoe** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:27 pm

Flame Wars go to /dev/null, right?

(Don't make me lock this topic.

)