[Planemad]

Skinning with GIMP 2.6



Step 1
Choose what planes you want to skin - I chose the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 then copy its Void in case you mess it up.



Step 2
Change the MODE into a RGB by clicking Image then choosing mode RGB



Step 3
Now time to remove all the white from the skin - to do this go to layer and move the cursor down to TRANSPARENCY and click COLOUR TO ALPHA...



And this should pop up Click Ok



Now you have just the internals (rivets and stuff) on a grey and dark grey checked background Create a new WHITE layer by pressing SHIFT - CONTROL - N



Step 4
Merge the new white layer down by clicking on the GREEN arrow facing downwards



Step 5
Select the PATH tool and CLICK around what you want to paint


Then click enter and create a new layer


Step 6
The choose the colour you want to pain with by clicking on the Black and White box's (my black and white box's are different colours as I have already chosen my colours)



Step 7
Merge all the layer down - like so



Step 8
Go back to Image and make sure you convert the image into a BMP by going to MODE --> INDEXED



This should come up just change the number to 256 and then click CONVERT



Step 9
Click SAVE AS


This should come up - Call it what ever you want to call it and IT MUST HAVE .BMP on the END


Step 10
Close GIMP and Start up Il-2 and Fly you wonderful new skin :) Happy Days

And here is the skin


Planemad

[KG64_Cnopicilin]

Remember to save it as BMP or such for easy editing afterwards

If you index it you can't get the layers back anymore and continue painting without starting all over again making the layers.

[Bearkiller72]

Good point, Cnopi! :wink:
Also there's no need to specify the color depth in Gimp, you might want to use "bright".
It converts your 24bit (16.7 Mio colors) images down to 8bit (256 colors) with much better results.

Get a ready-to-go "bright", together with a batch file for easy conversion of your skins here:
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/ ... bright-35/

Apart from this - nice tut, Planemad! ^^

[RadPig94]

this will make skinning much easier, i havent tried skinning awhile (before the release of 2.6), and it looks like it has very awesome brush patterns which i can use to make some sweet non-historic skins too, wish me luck
+∞ for teh tutorial, i know what to do over the weekend now

EDIT: heh, i copy alot of voids before knowing any tutorials, pressing some ctrl+c and then pressing ctrl+v very fast will get you plenty of "voids"

[LeBigTed]

Very nice Work Planemad,

Thanks a lot it will help me ;o)

Cheers

Ted

[Planemad]

Very nice Work Planemad,

Thanks a lot it will help me ;o)...

Cheers Ted hope it helps with you skinning :) - Hope to see go thing from you :lol:

Remember to save it as BMP or such for easy editing afterwards ...

I already had that - but thanks for reminding everyone :)

Thank you to whichever Admin be it Deutschmark or Fireskull thank you for making this a sticky - I hope this will help many new Skinners.

Planemad

[RadPig94]

hey planemad, where can i get those cool brush patterns you have?

[Planemad]

hey planemad, where can i get those cool brush patterns you have?

I got them and other ones that look cool here http://www.noupe.com/gimp/1000-free-hig ... ushes.html and I got some other Brush types from M4T here http://mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&c=52 and Google'd for some.

Planemad

[ton414]

Thank you very much, a great work, everything is explained very well!!!.

Also there's no need to specify the color depth in Gimp, you might want to use "bright".
It converts your 24bit (16.7 Mio colors) images down to 8bit (256 colors) with much better results.

Get a ready-to-go "bright", together with a batch file for easy conversion of your skins here:
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/ ... bright-35/

If you use Photoshop, here you have Bright Plugin for Photoshop, with this little tool you don't have loss of quality when you saving skin:
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/d...toshop-36/

[Planemad]

Thank you very much, a great work, everything is explained very well!!!.

Also there's no need to specify the color depth in Gimp, you might want to use "bright".
It converts your 24bit (16.7 Mio colors) images down to 8bit (256 colors) with much better results.

Get a ready-to-go "bright", together with a batch file for easy conversion of your skins here:
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/ ... bright-35/

If you use Photoshop, here you have Bright Plugin for Photoshop, with this little tool you don't have loss of quality when you saving skin:
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/d...toshop-36/

Thanks Ton, don't use Photoshop as you can tell so thats for posting the link in case anyone does use Photoshop and thanks Bearkiller for the link to Go-Bright :)

Planemad

[Fireskull]

Good day, everyone


I use GIMP for almost all my 2D graphic needs.

Many people agree that GIMP is close to as good as the paid image editors, but GIMP is FREE. Besides this, GIMP is often the first to aquire new features - such was the case with the very useful resythesizer. The resynthesizer plugin allows the user to delete a portion of the image and the GIMP fills the void with the surrounding texture. This is very useful, for example, to completely remove a roundel on a fuselage and make a clean replacement with another style of roundel.


Thanks, Planemad, for showing this initiative and unbiased help to the community.




Fireskull

[RadPig94]

i've been having the "wrong colors" blues (it doesnt look right in game), so am i able to do this to a pre-finished skin and just be able to remove the roundels?

[Planemad]

i've been having the "wrong colors" blues (it doesnt look right in game), so am i able to do this to a pre-finished skin and just be able to remove the roundels?

Always try and use a bit of a darker colour, and yes you can edit Pre-finished skins and remove the roundel, just follow steps 1 - 4

I always save my skins a certain point. One with out Roundels, One with roundels, One with roundels & Number One total finished



Planemad

[RadPig94]

i have tried 1-4, am i supposed to use path tool? i never used it on any of the skins

[kidler]

How do i add text to the picture