[HD Texture Project] Xenoblade Chronicles (v5.0U - May 17, 2014)

[Bighead]

(04-29-2014, 10:20 AM)frozenwings Wrote: I think that's freaking amazing, dude. Wow. From "not being able to draw guns" to that... yeah. I think you made some good progress today.

I want some pics of the tattoo btw

LOL well when you put it that way, it doesn't look so bad. I warn you about tattoo though, it may end up somewhere weird like my inner thigh.

(04-29-2014, 10:20 AM)frozenwings Wrote: You going to do the armor icons next?

As much as I'd like to tear into those, I really want to get back to the finishing the maps. I was getting burnt out on them to be honest, over a month straight of making maps in every moment of my free time every single day. I started to realize that I was growing tired of it when I would be working on one, 10 minutes later find myself browsing the net and be like "omg I got distracted". And this started to happen a lot where I would drift. I was really hoping Flanqer would have popped in by now "hey guys heres my bionis leg map what's next?" because he said he was about (i think 40ish%?) done with it from before. It's been refreshing to try new things since you came back, you've given me all kinds of new stuff to attempt which led me to also finding other things to do myself such as these weapon icons. But I think we're at a pretty good point where I should start back up on them because they do take a lot longer than anything else I've done so far, as much I don't really want to do them anymore. And I suppose it isn't that bad, I just wish the default maps were more accurate so I didn't have to spend more time running along borders than actually drawing anything. And I'm OCD about it, it HAS to be accurate.

[frozenwings]

I don't blame you at all; I never even expected you (or anyone really) to even do the weapon/armor icons. I was actually worried that I was keeping you from doing the maps by making suggestions on what needed to be done. Then you turned around and started doing weapon icons and I was surprised. But yeah, I agree, the maps are really important and I actually noticed when I didn't have an HD map. The Inner Bionis map stuck out like a sore thumb when I was passing from Satorl into Makna. I was just like "awwww.... out of HD maps." Then I got to Makna and I was okay again.

And I know about OCD, so take your time. I'm really OCD about these texture dumps; I know if I'm playing through the game next time and I find an entire missing set or something, I'm going to be like "WTF, HOW DID I MISS THIS?!" Speaking of OCD, are you going to finish the last two weapons then before you go back to the maps? If not I might have a nervous breakdown every time I look at the weapon screen.

Anyway, there are a TON of armor icons. 46, by my count. I don't think they'd take as long as 46 weapons would, since you can probably use various pieces from each texture (like the finger/fist part of gloves, the legs of pants) on multiple icons. The point is, I'd rather someone not start them unless they're going to finish them (OCD thing again). And it's a lot of work. It's part of the reason I want to start practicing in photoshop (retexturing games in general), it's a skill I really want. Problem is that it does take some talent too, which I'm not sure that I have. I'm actually not too bad at sketching with my hands, I can be pretty accurate. But man, when it comes to drawing on computers, I suck. And I don't like being that "Hey, will someone please retexture this because I suck." guy. So, I think when I'm satisfied with the amount of dumps we have; to the point where I can go a while without seeing a missing ID, I'm going to read up on some photoshop techniques and start practicing more seriously.

[Bighead]

Inner Bionis I'm waiting to do until I can get to the upper levels. I probably could use the moon jump to get to the upper section of it, but I'm patient. I figured it only takes a few minutes to get through that part anyway. I am going to finish the last two weapons, just taking a little break to play and try to get to the end of central factory for now so when I go to map it out I won't feel bad about running around with a speed hack and jumping like superman.

I wouldn't start the armor icons without the intention of finishing them. Some of them would be pretty simple like the glasses, headband, gloves, ones that can be duplicated and modified. As tempted as I am I'm gonna resist until I can finish up the maps. There isn't too many left, and all the really tough ones are done (I'm looking at you sword valley and valak mountain). And valak you wouldn't think it would have given me any trouble because its pretty basic, nothing fancy. Ironically by now I've learned the stuff that should be easy ends up being the most difficult. Like today.. I spent more time on dunban's simple sword before I even revealed it, than I did that rifle I had no idea how to draw, not counting the 10,000 gun pictures I looked at.

I'm not sure how Echoes does his fantastic looking 3D objects, but the stuff I'm doing is pretty simple. I think the hardest part is making the outline to whatever it is you're trying to create. The paths tool is extremely helpful there, both GIMP and photoshop have it. You play connect the dots and push a button to draw it. After I have an outline, I take a good look at it and erase some stuff, draw some stuff, try to get it perfect. After that, bucket fill it, select everything that is colored, and airbrush it. I also keep everything on a separate layers so it's easier to select certain parts. Like I always have an outline layer (or multiple outline layers), and usually a layer for each part of an object.

The only thing I ever kept track of was sword valley. This is about 5 hours in less than 3 seconds.
http://i.imgur.com/XTEge7F.gif

For the first 3 shots you'll notice I keep every single level of alpha on a different layer because once merged, it's almost impossible to make fixes. And thats all the maps are, varying levels of white, and black for water.

[frozenwings]

Haha, it's pretty cool seeing it come together like that. I usually work with different layers (for tracing purposes :p) and I've used the pathing tool. But... I need a lot more practice. I've probably spent maybe a total of like 50 hours in GIMP and maybe like 3 or 4 in photoshop. You make it look easy even though I know it takes a ton of time and effort.

Most of the maps look equally impossible to me. Same with everything you and echoes have done. Like I just removed all of my dumped files from my load folder (was causing some weird issues) and I already found a few simple things pop up while I play like an arrow and a box from the UI that I want to do. I might mess with them (they're insanely simple), but it will probably take me longer to get them right than you to make one of those weapons. I'm actually finding a few random UI things that you wouldn't really notice looking through the dump folder. None of the repeating things, just like background things that get autofilled or shaded or whatever by the game. Mostly white looking textures; I'm sure there's a real term for them. I'm a noob.

Anyway, I don't think I'll ever be as good as you or Echoes, but I'm hoping I can do something more complicated than circles and squares and whatever else I used to make the icons I have so far. I'm honestly surprised my quest screen icons turned out so well, even if they are pretty elementary.

Anyway, I'm about to go dumping again. Wish me luck :p

Edit:

Going through some stuff trying to figure something out and you have the attached "bummed out" Dunban in his regular folder. As far as I know, there aren't retextures for these. I've been saving them on the side though. However, I don't think you intended for it to end up in there. Just wanted to make sure you took it out of yours as well. Just want to avoid any issues down the road.

[Bighead]

(04-29-2014, 12:26 PM)frozenwings Wrote: Haha, it's pretty cool seeing it come together like that. I usually work with different layers (for tracing purposes :p) and I've used the pathing tool. But... I need a lot more practice. I've probably spent maybe a total of like 50 hours in GIMP and maybe like 3 or 4 in photoshop. You make it look easy even though I know it takes a ton of time and effort.

Most of the maps look equally impossible to me. Same with everything you and echoes have done. Like I just removed all of my dumped files from my load folder (was causing some weird issues) and I already found a few simple things pop up while I play like an arrow and a box from the UI that I want to do. I might mess with them (they're insanely simple), but it will probably take me longer to get them right than you to make one of those weapons. I'm actually finding a few random UI things that you wouldn't really notice looking through the dump folder. None of the repeating things, just like background things that get autofilled or shaded or whatever by the game. Mostly white looking textures; I'm sure there's a real term for them. I'm a noob.

Anyway, I don't think I'll ever be as good as you or Echoes, but I'm hoping I can do something more complicated than circles and squares and whatever else I used to make the icons I have so far. I'm honestly surprised my quest screen icons turned out so well, even if they are pretty elementary.

Anyway, I'm about to go dumping again. Wish me luck :p

Good Luck.

And you might just surprise yourself. When I was trying to learn how to edit, the first GIMP tutorial I came across was this: http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Draw_A_Paint_Brush
It made me so frustrated because it felt like they are missing about 25 steps to get to that end result. The thing that I hated most was "now airbrush and make it look good, this might take you some time". Yeah, hours later I wanted to quit forever because it was going nowhere. I ended up airbrushing a circle endlessly til I got a feel of how to make it look like a sphere, messing with different sizes and brush types. It definitely takes some patience, but it does get easier the more you fiddle with everything. I had zero skill with this stuff when I started, I was trying to copy and paste borders from Flanqer's maps to try and create Bionis Leg LOL because it felt so beyond me. And even now I'm still nowhere near an expert, just an advanced noob.

[frozenwings]

Awesome, I'll have to look into that then. Everything is beyond me right now. Also, in case you didnt see it, I edited my last post.

[Echoes]

Testing, testing, I, 2,3...


So I tried the matching (and twisting) the dots thing Bighead was talking about... I definitely need more practice, but I can see myself improving. It acually isn't as hard as it looks. You basically draw with the pen tool on top of the original texture.

PS: this is just a test, hahaha!

Edit: I definitely am gonna have to check that gimp tutorial later...

[frozenwings]

(04-29-2014, 02:19 PM)Echoes Wrote: Testing, testing, I, 2,3...


So I tried the matching (and twisting) the dots thing Bighead was talking about... I definitely need more practice, but I can see myself improving. It acually isn't as hard as it looks. You basically draw with the pen tool on top of the original texture.

PS: this is just a test, hahaha!

Edit: I definitely am gonna have to check that gimp tutorial later...

Uhhh that looks pretty damn good. I've pretty much spent the past 2 hours in PS making a stupid freaking arrow (and I'm still not done), LOL. Granted I have a lot to learn about PS, I've always used GIMP.

So yeah, that looks superb to me. If by "it isn't as hard as it looks" you mean "I want to texture all of the armor icons", then I won't stand in your way :p

I'm actually taking a break from dumping and cleaning up the UI a bit. I used some other textures I found from the pack to clean up these so far:

[Echoes]

I was watching this video earlier, and as I saw the guy making the circle and using the pen tool correctly, I had an "I know Kung fu" moment and I just had to try it out on something (not the kung fu, the pen tool).

If I do get better and am actually capable of making the more complex ones, than I'm glad to help. LOL

I'll start practicing more later, after I finish what I should be doing in the first place.

Also, here's a better version.

Edit: By the way, good job. It's a wonder those weren't fixed a long time ago. Keep at it, and you'll get better

[frozenwings]

(04-29-2014, 02:52 PM)Echoes Wrote: I was watching this video earlier, and as I saw the guy making the circle and using the pen tool correctly, I had an "I know Kung fu" moment and I just had to try it out on something (not the kung fu, the pen tool).

If I do get better and am actually capable of making the more complex ones, than I'm glad to help. LOL

I'll start practicing more later, after I finish what I should be doing in the first place.

Also, here's a better version.

Edit: By the way, good job. It's a wonder those weren't fixed a long time ago. Keep at it, and you'll get better

Haha, other parts of the UI were done with similar textures, but for some reason these parts weren't done. I just used pre-existing textures for these. I am making some new stuff for things that haven't been done, though. Maybe.

Still looks great by the way. I'm going to bed soon, so I'm not going to get through Prison Island like I was hoping tonight. I think I'll just work on this texture crap a little more, then head to sleep.

Edit: You may want to remove the older attachment so we don't have two similar but different textures floating around. Easy to get confused with all the files we're working with.