Ping-->Jersey Guys ;) Textures?

[endgame]

Can you walk me through how to incorporate Deft's textures into my jerseys, or is it a matter of actually beginning with those textures and then adding my colors?

When I've had my graphics program open, what I "thought" I could do was simply copy and paste those templates as new layers and vary their opacity, but I find that either I'm wrong, doing something wrong, or it isn't the way it should be done.

I've read - maybe could have read more closely? - Deft's readme and all of the threads I can find that relate, but still this ol' mind is coming up a bit short of understanding. Thanks in advance.

[Ambermonk]

Originally Posted by endgame

Can you walk me through how to incorporate Deft's textures into my jerseys, or is it a matter of actually beginning with those textures and then adding my colors?

When I've had my graphics program open, what I "thought" I could do was simply copy and paste those templates as new layers and vary their opacity, but I find that either I'm wrong, doing something wrong, or it isn't the way it should be done.

I've read - maybe could have read more closely? - Deft's readme and all of the threads I can find that relate, but still this ol' mind is coming up a bit short of understanding. Thanks in advance.

Check out post 2 in this thread for links to descriptions about doing uniforms...

Help with a bunch of uniforms

Good luck.

[endgame]

Thank you. I'll give those another try.

[Ambermonk]

Originally Posted by endgame

Thank you. I'll give those another try.

I have just posted an example of uniform design at SimCentral. Perhaps that will give you some ideas...
Uniform Layer Example Now Available

[Deft]

I am about to release a new version with 3 new overlays, and No Peppers uniform designs.

[truthserum]

Originally Posted by Deft

I am about to release a new version with 3 new overlays, and No Peppers uniform designs.

Sweet...can't wait. Thanks Deft.

[endgame]

All right. Very s l o w l y, I'm becoming a bit more familiar with the layers, opacity, etc.. Thanks for the tips and hints I've been given so far, both publicly and privately. Here's one that - finally - incorporates just a hint of shading on the uniform as well as adding the team city and finessing the colors. Your feedback, good or bad, is appreciated. On this selection I did choose to err on the side of softer shadows, but maybe on a future team's colors a heavier blend may be more appropriate. In any event, FWIW.

[Ambermonk]

Very nice. You're off to a good start. You might try locating the text a little lower. The nice thing about working with layers is that, for example, you can resize the text or move it around without affecting any other part of the uniform.

Keep posting your efforts, and we'll be happy to answer any questions that you may have. You're off & running!

[endgame]

Thanks, Ambermonk. I'll get back to work then. It sure adds a bit of that personal touch when you've had a hand in creating something. I've even established a tidbit of a team's history now and then while contemplating where I want to go with an idea. The good news is, it sure looks like it'll take me long enough to work through these teams for the next patch to be out.

[Ambermonk]

Originally Posted by endgame

Thanks, Ambermonk. I'll get back to work then. It sure adds a bit of that personal touch when you've had a hand in creating something. I've even established a tidbit of a team's history now and then while contemplating where I want to go with an idea. The good news is, it sure looks like it'll take me long enough to work through these teams for the next patch to be out.

Good plan. I usually take some time between seasons to implement big chunks of improvements. This last off-season I redid the minor league schedules, the off-season before that, I redid the uniforms. This game is a hobby, so make your improvements bit-by-bit and enjoy it.

By the way, you have never told us graphics package you are using or what style of uniforms you have in your league, or what method of uniform design you are using. We could help more if we knew what you were working with.

[endgame]

Here's what I've been working on tonight and it's been giving me a few fits because I wanted to incorporate the logo into the lettering. I ended up blowing up the pic into pixels and whittling away at the intersection of the logo and the first O, trying to create an overlapping impression in the design while still allowing the letter itself to maintain its position in the nickname. Using Blue Ridge would've probably been easier, but I thought I would take on the challenge. I notice the angle sometimes dictates how well the result turns out, and I'm not thrilled with these, but I'm not disappointed either. It's farther along than I thought I'd get.

Right now, after fooling around with a few alternatives, I've sort of settled into using Adobe Photoshop 3 because I can find my way around the layers with intuition instead of reading instructions and I can implement the text arcs, unlike PaintshopPro where - it seems at least - I have to use vectors and snap text to curves. The downside of Photoshop, until I find differently, is I can't utilize the second color stroke in the fonts like I can in PSP so the lettering is always going turn out solid.

I still have a lot of work and reading to do, but making ANY progress has been a slight encouragement. Styles, methods, etc.... right now are more whim and spur of the moment than anything. I did put Deft's 225 jersey styles into my selections, so I basically start by zeroing in on one team, find its style, select its colors, then go to work in Adobe making the alterations and testing the copy in the game. Lather, rinse, repeat until OOTP26 when it'll come to me as easily as it does to some of you.

[Ambermonk]

Originally Posted by endgame

Here's what I've been working on tonight and it's been giving me a few fits because I wanted to incorporate the logo into the lettering.

Right now, after fooling around with a few alternatives, I've sort of settled into using Adobe Photoshop 3 because I can find my way around the layers with intuition instead of reading instructions and I can implement the text arcs, unlike PaintshopPro where - it seems at least - I have to use vectors and snap text to curves. The downside of Photoshop, until I find differently, is I can't utilize the second color stroke in the fonts like I can in PSP so the lettering is always going turn out solid.

I still have a lot of work and reading to do, but making ANY progress has been a slight encouragement, so I basically start by zeroing in on one team, find its style, select its colors, then go to work in Adobe making the alterations and testing the copy in the game. Lather, rinse, repeat until OOTP26 when it'll come to me as easily as it does to some of you.

I like the uni on the left. Now that your doing uniforms, you may want to go into preferences and change the "Zoom" setting to "Out - shows more uniform." Personally I got tired of seeing the same faces all the time before I used the zoom out setting. I think the uniforms provide more variety than seeing the same faces all the time. Also, when I went to zoom out, I increased the resolution of my screen so as to not lose any detail. I'm glad I did.

Now that we know you use Adobe Photoshop, perhaps those users will be able to offer some suggestions. Enjoy.

[endgame]

Still plodding away, convinced I can accomplish something. Today was a long sitting, playing with textures again. I attempted a bit of an oxford cloth on this one, but it does look like the shading could use some improvement. I'm saving the .psd files so I can go back and make changes later if I need to, but for now, given I won't be seeing these teams all of the time (now watch, this one will have team leaders for the whole season!), I'll touch them up when I can.

Thanks again for your encouragement. Only about 23 teams to go.

[Ambermonk]

Originally Posted by endgame

Still plodding away, convinced I can accomplish something. Today was a long sitting, playing with textures again. I attempted a bit of an oxford cloth on this one, but it does look like the shading could use some improvement. I'm saving the .psd files so I can go back and make changes later if I need to, but for now, given I won't be seeing these teams all of the time (now watch, this one will have team leaders for the whole season!), I'll touch them up when I can.

Thanks again for your encouragement. Only about 23 teams to go.

Nice Effort. You may get better results with your Oxford cloth texture if you increase the translucency of the layer. That will make it less intrusive.

You might be able to increase the appearance of your "Talons" text by making it a little smaller. Normally you don't want to go all the way to the very edge of the Jersey - especially when the colors of the arms & the text are the same color.

The uniform in general looks a little dark. You may be able to improve this by making the main uniform color a little lighter. I have found that a uniform usually appears considerably darker than I anticipated when I selected the color - so I usually make the color selection several shades lighter initially (and more than half the time have to go back and lighten it more still). This will also enhance the contrast with the rest of the uniform and make texturing & shading easier. You currently have a dark uniform, a dark face, and a dark background - hence, dark.

You may not have thought of this, but you can import your backgrounds into your paint program and lighten them (or change the sky). If the background is a little lighter than the face, then it is less intrusive, seems farther back, and the eye is drawn more to the face.

You may be able to improve the uniform by adding a greater variety of colors. I note about 6 different color areas for consideration.

Since you were smart enough to save the .psd files, you can go back and try some of these ideas. I look forward to seeing what you can do. Keep up the good work!

[endgame]

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to offer your constructive criticism. I will try to put your thoughts to work! Very good points.

I'm learning a lot.

[Deft]

I encourage you to get the new jersey template I released. It should make your task a lot easier.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by Deft

I encourage you to get the new jersey template I released. It should make your task a lot easier.

Thanks, Deft. I'll do that and play around a bit.

We all appreciate your efforts.

[SittingDuck]

Wow. It's gotten to the point where the unis are much better than the faces. Those Spock ears, man.... Ruins it... :fonziethumbdown: