Making Treads is HARD!

Speedo · Post by **Speedo** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:33 am

I can't see how anyone lines them up so perfectly.

@ vet skinners,
how DO you do it? do you use a grid? or are you just good at eyeballing it? I'm getting a bit tired of my stock tanktreads.

PGG · Post by **PGG** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:19 am

I tend to just put two in a row, and move it gardually down in photoshop, saving as I go. It's a little hard at first, but you can get used to it.

fishtank · Post by **fishtank** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:18 pm

Use the original tread skin as a reference. Paste the original over your image with the opacity tuned up so you can see through it, then remove it before you save.

Post by **drsawbones** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:03 pm

Dudes! [and dudettes!]
Sorry to report that:
"Man you got it ALL WRONG!"
or rather...I know a much EASIER way!

Set up an image 128Hx896W.
Drag one of the tread images to the new file.
Copy and paste it until it fills the Height.
Then make guide lines off the edges of the original piece so you can make slices when you save it.
[:above: Use "Snap to Image" so the slices happen with precision].
Safely delete all the original pieces so you can make your own.
[:above: That means, now is a good time to name and save your file before proceeding.]
Paint at will, able to see the entire tread animation.
When you're done chop it apart into pieces based on those guide lines.
Then rename all the files to match those that TT uses.
Done.

Speedo · Post by **Speedo** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:26 pm

wow, saw, great post. I get the general jest of it. I was actually thinking of fishy's way was the best. I was trying out that method. pgg, well, i'm a perfectionist. :roll:

MusickTMG · Post by **MusickTMG** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:19 pm

That is a good way. I will have to try that some time. What program do you use saw

Post by **drsawbones** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:47 pm

I use z-brush lately to create custom artsy textures.
I use CS3 to do the rest.

MusickTMG · Post by **MusickTMG** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:44 pm

never heard of thoes programs

Speedo · Post by **Speedo** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:57 pm

cs3, huh?

can cs1 do it?

Post by **drsawbones** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 3:33 am

z-brush
http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/
is used for lots of things like painting on 3d models and such.
I don't have great command of that feature, but it has lots of neat tools and is
quick way to lay down some abstract or whatever texture you're going for to
use as inspiration or as your skin's undercoating.

cs1 should do fine. Any painting app should do you fine.
I work primarily in PhotoshopCS3, but fireworks has can do things that ps cannot.
Like get rid of halos on png files that have transparent backs.
:wink: