http://www.botfii.armadafleetcommand.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=35986#35986


Just a short one: The graphic UIs are still mostly undone, so any of you interested, take a look at the post above, I stated there everything that is to know about our UI system for the different races.

I can give the necessary advise for using gimp efficiently to all not familiar with it. Really, help on this one is more than appreciated, it's basically needed. Beware of course, it takes time (and that's the problem..).

But it's nothin no one can without an art degree, also we have some basic ground to start with with the graphics shown in the thread above. So with the gimp selection tools one can quickly start off with the design elements in those.

Malovsin. I would love to help , but even with teh best graphics programs, what I have made is.. well....... something I would not ever show anyone....even myself.. I'm that bad....

sorry...

OK. I am up to my Borg implants trying to get the minor race audio intros but when that is done this will be fun fun fun. Hey guys, GIMP is a cool tool to paint with and free as well. It takes time just to figure it out but sure is fun to play with. Take it from the collective. We should know about fun.

do you know of any help sites for GIMP?

nope. I used to use gimp, in the... old days when I was obsessed with opensource stuff. Now adays I use Paint.NET (getpaint.net)

I'll try to find you a good gimp site anyway, ive got a few minutes of spare time right now.

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Tutorials - http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/

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Unofficial GIMP Help - http://www.gimphelp.org/

(its got howtos at the bottom left panel)

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Official GIMP Documentation - http://docs.gimp.org/

hehe, Paint.NET is virtually open-source too (student project)

anyway, no matter which of the two you use (or any other graphics program for that matter), there are just a few simple things that make life such easy especially when already having a form/shape/design to work/start with.

in gimp this is this selection wizard tool (don't ask me how it's called in english..zauberstab in german) which can be found on the toolbox window, 4th icon from the upper left.
anyway use this to get the forms copied out of a screenshot/image and resize/rescale or do perspective distortions (my english fails here a bit, sorry) with those copied design elements.
It's stunning how easy this works once you got acquainted to the program. Anyway use the toolbox, don't be overwhelmed by those tons of filters and options inside the program..you'll probably never need any of these.

I started learning gimp while creating my planet images and I learned how to visually enhance them, clean them from pixel errors and artefacts, add shadow and glow right and so on.

Took me 3 days straight to get to know everything. I did use only one tutorial to get textures on a planet sphere but with the rest I just played around with it and did some trial and error.
The learning curve is pretty high with those 2D programs.

The important thing is you use the layers right, anything else comes with experience

Since we have our new botf2 site with those nice editing features, more than one can work on a particuliar image. In gimp case, just upload the xcf-file there and we all can edit and improve the picture.

Thanks. That all helps a lot.

I specifically need to play with the selection tool so I can get a transparent background of my model's 2d snap-shots. They are needed for game selection menus. I have to clean out the grid from unwrap screen shots to make the background transparent for a star field. Let's hope I can figure that all out when I am done with minor race introductions. I need faster neural implants.

Kennith, sorry but your implants are on back order. LOL Sears seems to be out of stock, and it's looking like 6 months before more come in!

Damn. I have been using Sears implants? That explains everything. Guess I need Die Zauberflote.

Mozart won't help kenneth

btw. can you upload to the BotE shared documents section of our new site? If not I'll see and have a look at those permission handlings..

You'll have to add Kenneth to the "BotE Members" group for him to be able to modify content on your site. Alternatively, if you only want to give him access to the shared documents library, you can add a custom permission for him to just the library (rather than the entire site). WSS 3.0 supports item-level permissions .

I have uploaded some models and a bit of audio. I am watching for a solution to the multi-file upload issue as I can only do one file at a time myself. I was able to set up new folders in the library to start organizing the data in Shared Docs. I have not mess in other places where I know I have no business messing. Mozart, like his Die Zauberflote, had a silly story with brilliant music. I will stick to what I know. I will have more audio to upload this weekend. (I am saying I to much - Hum - Borg, It should be we?)