Post by Ela @ GK on Sept 2, 2006 15:46:19 GMT -5
Utilizing Paintballs: Spots, Patches and Basic Patterns
Adding Texture : Basics
Texture is key to desireable hexes. Most people will agree that a textureless pet (meaning spots or other) are not very appealing and often times, will not be adopted as quickly, if at all. In some cases, like flesh spots in ears or on the muzzle, textureless is okay and looks fine - but It is suggested to use textures on most if not all spots. In this part, you will learn to texture PWS placed spots in LNZ Pro.
This section requires LNZ Pro to add textures to the paintballs.
Open the LNZ Pro program. Go to "File" then "Open..." to select the breed you wish to work with. Navigate through the popup opening screen to find the breed, then click it - Once clicked, press "Open". The pop up "open" screen will disappear and you will get a two column setup, the left being about 1/4 of the size of the LNZ Window. Teh right column will be blank while the left column will have the following:
- - - - -
+BMP
+LNZ
+SCP
+TXT
+WAV
+String Table
+RCData
- - - - -
Click on the "LNZ" option, which will open a new drop down in succession to that option. They additional options will be different for every breed, but for demonstration sake, I am going to Use the dalmation file. In the Dalmation file, the two new options will read "DM" and "DMPUP". To access the paintballs, open the first one "DM" (again, it will vary on the breed).
In the right column, a bunch of letters, numbers, and symbols will appear for your viewing.
Using the "Find..." feature, located in the tools section, find the heading [Paintballs] within the LNZ adult information. If you do not use the "Find..." feature, you can scroll down to the [Paintballs] section manually but using the scroll bar (or mouse scroll ball). In most files, the [Paintballs] section comes directly after the [Linez] section (which follows the [Omissions] and [Addballz]).
All original breedz will have a section already included in the paintballs heading which is most often labeled ";paws". This is the PAW PADS which are textureless. There should be 16 lines following the ";paws" sectional. Those sixteen are the pads. Everything before or after those are the paintballs you have added or others originally included in the file.
You will notice several (or many) additional paintball lines, each line representing one paintball. If you placed many paintballs in PWS, you will notice many lines preceding the paintballs heading [Paintballs]. The more paintballs you add, the longer it will take to texture your paintballs.
The following is an example line extracted from the Paws information in the Dalmation file. I will be using these lines to demonstrate the remaining portion of this section of the lesson:
;paws
9, 60, 0, 1, 0.3, 39, -1, 0, -1, -1, -1
10, 60, 0, 1, 0.3, 39, -1, 0, -1, -1, -1
Each of the 11 "columns" are divided by a comma (,). With that in mind, the following explains what each column is for, the bolded column being the one we will work with.
Column 1 = Base ball
Column 2 = Paintball size (percent of base ball diameter)
Column 3 = X co-ordinate
Column 4 = Y co-ordinate
Column 5 = Z co-ordinate
Column 6 = Colour
Column 7 = Outline colour
Column 8 = Fuzz amount
Column 9 = outline size
Column 10 = group
Column 11 = Texture
As you can see, the eleventh column is the texture column. That is, as noted, the one which we will be workign with, so from this point on, the other ten columns mean little to nothing within this lesson.
The number in the eleventh column of every paintball you placed in Pet Workshop as well as the Paw Pads should read "-1", as shown above. The negative value means textureless. To make it textured, simply remove the negative value (the "-" sign) making th number in column 11 read "1".
You can control the texture you apply to your paintballs by changign the number. To change it to specific texture, refer into your Pet Workshop, with the file open, to the texture list like so:
The numbers which are circled in red show what number you use to apply that particular texture. If you want to, for example in the above using the Dali Paw print lines posted earlier in this lesson, use the PLUSH texture (first in the list) you would change the "-1" into "0", since "0" is the number shown in the texture list:
;paws
9, 60, 0, 1, 0.3, 39, -1, 0, -1, -1, 0
10, 60, 0, 1, 0.3, 39, -1, 0, -1, -1, 0
See how I changed the last number to "0"? Those paintballs will then carry a PLUSH texture if the texture list was the same as my example shown.
In future lessons, you will learn how to utilize textures which will aid in your paintball hexes, however, for this time, the basics above is all you need to know to start off. Now, let's continue with how to utilize paintballs to create markings, designs, and other things of those natures.
- - - - -
Creating Markings
MERLING
Merling is a common marking "phrase" which people use to identify markings which look like real life merling patterns. However, there is oftena misconception with what merle is and what colour/colour combinations are 'true' merle. This section will help you create True merle patterns with your new Paintball hexing abilities.
Merle can be of the following combinations.
Blue Merle
+ 25, 35 (grey, black) Most common
+ 115, 35 (blue, black)
+ 25, 115 (blue, grey) Rare
Red Merle
+ 45, 55 (cream, red) Most common
+ 45, 95 (cream, brown)
+ 45, 65 (cream, orange) Rare/Faulted
+ 125, 95 (dust, brown) Most common
+ 125, 55 (dust, red)
+ 55, 90 (red, brown) Rare/Faulted
+ 55, 35 (red, black) Rare/Faulted
Dilute Red Merle (Lilac)
+ 45, 125 (cream, dust)
Sable
+ 105, 95 (tan, brown)
+ 45, 105 (cream, tan)
+ 45, 65 (cream, orange)
Those are the only true merle colours which are classed as Realistic. The Rare/Faulted are very unlikely to occur and are often unprefered in a merle dog/cat. To be truely realistic, Merling cant occur in felines - but Its always fun to add that little hint of dogginess into the feline catz world.
Making Merling using Pet Workshop is fairly easy and can be fun to play around with. There are two main methods of creating merlign on a pet, those being Freelance and Imitation. Freelance allows you to make patches however you wish and freely - not needing to follow any given template or look. These "Freelance" merles can soemtimes appear unrealistic, but they are almost always unique. Imitation merling is when you use a real life picture to create the patching on your pet. These look most realistic but can be easily copied (unknowingly) if someone else chooses to use the same photo as a base.
(Using the Freelance Method) To create a basic Merle "patch", first make the ballz one of the colours of the colour-combo you have chosen to work with. Using the second colour, place the paintballs ontop of the ball in one of the following "basic merle patch" patterns:
The paintballs used can be of any size, as the patches can as well be of any size. Some merling looks fine with small patches which others look good with large patches, or even a c ombination of small and large. The shape of the patches do not have to be the same as those shown above, those are just examples of some common patch shapes and make-up.
(Using the Imitation Method) To create the merling patches, you use a photo "diagram" to work from. You take a real life photo of a merled dog and using paint, or similar, draw circles to represent paintbals over the patches to create the shape. The following is n example:
The first image (first row) is unedited. The second image shows the circles on the merling withint he image of the dog. The first outline (second row) Show an enlarged view of the circle placements. The second image shows the filled in look to show the basic shape the paintballs will create.
Now, using this outline, add the paintballs according to the diagram and save the file. Do this will all the merling patched within the imitational image reference. Hint: If there are alot of merling patches ont he image reference you are using, select a dozen which are distinctive (most unique and appealing in shape/size) and only ass those when hexing. If you have too much patches, they will tend to look very cluttered and unattractive.
PATCHES
Patches are just like Merling, owever they are different by colouration. Patches are anything resemblign merle that does not come in a merle acceptable (realistic) colour combination. You can have a variety of combinations, ranging between 2 colours, all the way up to 255 colours (though that is a bit much).
To create patches, use either of the methods shown in the MERLING section of this lesson only use colour combinations not shown.
HOULA "SPOT" PATCHES
Houla spots, again, use the similar design of the Merling, however there is one crucial difference. Houla spots are the same colour as the base ball only of a different shade. For example, if the base ball is 100 (tan) in colour, then the Houla spots will be 109 (dark tan) in colour. They can come in numerous of sizes, but true houla spots are approximately 35 - 55 in size.
Houla Spot example:
10 base, 19 paintballs
20 base, 29 paintballs
30 base, 39 paintballs
40 base, 49 paintballs
50 base, 59 paintballs
Using the combinations above, you can create Houla Spots with ease. Combinations are not limited to th five examples above. Those are only examples, and houlas can vary between 10-19 combination all the way up to 120-129 combination.
DALMATION SPOTS
Basic dalmation spots are paintballs, most commonly black or liver (90) in colour. Dalmation spots rarely, in petz, overlap each other. They look and appear circular and not patchy like merles. To create dalmation spots, simply place a number fo spots all over, spontaneously, on the body fo the pet. You can use the Imitation method learned in Merling, however, this tends to be the longer, more time consuming method which often gets frustrating.
Dalmation spots most often range between 20 and 35 in size. Anythign larger is considdered a patch while anythign larger is considdered ticking (speckles).
TICKING (SPECKLES)
Ticking, most commonly seen in real life on Border collies or setter style breeds, is a cluster of small 10 - 20 size spots, usually black, tan, or grey in colour. They can be any colour, however. To create ticking, place, on one base ball, a cluster of paintballs (10 - 20 in size). You can view the saved result in the game and add more paintballs if needed.
Ticking usually occurs on the legs and muzzle, but have fun and play around with this. A pet with lots of ticking can be a put off unless you figure out a pattern or dispursity that suits the pet (this means, an amount of ticking total).
SUGGESTIONS :
I would really like to do more lessons on paintballs. If there is some aspect of paintballs you would like to learn, please suggest it in the suggstion thread. In order to make more lessons, I require ideas. I want to know what you, as my 'students', want to learn. If I get enough suggestions base don "What to do with paintballs", I will make a new lesson as a part two of this one (Utilizing paintballs).
Intermediate Lesson Three (3) Assignments
NOTE: For these asisgnments, you MUST include a picture of the pet in the game and not form the PWS program.
Assignment One (1)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a merled pet using the FREELANCE tecnique. Be sure to texture the paintballs and use one of the combinations (acceptable) listed. You do not need to merle the entire pet. You cam just do half or the torso and leave the rest solid (white is common, but not required).
Assignment Two (2)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a merled pet using the IMITATION tecnique. Be sure to texture the paintballs and use one of the combinations (acceptable) listed. You do not need to merle the entire pet. You cam just do half or the torso and leave the rest solid (white is common, but not required). When posting your finished pet for this assignment, attach the picture reference you have used.
Assignment Three (3)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with patches. Be sure to texture the paintballs. You may do as many or as few patches you want and use any colour combination not listed in the merled section. Picture references are allowed, but not required. Only use two colours: One for base, one for patches.
Assignment Four (4)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with patches. Be sure to texture the paintballs. You may do as many or as few patches you want and use any colour combination not listed in the merled section. Picture references are allowed, but not required. Only use three or MORE colours: One for base, several for the patches.
Assignment Five (5)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with Ticking somewhere on it. Be sure to texture the paintballs. Make the tickign all one colour.
Assignment Six (6)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with Houla Spots. Be sure to texture the paintballs. Use any houla spot combination. Be sure to use a light base with a dark paintball.
Assignment Seven (7)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with Inverted Houla Spots. Be sure to texture the paintballs. Inverted Houla spots are when the base is a darker shade and the paintballs are a lighter shade. (ie: 109 base, 100 houla spots).
Adding Texture : Basics
Texture is key to desireable hexes. Most people will agree that a textureless pet (meaning spots or other) are not very appealing and often times, will not be adopted as quickly, if at all. In some cases, like flesh spots in ears or on the muzzle, textureless is okay and looks fine - but It is suggested to use textures on most if not all spots. In this part, you will learn to texture PWS placed spots in LNZ Pro.
This section requires LNZ Pro to add textures to the paintballs.
Open the LNZ Pro program. Go to "File" then "Open..." to select the breed you wish to work with. Navigate through the popup opening screen to find the breed, then click it - Once clicked, press "Open". The pop up "open" screen will disappear and you will get a two column setup, the left being about 1/4 of the size of the LNZ Window. Teh right column will be blank while the left column will have the following:
- - - - -
+BMP
+LNZ
+SCP
+TXT
+WAV
+String Table
+RCData
- - - - -
Click on the "LNZ" option, which will open a new drop down in succession to that option. They additional options will be different for every breed, but for demonstration sake, I am going to Use the dalmation file. In the Dalmation file, the two new options will read "DM" and "DMPUP". To access the paintballs, open the first one "DM" (again, it will vary on the breed).
In the right column, a bunch of letters, numbers, and symbols will appear for your viewing.
Using the "Find..." feature, located in the tools section, find the heading [Paintballs] within the LNZ adult information. If you do not use the "Find..." feature, you can scroll down to the [Paintballs] section manually but using the scroll bar (or mouse scroll ball). In most files, the [Paintballs] section comes directly after the [Linez] section (which follows the [Omissions] and [Addballz]).
All original breedz will have a section already included in the paintballs heading which is most often labeled ";paws". This is the PAW PADS which are textureless. There should be 16 lines following the ";paws" sectional. Those sixteen are the pads. Everything before or after those are the paintballs you have added or others originally included in the file.
You will notice several (or many) additional paintball lines, each line representing one paintball. If you placed many paintballs in PWS, you will notice many lines preceding the paintballs heading [Paintballs]. The more paintballs you add, the longer it will take to texture your paintballs.
The following is an example line extracted from the Paws information in the Dalmation file. I will be using these lines to demonstrate the remaining portion of this section of the lesson:
;paws
9, 60, 0, 1, 0.3, 39, -1, 0, -1, -1, -1
10, 60, 0, 1, 0.3, 39, -1, 0, -1, -1, -1
Each of the 11 "columns" are divided by a comma (,). With that in mind, the following explains what each column is for, the bolded column being the one we will work with.
Column 1 = Base ball
Column 2 = Paintball size (percent of base ball diameter)
Column 3 = X co-ordinate
Column 4 = Y co-ordinate
Column 5 = Z co-ordinate
Column 6 = Colour
Column 7 = Outline colour
Column 8 = Fuzz amount
Column 9 = outline size
Column 10 = group
Column 11 = Texture
As you can see, the eleventh column is the texture column. That is, as noted, the one which we will be workign with, so from this point on, the other ten columns mean little to nothing within this lesson.
The number in the eleventh column of every paintball you placed in Pet Workshop as well as the Paw Pads should read "-1", as shown above. The negative value means textureless. To make it textured, simply remove the negative value (the "-" sign) making th number in column 11 read "1".
You can control the texture you apply to your paintballs by changign the number. To change it to specific texture, refer into your Pet Workshop, with the file open, to the texture list like so:
The numbers which are circled in red show what number you use to apply that particular texture. If you want to, for example in the above using the Dali Paw print lines posted earlier in this lesson, use the PLUSH texture (first in the list) you would change the "-1" into "0", since "0" is the number shown in the texture list:
;paws
9, 60, 0, 1, 0.3, 39, -1, 0, -1, -1, 0
10, 60, 0, 1, 0.3, 39, -1, 0, -1, -1, 0
See how I changed the last number to "0"? Those paintballs will then carry a PLUSH texture if the texture list was the same as my example shown.
In future lessons, you will learn how to utilize textures which will aid in your paintball hexes, however, for this time, the basics above is all you need to know to start off. Now, let's continue with how to utilize paintballs to create markings, designs, and other things of those natures.
- - - - -
Creating Markings
MERLING
Merling is a common marking "phrase" which people use to identify markings which look like real life merling patterns. However, there is oftena misconception with what merle is and what colour/colour combinations are 'true' merle. This section will help you create True merle patterns with your new Paintball hexing abilities.
Merle can be of the following combinations.
Blue Merle
+ 25, 35 (grey, black) Most common
+ 115, 35 (blue, black)
+ 25, 115 (blue, grey) Rare
Red Merle
+ 45, 55 (cream, red) Most common
+ 45, 95 (cream, brown)
+ 45, 65 (cream, orange) Rare/Faulted
+ 125, 95 (dust, brown) Most common
+ 125, 55 (dust, red)
+ 55, 90 (red, brown) Rare/Faulted
+ 55, 35 (red, black) Rare/Faulted
Dilute Red Merle (Lilac)
+ 45, 125 (cream, dust)
Sable
+ 105, 95 (tan, brown)
+ 45, 105 (cream, tan)
+ 45, 65 (cream, orange)
Those are the only true merle colours which are classed as Realistic. The Rare/Faulted are very unlikely to occur and are often unprefered in a merle dog/cat. To be truely realistic, Merling cant occur in felines - but Its always fun to add that little hint of dogginess into the feline catz world.
Making Merling using Pet Workshop is fairly easy and can be fun to play around with. There are two main methods of creating merlign on a pet, those being Freelance and Imitation. Freelance allows you to make patches however you wish and freely - not needing to follow any given template or look. These "Freelance" merles can soemtimes appear unrealistic, but they are almost always unique. Imitation merling is when you use a real life picture to create the patching on your pet. These look most realistic but can be easily copied (unknowingly) if someone else chooses to use the same photo as a base.
(Using the Freelance Method) To create a basic Merle "patch", first make the ballz one of the colours of the colour-combo you have chosen to work with. Using the second colour, place the paintballs ontop of the ball in one of the following "basic merle patch" patterns:
The paintballs used can be of any size, as the patches can as well be of any size. Some merling looks fine with small patches which others look good with large patches, or even a c ombination of small and large. The shape of the patches do not have to be the same as those shown above, those are just examples of some common patch shapes and make-up.
(Using the Imitation Method) To create the merling patches, you use a photo "diagram" to work from. You take a real life photo of a merled dog and using paint, or similar, draw circles to represent paintbals over the patches to create the shape. The following is n example:
The first image (first row) is unedited. The second image shows the circles on the merling withint he image of the dog. The first outline (second row) Show an enlarged view of the circle placements. The second image shows the filled in look to show the basic shape the paintballs will create.
Now, using this outline, add the paintballs according to the diagram and save the file. Do this will all the merling patched within the imitational image reference. Hint: If there are alot of merling patches ont he image reference you are using, select a dozen which are distinctive (most unique and appealing in shape/size) and only ass those when hexing. If you have too much patches, they will tend to look very cluttered and unattractive.
PATCHES
Patches are just like Merling, owever they are different by colouration. Patches are anything resemblign merle that does not come in a merle acceptable (realistic) colour combination. You can have a variety of combinations, ranging between 2 colours, all the way up to 255 colours (though that is a bit much).
To create patches, use either of the methods shown in the MERLING section of this lesson only use colour combinations not shown.
HOULA "SPOT" PATCHES
Houla spots, again, use the similar design of the Merling, however there is one crucial difference. Houla spots are the same colour as the base ball only of a different shade. For example, if the base ball is 100 (tan) in colour, then the Houla spots will be 109 (dark tan) in colour. They can come in numerous of sizes, but true houla spots are approximately 35 - 55 in size.
Houla Spot example:
10 base, 19 paintballs
20 base, 29 paintballs
30 base, 39 paintballs
40 base, 49 paintballs
50 base, 59 paintballs
Using the combinations above, you can create Houla Spots with ease. Combinations are not limited to th five examples above. Those are only examples, and houlas can vary between 10-19 combination all the way up to 120-129 combination.
DALMATION SPOTS
Basic dalmation spots are paintballs, most commonly black or liver (90) in colour. Dalmation spots rarely, in petz, overlap each other. They look and appear circular and not patchy like merles. To create dalmation spots, simply place a number fo spots all over, spontaneously, on the body fo the pet. You can use the Imitation method learned in Merling, however, this tends to be the longer, more time consuming method which often gets frustrating.
Dalmation spots most often range between 20 and 35 in size. Anythign larger is considdered a patch while anythign larger is considdered ticking (speckles).
TICKING (SPECKLES)
Ticking, most commonly seen in real life on Border collies or setter style breeds, is a cluster of small 10 - 20 size spots, usually black, tan, or grey in colour. They can be any colour, however. To create ticking, place, on one base ball, a cluster of paintballs (10 - 20 in size). You can view the saved result in the game and add more paintballs if needed.
Ticking usually occurs on the legs and muzzle, but have fun and play around with this. A pet with lots of ticking can be a put off unless you figure out a pattern or dispursity that suits the pet (this means, an amount of ticking total).
SUGGESTIONS :
I would really like to do more lessons on paintballs. If there is some aspect of paintballs you would like to learn, please suggest it in the suggstion thread. In order to make more lessons, I require ideas. I want to know what you, as my 'students', want to learn. If I get enough suggestions base don "What to do with paintballs", I will make a new lesson as a part two of this one (Utilizing paintballs).
Intermediate Lesson Three (3) Assignments
NOTE: For these asisgnments, you MUST include a picture of the pet in the game and not form the PWS program.
Assignment One (1)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a merled pet using the FREELANCE tecnique. Be sure to texture the paintballs and use one of the combinations (acceptable) listed. You do not need to merle the entire pet. You cam just do half or the torso and leave the rest solid (white is common, but not required).
Assignment Two (2)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a merled pet using the IMITATION tecnique. Be sure to texture the paintballs and use one of the combinations (acceptable) listed. You do not need to merle the entire pet. You cam just do half or the torso and leave the rest solid (white is common, but not required). When posting your finished pet for this assignment, attach the picture reference you have used.
Assignment Three (3)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with patches. Be sure to texture the paintballs. You may do as many or as few patches you want and use any colour combination not listed in the merled section. Picture references are allowed, but not required. Only use two colours: One for base, one for patches.
Assignment Four (4)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with patches. Be sure to texture the paintballs. You may do as many or as few patches you want and use any colour combination not listed in the merled section. Picture references are allowed, but not required. Only use three or MORE colours: One for base, several for the patches.
Assignment Five (5)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with Ticking somewhere on it. Be sure to texture the paintballs. Make the tickign all one colour.
Assignment Six (6)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with Houla Spots. Be sure to texture the paintballs. Use any houla spot combination. Be sure to use a light base with a dark paintball.
Assignment Seven (7)
Using any breedfile you wish (try to use one with minimal addballs, sticking to Ubisoft is always easier for first timers), create a pet with Inverted Houla Spots. Be sure to texture the paintballs. Inverted Houla spots are when the base is a darker shade and the paintballs are a lighter shade. (ie: 109 base, 100 houla spots).