Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Topic: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain (Read 129181 times) previous topic - next topic

Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #35 – June 06, 2009, 11:36:33 am

Moderator note: Some of these guidelines have now been updated: see here for details of the revised guidelines.

Seeing as a couple of people have shown interest in producing graphics for pak128.Britain recently (which is highly welcome!) I am writing this as a guide to style of pak128.Britain artwork, and also demonstrating how I do the graphics in blender (using this method and starting with the examples provided will mean the results are going to be comparable).

Graphical consistency is a big thing in pak128.Britain, as it helps make the pak look better in game. For that reason, I'm quite strict about what gets into the pak, but I don't want to discourage people from getting involved. There are some great graphics out there which just don't look good alongside other graphics in the pak128.Britain style, so if I don't think something you draw fits well, don't take it as an insult on your efforts or graphics ability

I hope this will encourage people to draw things for pak128.Britain, and for them to be consistent enough to make it into the pak.

Style Overview

The screenshots below show the differences in style between standard pak128 and pak128.Britain - you can see that pak128 is generally less bright, and textures are smoother. That's why pak128 and pak128.Britain graphics don't look too great when seen next to each other.

http://simutrans-germany.com/files/upload/pakBritainshowcase.jpg
http://simutrans-germany.com/files/upload/pak128.jpg

Scales
Length scales in pak128.Britain are fairly arbitrary, the best rule being that if it fits then it is good. As a general rule though, 1 tile should represent 30m, this allows a double car tram to fit on one station tile.
Moderator note: It has been dsicovered that the existing buildings in Pak128.Britain are closer to a scale of 15m/tile: see here for details. It may be better to use this scale for buildings to avoid inconsistency.

Using existing graphics
All current pak128.Britain artwork is available under the terms of the artistic license at http://sourceforge.net/p/simutrans/code/HEAD/tree/pak128.Britain/ - you may use it in your creations if you give credit to the original creator.

Using blender to create graphics
The best way to produce pak128.Britain graphics is to use blender - free from http://www.blender.org/
A very good blender tutorial can be found here: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro (this is how I learned to use it from zero computer graphics experience)

You can download a ready set up template for ak128.Britain blends here: http://simutrans-germany.com/files/upload/template-blend-128-Britain.zip
Or alternatively, pak128.Britain blends are now all available on GitHub between the following locations:
https://github.com/JamesHood/pak128.Britain-blend-files
https://github.com/jamespetts/Pak128.Britain-blends

If you want to adapt an existing model or use it as a base for whatever you are drawing, PM me and I will dig it out for you to use as a basis for your work.

Note: the below set of steps describes an out of date work-flow. For a detailed description of how to use the new, much easier and quicker work-flow, see here. (Jamespetts, April 2017)
For vehicles, 8 renders 45 degrees apart are required, buildings need 4. To create these from your model in blender, follow these steps:
1) select all objects in layer one (press "1" followed by "a" in object mode).
2) Then press shift+3 to bring in the lighting settings. Press "numpad 7" to get top down view.
3) Hit "F12" to render, and save the png. Then hit "r" then type 45 or 90 depending on whether you are doing vehicle or building. This should rotate the object, but importantly, not the lights or the camera.
4) repeat step 3 until you have saved all 4 or 8 pngs.
5) now finish the job by going into GIMP/Paint and changing the background black to #e7ffff and getting everything aligned correctly and make any other alterations necessary to tidy up the image - you may want to use a template from SVN: http://sourceforge.net/p/simutrans/code/HEAD/tree/pak128.Britain/

Standard colours for Blender
To produce vehicle graphics using the same colours for liveries as existing graphics (which is important for maintaining consistency), see this list of standard colours for Blender.

dat files
This post isn't about writing dat files - do these the same way as for any other pak. The german wiki is very good (if you can read some german or generally decode the non-translated bits). Or just ask for help on the forum.

License conditions for inclusion
If you want your work included in the pak128.Britain project, you will need to give permission to me for it to be released as open source. You can specify your own license or terms, or just adopt the artistic license used for the rest of pak128.Britain.

What needs drawing?
Draw whatever you want to include. But if you want to help with the priority things I am working on, PM me or post in this thread: http://forum.simutrans.com/index.php?topic=1467.0

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #36 – June 06, 2009, 12:25:35 pm

This is a very useful guide, thank you! One thing, though: wouldn't it be better to ask that all things in Pak128.Britain be released under the same licence terms, or else it could get rather a mess when people want to make derivative works...?

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #37 – June 06, 2009, 12:28:19 pm

I'm no licensing expert. Timothy has offered for me to adapt his underground set to fit the pak128.Britain style, but I think he would prefer less strict terms than the artistic license. If I go ahead with this plan, I will make a note in the license file on SVN. The idea is all derivative work would be allowed with credits for all work released.

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #38 – June 06, 2009, 01:22:35 pm

Guide:
It's heavily oriented towards rendering, which makes sense since you want to keep style uniform. Bu I lack some information about houses...

Liceses:
The stuff I gave you from 128 is under Artistic v2, and that license is quite lenient regarding distribution and mixing with even "proprietary" content, so there should not be a problem at all from this angle.

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #39 – June 06, 2009, 01:44:08 pm

What information do you think is missing about housing VS?

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #40 – June 06, 2009, 01:59:04 pm

Height of floor. Normally it's given in pixels, you could perhaps relate that to tile side...

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #41 – January 05, 2010, 10:40:43 pm

Does anyone have the blender model for the BR Cl**** 20? I want to re-model and render it for a Cl**** 08 to give us a yard Shunter (i could do with one at my Bolton Goods depot

), it seems a fairly close in shape.

Also, has anyone got any idea on a Cl**** 08's running costs?

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #42 – January 05, 2010, 10:45:11 pm

The Hood should have the model for the cl**** 20. However, please note that shunting does not feature in Simutrans - Simutrans (both Standard and Experimental) tend to focus on the macro rather than the micro of operations. Perhaps you could model a cl**** 09 or 03, which were used for very local goods transport?

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #43 – January 05, 2010, 11:33:05 pm

I kinda simulate shunting around a local yard with multiple types of wagon/hoppers as the city (Bolton, ack bless her) is a main goods hub and has the odd fact of multiple bulk and goods producers within a few tiles of the depot, so a shunter would suit very well.

But yeah your right a 09 would work perfectly and cover the macro, thanks for the idea, I think I'm sold on the 09 idea.

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #44 – January 06, 2010, 08:49:36 am

I'll upload the blend for the cl**** 20 when I get home, which may be early today given the weather and the fact I'm the only one in my office so I'm boss for the day

I'd also go for the 09 as well, but I still think it would be pretty niche. However if someone (e.g. you) wants it, and then draws it, no reason not to include it!

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #45 – January 06, 2010, 08:51:10 am

Thanks Hood, I'm "snowed in", unfortunately I can work from home

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #46 – January 07, 2010, 07:49:52 pm

Shunter,

here's the link to the cl**** 20 blend:

http://files.[ simutrans [dot] us (site down, do not visit) ]/files/get/xED8QPgSus/br-cl20-green.blend

Re: Contributing graphics to pak128.Britain

Reply #47 – January 08, 2010, 11:24:39 pm

Hey Hood, sorry for the delay, really busy at work.

Thank you very much for the file, I'll get to work!