Some questions (a few actually) on Skins...

[OhCanada]

Gentlemen, this is my first foray into this forum and I must say I think I stumbled into an
abyss of knowledge. My God, you guys are good! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/11.gif
I have just recently downloaded a few skins to use in the IL-2 series from various sites, some recommended from this forum, and was I floored with the work I've seen. I mean it, you guys are aces.
I would like to try working on a Skin or two (I have Adobe PS 6.0) but there were a few questions that I thought of before even getting started, and oddly enough some came from looking at the work. So if you'll put up with ignorance....

1) Where are national markings found, I found one sight for Axis national markings but haven't located any Allied ones?

2) The same for the aircraft and squadron code letters or symbols? Are these something you guys make up accordingly, or create from actual images you scan and touch up?

3) I've hit a few sites for tutorials, waiting for SPS to go on line again, any other suggestions?

4)Is it safe to use templates that exist in IL-2 as a starting point?, and save them as a different name, I mean other than blank templates I can download?

5)I've downloaded skins and put them into their appropriate folders (actually only a few for now) but they can't be used in the Campaign Mode, only in Quick Mission, am I doing something wrong? And can these new skins be applied to AI a/c in the game, (I am not using them for on-line gaming)? Should I forward this to the Community Help Forum?

Thanks a bunch, my apologies for what might seem to most of you as infantile questions.

Cheers!

[OhCanada]

Gentlemen, this is my first foray into this forum and I must say I think I stumbled into an
abyss of knowledge. My God, you guys are good! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/11.gif
I have just recently downloaded a few skins to use in the IL-2 series from various sites, some recommended from this forum, and was I floored with the work I've seen. I mean it, you guys are aces.
I would like to try working on a Skin or two (I have Adobe PS 6.0) but there were a few questions that I thought of before even getting started, and oddly enough some came from looking at the work. So if you'll put up with ignorance....

1) Where are national markings found, I found one sight for Axis national markings but haven't located any Allied ones?

2) The same for the aircraft and squadron code letters or symbols? Are these something you guys make up accordingly, or create from actual images you scan and touch up?

3) I've hit a few sites for tutorials, waiting for SPS to go on line again, any other suggestions?

4)Is it safe to use templates that exist in IL-2 as a starting point?, and save them as a different name, I mean other than blank templates I can download?

5)I've downloaded skins and put them into their appropriate folders (actually only a few for now) but they can't be used in the Campaign Mode, only in Quick Mission, am I doing something wrong? And can these new skins be applied to AI a/c in the game, (I am not using them for on-line gaming)? Should I forward this to the Community Help Forum?

Thanks a bunch, my apologies for what might seem to most of you as infantile questions.

Cheers!

[Makabi-]

I haven't been here very long, but I think I might be able to help you.

1) I believe you might be able to find some allied markings on Simmers Paintshop, when it comes back up that is. alternatively, search google for the specific plane you want to make a skin for, and if you're lucky you'll find a side profile or decal sheet that you can copy or use the shapes as a base for making your own.

2) probably through google as well. for symbols, just do an image search for the specific unit you're interested in and if you're lucky you'll find what you want. for code letters, your best bet is to, yet again, use google. hopefully you'll be able to find a picture of a plane from that squadron that you can clearly see the the code letters on. unless you find a side profile of one of the squadron's planes though, you'll have to do the lettering on the skin yourself.

3) well, I'm afraid the only site I know off the top of my head is CanonUK's site. he has a tutorial on doing your own lines, and another on paint chipping. you can visit his site at http://www.canons-skins.com/

4) yes, it's safe. how do you suppose all fo the existing templates were created? http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Friendly_flyer]

The void files we have in game are there to be used. Just do as you have done (saving them under a different name) and modify them to your hearts content. That's why Oleg & Co put them there in the first place.

There is a way to make the planes in a campaign use the non-default skins. You'll have to open the campaign files (DGen folder), find the appropriate file and manually edit the skins for the unit in question. You should ask in the Mission Builders forum for the details, they're a very helpful bunch.

[EAF19_Aceman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by OhCanada:
1) Where are national markings found, I found one sight for Axis national markings but haven't located any Allied ones?

2) The same for the aircraft and squadron code letters or symbols? Are these something you guys make up accordingly, or create from actual images you scan and touch up?

3) I've hit a few sites for tutorials, waiting for SPS to go on line again, any other suggestions?

4)Is it safe to use templates that exist in IL-2 as a starting point?, and save them as a different name, I mean other than blank templates I can download?

Cheers! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
1. Most markings can be found at simmers, if not make your own its not hard
2. Simmers also have the fonts you will need to do serials, so its not hard to do those either.
3. When i started simmers paintshop was full of guys willing to help, and still is
Hope this helps, in short, just wait for the site to come fully online again and you will get all the help you need

[OhCanada]

Hey guys thanks alot. I'll hit the other forum to pose the question and hopefully it will be soon when simmers goes live again.

I knew I'd luck out in here. But don't worry, you'll probably here from me again...
(stop crying).

Cheers.

[jarink]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by OhCanada:
3) I've hit a few sites for tutorials, waiting for SPS to go on line again, any other suggestions? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Have you tried www.flightsimguides.com (http://www.flightsimguides.com) yet? The tutorials I wrote there were done using GIMP, but change the names of a few of the tools and they'll work for PSP or Photoshop as well.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have right here! The Skinning forum is one of the best-behaved and helpful forums I've ever seen.

[OhCanada]

Just got off the sight and bookmarked it. Nice work. Will definitely come in handy! Lotsa stuff there.

Cheers!!