Repainting Video?

[BNSF650]

I am waiting to do some repaints after seeing them units that Bill did but i was wondering if anybody could do a video on how to repaint in Railworks.

[PapaXpress]

I started with this tutorial.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1202

And I hope that Styckx would consider continuing them.

[ATSF3814]

That's where I started too.

The only real problem is that there are several different image editing programs you can use but not all of them work the same way or have the same capabilities. So a Photoshop tutorial like Sty did might not be too helpful for someone who's trying to repaint using something like GIMP.

I could do a video but it would be more focused on how to export the texture, do a basic recolor and then import it back into RW. If you want more advanced Photoshop tutorials, you'll have to search for them on the net or wait and see if Bill makes more repainting lessons.

[styckx]

Hi guys.. Believe me I had good intentions when I started that, and had every intention on continuing it.

The problem is... I really get stuck on how to teach it much further. A lot of what I do has no rhyme or rhythm it's all instinctive and each repaint is totally different and sets the Rolodex of techniques and methods in my brain spinning at the same time learning new things and adding to the Rolodex. Seems every time I do a repaint I learn something new, try something different. And Eric, YOU of all people, YOU were the one who pointed me in the direction of how to get into repainting two years ago. You should know by now.

You have to remember, I've been plugging away at learning for roughly 2yrs straight now.. When I started I knew NOTHING.. I thought I was a master at Photoshop.. I could edit pictures of my friends and add cats and troll faces on their head with the best of them. Then I got into repainting trains and realized I was only using about 1% of Photoshop and actually KNEW NOTHING. You just really have to dedicate yourself at learning, trying, and failing... Failing A LOT.. It'll all eventually come together over time.

[Kali]

The painting bit is the easy bit; the hard part is pulling the information out of the existing paintwork. Somewhat easier if you have a paint kit already, mind you. I think the Britkits site has a walkthrough on how to set up all the files for your own version of one of the models?

Everyone's technique is different! and as Bill said, you tend to do different things depending on what you're working with. I would advise starting with something that has an existing paintkit, it will get you used to where RW files are, how colours appear in game because they probably won't be the same as the ones in the paint program, how to set up alpha channels and so on. Boxcars are a good one to start on, plenty of those with existing templates around.

Start looking at the way light falls on everything too; right now, check how your monitor's shadow is falling on the desk, how the keyboard shadow falls on the desk, the way the light falls across keys and highlights/shades the corners, how different levels of light change the colour of objects. That is the sort of thing you have to put in yourself, because we are not working with a sophisticated lighting engine. I'm not saying you have to worry about that sort of thing on your first attempt ( unless you want to of course ), but it's a good habit to get into right from the start.

A couple of points; very rarely is anything entirely black, or entirely white; and if your paint is glowing, it's too saturated. Even if it isn't glowing, it's probably too saturated :)

[qrfan3]

Everyone's technique is different!

This is true, end result may be similar, but getting there!!......there are many ways depending on what program you are using and no set rule.....start with something simple.
I use the ancient PSP ( Paint Shop Pro ) 7 and most times wish I could afford Photoshop.

You just really have to dedicate yourself at learning, trying, and failing... Failing A LOT..

This is gospel and Bill is so correct. If you want to try something, do it....if it fails and is a mess, nut it out and try something a little different. Keep trying until you get it somewhere right, look / ask for information in the forums....... you have to learn and get to know the program you are using. Before you know it, that so hard to do little issue is a memory and you will start to venture into more complex tasks.

[Kali]

Well, Gimp is a good alternative, and has some nice filters I use occasionally even though I usually use Photoshop. Apparently PSP4 handles alpha channels suitably for RW textures.

One more vital point:

PUT EVERYTHING... EVERYTHING IN A NEW LAYER.

I can't stress that enough; if you screw up what you're doing in one layer, you're only out a few mins work to replace it. If you did it all in one layer... you're redoing the whole thing. I tend to use solid fill or effect layers and masks a lot, especially vector masks; changing colours or effects is fast and pain-free then.

[BNSF650]

Has anybody use GIMP to paint anything yet? If so any photos of them?

[PapaXpress]

All of MadMike's work is done with GIMP.

[BNSF650]

So with GIMP can you make the train look dirty and texture it?

[PapaXpress]

That is correct.

[BNSF650]

Ok cool i guess i will give GIMP a shot before i buy Photoshop..lol

[buzz456]

I'm still trying to figure out how to get a clone created that when I go back to RW the darn thing shows up. How about a clear explanation of that? I have tried both stixx tutorial and RW Tools and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I have spent hours looking at the files in one that works and one that doesn't and still don't understand. Maybe I just don't understand the file structure or am not getting down far enough but RW still largely remains a mystery to many of us.
Buzz

[MadMike1024]

I'm still trying to figure out how to get a clone created that when I go back to RW the darn thing shows up. How about a clear explanation of that? I have tried both stixx tutorial and RW Tools and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I have spent hours looking at the files in one that works and one that doesn't and still don't understand. Maybe I just don't understand the file structure or am not getting down far enough but RW still largely remains a mystery to many of us.
Buzz

The easiest way to understand it is this: The wagon/loco .bin file tells RW where to find itself, and then has all the paths and pointers embedded within. If you want to make a new loco from an old one, copy the original folder and rename it MyTest(or BN-RS3, or whatever you are doing). Open the .bin file for the model you are working with in RW-Tools and change all references to \Default\(or whatever the original path was) to \MyTest\. The index name for the unit is usually at the top of the file, it should be obvious. Change the name to MyLoco and save the file. If you've done it right, MyLoco will be in the left flyout under locomotives, and load independently of the original. Now, start changing .TgPcDx files.

[Kali]

It's safe to say the bin file IS the piece of stock, it's the only bit that has to be unique. If you open it up you'll find a lot of XML, and in that are paths to the files used to build up the model; the important bit at first is the path to the geometry; You will have to change that to the path to your new folder. The file in the geometry line is the shape file ( the actual 3d model ), which itself contains references to textures; as long as the textures are in the same relative place from the shape file as the originals are ( and they will be if you just copied the original folder ) they will just load up fine.

To just get the clone to show up in RW, you have to change the description lines at the top of the .bin file, that's all ( if you don't it loads both, and one overwrites the other menu entry ). If you don't change the geometry line it will still look like the original no matter what you do ( because it's still referring to the original's shape ) but it still appears seperately in the menus.