Star Trek Builders Unite 7: The Continuing Mission

AshleyTinger

Sorry this took me so long. It was a long work week and I passed out then got busy Friday.

Ok, easy way to edit textures or templates in Photoshop.

Open up your image. First thing you'll want to do is create a new layer. (see image 01)
Now what I'm going to do is recolor the back piece on the Uzilite Suit.This will work on a template or an actual texture.
I'll make sure the new layer is selected and use the polygonal lasso tool to select the areas I want to color over. (see image 02)
You can go one of two ways in Photoshop. Now, since you're using a template it shouldn't have any color so this will work better than the other.
To just fill in your selected areas, make sure you new empty layer is selected and use the paint bucket and fill in the color your want in your selected areas. (image 03)
Now simply save your file out of Photoshop as a PNG or JPG which will automatically flatten the layers in the saved file.

Now, if you're trying to adjust a color off a template without just slapping a new color over it and obliterating the texturing of the original, go through creating a new layer but make it an adjustment layer where you can change the colors of the overlay and keep the texture information.

Hope this helps. I can go more detailed if you'd like
 

galatt said:

ashe5k said:

galatt said:

Hello,

I am curious as to what kind of lighting people use for for their ship scenes.

Also when creating a uniform from a template, do you fill it in one square at a time or is there someway of applying the colors en mass?

For my interior lighting I'm taking full advantage of iRay in DazStudio. You need at least version 4.8 for that though. I just select what should be lights and make them actually light up the scene. Some sets have better 'internal' lighting this way than others.

I use Photoshop for all my texturing needs. Unless I'm adding weathering to it, I color things in enmass using the selection and fill tools. Weathering and detail I'll add in using a paintbrush or pencil in Photoshop.

If you want a more detailed guide for any of this let us know. :)

Oh kind gentle soul, I have spent several hours filling in each individual square on the template. If you know a better way to transpose textures, please enlighten me.

 

galatt

ashe5k said:

Sorry this took me so long. It was a long work week and I passed out then got busy Friday.

Ok, easy way to edit textures or templates in Photoshop.

Open up your image. First thing you'll want to do is create a new layer. (see image 01)
Now what I'm going to do is recolor the back piece on the Uzilite Suit.This will work on a template or an actual texture.
I'll make sure the new layer is selected and use the polygonal lasso tool to select the areas I want to color over. (see image 02)
You can go one of two ways in Photoshop. Now, since you're using a template it shouldn't have any color so this will work better than the other.
To just fill in your selected areas, make sure you new empty layer is selected and use the paint bucket and fill in the color your want in your selected areas. (image 03)
Now simply save your file out of Photoshop as a PNG or JPG which will automatically flatten the layers in the saved file.

Now, if you're trying to adjust a color off a template without just slapping a new color over it and obliterating the texturing of the original, go through creating a new layer but make it an adjustment layer where you can change the colors of the overlay and keep the texture information.

Hope this helps. I can go more detailed if you'd like
 

galatt said:

ashe5k said:

galatt said:

Hello,

I am curious as to what kind of lighting people use for for their ship scenes.

Also when creating a uniform from a template, do you fill it in one square at a time or is there someway of applying the colors en mass?

For my interior lighting I'm taking full advantage of iRay in DazStudio. You need at least version 4.8 for that though. I just select what should be lights and make them actually light up the scene. Some sets have better 'internal' lighting this way than others.

I use Photoshop for all my texturing needs. Unless I'm adding weathering to it, I color things in enmass using the selection and fill tools. Weathering and detail I'll add in using a paintbrush or pencil in Photoshop.

If you want a more detailed guide for any of this let us know. :)

Oh kind gentle soul, I have spent several hours filling in each individual square on the template. If you know a better way to transpose textures, please enlighten me.

 

Thank you so much!

After few hours work I was able to put this together.

Its coming along, but how do I delete the part of the template that isn't being used?

mdbruffy

You need what's called a "transparency Map". they're very easy to make. Can you post the template or the texture map yuou made?

 

On another Note- Forum mods or whoever, I can't sign on via the e-bot notices. I sign on- clicking "Keep me logged on", get taken to the damm dash board, close out and come back and I have to sign in all over again. The only way I can get in is to come by way of my bookmark. Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper right now.

galatt said:

ashe5k said:

Sorry this took me so long. It was a long work week and I passed out then got busy Friday.

Ok, easy way to edit textures or templates in Photoshop.

Open up your image. First thing you'll want to do is create a new layer. (see image 01)
Now what I'm going to do is recolor the back piece on the Uzilite Suit.This will work on a template or an actual texture.
I'll make sure the new layer is selected and use the polygonal lasso tool to select the areas I want to color over. (see image 02)
You can go one of two ways in Photoshop. Now, since you're using a template it shouldn't have any color so this will work better than the other.
To just fill in your selected areas, make sure you new empty layer is selected and use the paint bucket and fill in the color your want in your selected areas. (image 03)
Now simply save your file out of Photoshop as a PNG or JPG which will automatically flatten the layers in the saved file.

Now, if you're trying to adjust a color off a template without just slapping a new color over it and obliterating the texturing of the original, go through creating a new layer but make it an adjustment layer where you can change the colors of the overlay and keep the texture information.

Hope this helps. I can go more detailed if you'd like
 

galatt said:

ashe5k said:

galatt said:

Hello,

I am curious as to what kind of lighting people use for for their ship scenes.

Also when creating a uniform from a template, do you fill it in one square at a time or is there someway of applying the colors en mass?

For my interior lighting I'm taking full advantage of iRay in DazStudio. You need at least version 4.8 for that though. I just select what should be lights and make them actually light up the scene. Some sets have better 'internal' lighting this way than others.

I use Photoshop for all my texturing needs. Unless I'm adding weathering to it, I color things in enmass using the selection and fill tools. Weathering and detail I'll add in using a paintbrush or pencil in Photoshop.

If you want a more detailed guide for any of this let us know. :)

Oh kind gentle soul, I have spent several hours filling in each individual square on the template. If you know a better way to transpose textures, please enlighten me.

 

Thank you so much!

After few hours work I was able to put this together.

Its coming along, but how do I delete the part of the template that isn't being used?

 

galatt

mdbruffy said:

You need what's called a "transparency Map". they're very easy to make. Can you post the template or the texture map yuou made?

 

On another Note- Forum mods or whoever, I can't sign on via the e-bot notices. I sign on- clicking "Keep me logged on", get taken to the damm dash board, close out and come back and I have to sign in all over again. The only way I can get in is to come by way of my bookmark. Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper right now.

galatt said:

ashe5k said:

Sorry this took me so long. It was a long work week and I passed out then got busy Friday.

Ok, easy way to edit textures or templates in Photoshop.

Open up your image. First thing you'll want to do is create a new layer. (see image 01)
Now what I'm going to do is recolor the back piece on the Uzilite Suit.This will work on a template or an actual texture.
I'll make sure the new layer is selected and use the polygonal lasso tool to select the areas I want to color over. (see image 02)
You can go one of two ways in Photoshop. Now, since you're using a template it shouldn't have any color so this will work better than the other.
To just fill in your selected areas, make sure you new empty layer is selected and use the paint bucket and fill in the color your want in your selected areas. (image 03)
Now simply save your file out of Photoshop as a PNG or JPG which will automatically flatten the layers in the saved file.

Now, if you're trying to adjust a color off a template without just slapping a new color over it and obliterating the texturing of the original, go through creating a new layer but make it an adjustment layer where you can change the colors of the overlay and keep the texture information.

Hope this helps. I can go more detailed if you'd like
 

galatt said:

ashe5k said:

galatt said:

Hello,

I am curious as to what kind of lighting people use for for their ship scenes.

Also when creating a uniform from a template, do you fill it in one square at a time or is there someway of applying the colors en mass?

For my interior lighting I'm taking full advantage of iRay in DazStudio. You need at least version 4.8 for that though. I just select what should be lights and make them actually light up the scene. Some sets have better 'internal' lighting this way than others.

I use Photoshop for all my texturing needs. Unless I'm adding weathering to it, I color things in enmass using the selection and fill tools. Weathering and detail I'll add in using a paintbrush or pencil in Photoshop.

If you want a more detailed guide for any of this let us know. :)

Oh kind gentle soul, I have spent several hours filling in each individual square on the template. If you know a better way to transpose textures, please enlighten me.

 

Thank you so much!

After few hours work I was able to put this together.

Its coming along, but how do I delete the part of the template that isn't being used?

 

Its the MFD template. Its too big to attach. Here's the texture map I made.

mdbruffy

Do you still have the photoshop file? What you need to do, is add another layer, then, turn off your texture and on the new layer, outline those areas of the template you don't want and fill those areas in with black. On a second layer beneath that make it all white. This will give you a black on white image. Save this as your transparency map. Now, I don't know about Daz Studio, but Poser has a node where you would plug that map in and set it for at least "1". That will turn invisable those areas you don't want and they won't show up when you do the render.

galatt said:

mdbruffy said:

You need what's called a "transparency Map". they're very easy to make. Can you post the template or the texture map yuou made?

 

On another Note- Forum mods or whoever, I can't sign on via the e-bot notices. I sign on- clicking "Keep me logged on", get taken to the damm dash board, close out and come back and I have to sign in all over again. The only way I can get in is to come by way of my bookmark. Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper right now.

galatt said:

ashe5k said:

Sorry this took me so long. It was a long work week and I passed out then got busy Friday.

Ok, easy way to edit textures or templates in Photoshop.

Open up your image. First thing you'll want to do is create a new layer. (see image 01)
Now what I'm going to do is recolor the back piece on the Uzilite Suit.This will work on a template or an actual texture.
I'll make sure the new layer is selected and use the polygonal lasso tool to select the areas I want to color over. (see image 02)
You can go one of two ways in Photoshop. Now, since you're using a template it shouldn't have any color so this will work better than the other.
To just fill in your selected areas, make sure you new empty layer is selected and use the paint bucket and fill in the color your want in your selected areas. (image 03)
Now simply save your file out of Photoshop as a PNG or JPG which will automatically flatten the layers in the saved file.

Now, if you're trying to adjust a color off a template without just slapping a new color over it and obliterating the texturing of the original, go through creating a new layer but make it an adjustment layer where you can change the colors of the overlay and keep the texture information.

Hope this helps. I can go more detailed if you'd like
 

galatt said:

ashe5k said:

galatt said:

Hello,

I am curious as to what kind of lighting people use for for their ship scenes.

Also when creating a uniform from a template, do you fill it in one square at a time or is there someway of applying the colors en mass?

For my interior lighting I'm taking full advantage of iRay in DazStudio. You need at least version 4.8 for that though. I just select what should be lights and make them actually light up the scene. Some sets have better 'internal' lighting this way than others.

I use Photoshop for all my texturing needs. Unless I'm adding weathering to it, I color things in enmass using the selection and fill tools. Weathering and detail I'll add in using a paintbrush or pencil in Photoshop.

If you want a more detailed guide for any of this let us know. :)

Oh kind gentle soul, I have spent several hours filling in each individual square on the template. If you know a better way to transpose textures, please enlighten me.

 

Thank you so much!

After few hours work I was able to put this together.

Its coming along, but how do I delete the part of the template that isn't being used?

 

Its the MFD template. Its too big to attach. Here's the texture map I made.

 

galatt

mdbruffy said:

IDo you still have the photoshop file? What you need to do, is add another layer, then, turn off your texture and on the new layer, outline those areas of the template you don't want and fill those areas in with black. On a second layer beneath that make it all white. This will give you a black on white image. Save this as your transparency map. Now, I don't know about Daz Studio, but Poser has a node where you would plug that map in and set it for at least "1". That will turn invisable those areas you don't want and they won't show up when you do the render.

I'm using Gimp 

mdbruffy

Does it do layers? You can still do the same thing if it does.

galatt said:

mdbruffy said:

IDo you still have the photoshop file? What you need to do, is add another layer, then, turn off your texture and on the new layer, outline those areas of the template you don't want and fill those areas in with black. On a second layer beneath that make it all white. This will give you a black on white image. Save this as your transparency map. Now, I don't know about Daz Studio, but Poser has a node where you would plug that map in and set it for at least "1". That will turn invisable those areas you don't want and they won't show up when you do the render.

I'm using Gimp 

 

Robert Freise

Yep Gimp does layers

galatt

Save it within the same file or as a separate one?

Robert Freise

Save as a seperate so you don't lose the original

galatt

Got it. Where do I plug it in?

Ptrope

Just a quick shot - I grabbed Collective3D's vignette "Sci-Fi 2" and spent the evening playing around with materials in Poser (it doesn't really load well, I thought, but I fiddled with it) and I also exported the model as an OBJ and tinkered with additional material zones, eliminated the seam in the floor, lined up several of the edges, and made a back for it so it can render as more of a 'virtual model base' than just a scenic backdrop. Once I had all the materials as close to TOS as I could get them, it looks pretty good :).

KnightStalker000

Rather than using Sci-Fi 2 as a part of a starship's bridge set, I think it'd be better to use it as an Auxilary Control Room piece for TOS-era Trek. IIRC the ACR isn't necessarily laid out the same as the bridge either, so your particual ACR layout can be done to your preferences.

SpottedKitty

Come to think of it, we've seen Aux. Control for IIRC two Connie-class ships (Enterprise and Defiant) and I'm fairly sure they didn't look the same. Another pretty good rationalisation for doing a roll-your-own control layout. 

mdbruffy

Are you using Dax Studio or Poser? If you're using Poser, then go to the material room and about half-way down the Poser Surface list, you'll find "Transparency". Plug it in there and set the level for "1". If you're using DS, someone else will have to pitch in.

galatt said:

Got it. Where do I plug it in?

 

galatt

mdbruffy said:

Are you using Dax Studio or Poser? If you're using Poser, then go to the material room and about half-way down the Poser Surface list, you'll find "Transparency". Plug it in there and set the level for "1". If you're using DS, someone else will have to pitch in.

galatt said:

Got it. Where do I plug it in?

 

I'm using Daz

mjc1016

galatt said:

mdbruffy said:

Are you using Dax Studio or Poser? If you're using Poser, then go to the material room and about half-way down the Poser Surface list, you'll find "Transparency". Plug it in there and set the level for "1". If you're using DS, someone else will have to pitch in.

galatt said:

Got it. Where do I plug it in?

 

I'm using Daz

For 3Delight...you plug it into Opacity.

For Iray...Cutout Opacity.

mjordy59

Sorry guys for "bumping-in",but I've been trying to download this:

http://www.sharecg.com/v/26626/browse/11/Poser/Star-Trek-II-Starfleet-Uniform

while I am able to download the downloadable parts, I can't download these(missing requirements):

http://www.sharecg.com/v/8985/poser/EZ-Casual-V4

and this:

http://www.evilinnocence.com/index.php?widget=Store_Model_Product&id=187

Do anyone of you have those missing parts?

anticipated thanks if you do.

 

Chohole

I believe at least as regards EZ Casual, that it was a paid for product from a store which has since ceased trading.

Regardless as to whether it was a commercial or a paid for product, if it is no longer available then no one can let you have a copy apart form the vendor or free stuff provider. There is no permission to redistribute in the readme for EZ Casual.

mjc1016

EZCasual can be found here...

http://www.morphography.uk.vu/dlkirwyn.html

And I believe this is the Evilinnocence skirt that's needed...

http://www.evilinnocence.com/shop/skirt-for-v4.html

Chohole

Aha,   I assumed, as I had a readme for it,  that it was A Commercial prduct from PoserPros.   Thanks MJ

mjc1016

It was...a long time ago, but after PPros closed Kirwyn had it up on ShareCg for a while and then moved to Morphography.

Will Decker

Not much of an update but started reworking the Khambatta with a brand new model and look and a shot of her Bridge in 2269

galatt

Thank you all for your help.

With the transparency Map I was able to create both a dress and jacket version. Needs to be tweaked but the initials results are quite promising. The only one I didn't test it on was M4 and the bulging on G1M is because I turned the collision iterations up too high.

I also learned that you can't copy and paste a pose from a G1 figure to a G3 figure

mylochka

Looking good!  I was going to tell you to use a texture-creation program called "Stitch Witch" available in the store here... but it ain't here no more... which is not exactly a shock considering how out-of-date it's gotten.  I sure wish someone would come out with a new version of that program...

Well -- it's finally happened -- MD Bruffy has lured me over to the Sketch-y Side I've started using Google Sketch-up (available for free).  I'm having some problems getting things to import correctly into Poser, but this program is the easiest, most user-friendly modelling program I've ever tried. If anyone is wanting to get their feet wet in 3d modelling without a big money barrier or steep learning curve, try Sketch-up.

Right now I'm working on units to fill a version of the arboritum Matt Jefferies designed for "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" that never got built.

galatt

mylochka said:

Looking good!  I was going to tell you to use a texture-creation program called "Stitch Witch" available in the store here... but it ain't here no more... which is not exactly a shock considering how out-of-date it's gotten.  I sure wish someone would come out with a new version of that program...

Well -- it's finally happened -- MD Bruffy has lured me over to the Sketch-y Side I've started using Google Sketch-up (available for free).  I'm having some problems getting things to import correctly into Poser, but this program is the easiest, most user-friendly modelling program I've ever tried. If anyone is wanting to get their feet wet in 3d modelling without a big money barrier or steep learning curve, try Sketch-up.

Right now I'm working on units to fill a version of the arboritum Matt Jefferies designed for "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" that never got built.

Thanks. Your Antares uniforms were my inspriration. After I fix that seam on the right arm i'll add the stripes to the arms. How do I bundle these to share?

mylochka

galatt said:

mylochka said:

Looking good!  I was going to tell you to use a texture-creation program called "Stitch Witch" available in the store here... but it ain't here no more... which is not exactly a shock considering how out-of-date it's gotten.  I sure wish someone would come out with a new version of that program...

Well -- it's finally happened -- MD Bruffy has lured me over to the Sketch-y Side I've started using Google Sketch-up (available for free).  I'm having some problems getting things to import correctly into Poser, but this program is the easiest, most user-friendly modelling program I've ever tried. If anyone is wanting to get their feet wet in 3d modelling without a big money barrier or steep learning curve, try Sketch-up.

Right now I'm working on units to fill a version of the arboritum Matt Jefferies designed for "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" that never got built.

Thanks. Your Antares uniforms were my inspriration. After I fix that seam on the right arm i'll add the stripes to the arms. How do I bundle these to share?

Glad to hear that!  Those Antares uniforms were a pain to put together.  I'm happy folks are using them.

Actually I use another program that hasn't been updated in half a decade to pack my textures into .zip files.  However, you can do the same thing by creating a folder some where convenient on your computer and name it "Runtime".  Open that folder and create a new folder inside it called "libraries."  Create two folders inside 'libraries" named "pose" and "textures."  Go to your real runtime for Poser (if you're using Poser) and copy the folder where you have your mat pose files for your costume textures and the folder where you have your textures to the blank folders you created called "pose" and "texture."  Then use Winzip or some other zip file creation program to compile them into a .zip file.

 

grinch2901

Just saw this in the store, some might be interested, especially if you want to create "inspired by but not the same as TOS" type bridge layouts.

http://www.daz3d.com/collective3d-portrait-vignettes-sci-fi-2

AshleyTinger

grinch2901 said:

Just saw this in the store, some might be interested, especially if you want to create "inspired by but not the same as TOS" type bridge layouts.

http://www.daz3d.com/collective3d-portrait-vignettes-sci-fi-2

Thanks. We were talking about it on another page back or so and ptrope showed how you can fix it up to be mroe like the TOS console on this page :)

AshleyTinger

sasuraibito said:

Not much of an update but started reworking the Khambatta with a brand new model and look and a shot of her Bridge in 2269

I really like the look of that. Looks like a nice combination of TOS and original Phase II designs