Text on skins

[XyZspineZyX]

Ok I can't figure out how to get the right effect for the life of me. I'm trying to get a big 2 that's two-toned, a red two with a white border. So I figured I guess I could put a white 2 first then a pixel or two smaller one inside... but yeah I can't figre out how to do this at all.

Also for duplicating a pilots personal art on the aircraft do you guys personally draw this out?

Once I finish I'll upload it to il2skin.com and it'll be my first skin. /i/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif

All I have left is the nubmers, mickery mouse-umbrela personal mark and weathering.

http://www.dodhq.net/~pmf/Seegz/Segal.bmp

There are two kinds of people in this world, those with loaded guns and those who dig. Start digging.

[XyZspineZyX]

Ok I can't figure out how to get the right effect for the life of me. I'm trying to get a big 2 that's two-toned, a red two with a white border. So I figured I guess I could put a white 2 first then a pixel or two smaller one inside... but yeah I can't figre out how to do this at all.

Also for duplicating a pilots personal art on the aircraft do you guys personally draw this out?

Once I finish I'll upload it to il2skin.com and it'll be my first skin. /i/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif

All I have left is the nubmers, mickery mouse-umbrela personal mark and weathering.

http://www.dodhq.net/~pmf/Seegz/Segal.bmp

There are two kinds of people in this world, those with loaded guns and those who dig. Start digging.

[XyZspineZyX]

This what I've figured out:

* For text/numbers - make a white number 2, then a red one on top of the white one (probably will be in a separate layer), then scale the red 2 to fit inside the white one. No need for free-hand drawing, and you can get a nice effect doing this.

* For personal art (or any other nifty detail) I use a photo of the original art (if there's a good one) then select it using the lasso tool (in PS). Then it's just a matter of copy'n'paste and adjusting sharpness, colors, perspective and details so it fits the rest of the skin. Painting it by hand works, but I wouldn't go there unless the original photo is really bad or taken from a weird angle (can't draw that good with a mouse...).


Hopefully some of the gurus here will drop in and tell us how they do it, that'd be interesting to know. /i/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif

[XyZspineZyX]

Only problem in that I have to slide stuff through my scanner and I'm using a book as referance.

http://www.dodhq.net/~pmf/Seegz/Segal.bmp

There are two kinds of people in this world, those with loaded guns and those who dig. Start digging.

[XyZspineZyX]

I assume that you're using Photoshop, but it's pretty similar for paintshop. The bect trick for lettering is to start big, and get smaller. Open a new canvas, and paint the background a dark colour. Now, create a new layer, select 'white' and the font you want, and type the number. Do this in a very large font size. Then rasterize the text layer (this means it stops being text, and allows you to draw on it etc). Use the magic wand to select the number, and then contract the selection (in PS go to SELECT>MODIFY>CONTRACT) Contract by enough to give you a thin border, and then fill with red. Duplicate that layer in the skin file, and then reduce to the correct size.

As for personal emblems, either draw them yourself, or scan them from a book or search the net...the really common ones are out there!

Hope that makes sense.



EDIT: the trick to drawing freehand is not to draw freehand at all! Create a new large canvas, and select the pencil tool in a smallish size. Then draw in small steps, holding shift just before each click. Holding shift before you click will link the new point with the last point, so you can draw in a series of small straight lines. That gives you a lot of control, and you can reduce the size afterwards


Canon
http://www.il2skins.com/skins/thumbs/2578.jpg


Get my skins at www.il2skins.com! (http://www.il2skins.com!)



Message Edited on 06/29/0308:41AM by CanonUK

[XyZspineZyX]

Thanks Canon! Good advice. /i/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif

[XyZspineZyX]

Hello!
If you have PSP 7 then when you want to apply the text , click the large "A" in the tool bar on the left.
This will bring up A font /text box.
On the left side you will see 2 colored squares the top one is the center color of your font the lower is the outer color of the font.
choose the colors you want and it will automatically do it for you.
( at least I hope thats the way it goes ?)



249th Snake
Charlie Michael
Sparks Nevada
SPD Retired SILVRBAK82@AOL.COM

[XyZspineZyX]

Hey guys,

I've just uploaded a quick tutorial to my site regarding nosearts and maybe text. /i/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif



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[XyZspineZyX]

Thanks for the tip..
I was struggling with that in P-shop too!

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[JerseyD]

All you have to do is type the 2 then right click the #2s layer in the pallet then choose "Blending Options" then "Stroke" play with the sliders and color till it looks like you want it to.

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