what program do i need to edit skins ?

[{HamsteR}Blue]

I fancy having a go at designing a skin,  anyone know what prog I need?

thanks.


http://www.garethwalton.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pics.zip

[cum2killu]

Slime**uk Knows but i dont as i am at work - sorry

[slime**uk]

for skinning you need a program to open the pk3 files
i have one on me web site
www.d.hillburton.btinternet.co.uk/downloads.htm

pakscape.zip

best thing to start is to edit someone's skins just alter the .tga files
use photoshop to edit the .tga files
you can use any picture to clone onto the .tga file


good site show you how to skin

http://www.dafront.com/~nemesis/skins.htm

or i found this

In the following ____.pk3 files (for the most part): in mohaa/main

Pak0.pk3
events, TIK files, SHADER files
Pak1.pk3
German and ally avaders, and other misc. files
*Pak2.pk3
TGA files(all the skins)
Pak3.pk3
sounds (explosions)
Pak4.pk3
sounds (person talk)
Pak5.pk3
sounds (person talk)
Pak6.pk3
config files
==================================================================================

Now that we know for the most part the contents of each ___.pk3 file we can start into
editing

Step 1: decide the skins that you want to edit/use as the basis for the new skin.

Step 2: locate the ____.tga files that correspond to the skin in the ___.pk3 files
-to open and view the ___.pk3 files you will need winzip
-okay to use winzip:
-open c:\Program Files\EA Games\MOHAA\Main\
-right click on the ___.pk3 files and choose
Winzip -> Add to Zip file
if you have a trial version choose AGREE
then choose CANCEL (do not pack this file)
then go to the OPEN icon
find the ___.pk3 file that you want to view
choose OPEN
-each file can be opened according to the default viewer set by your
computer.

NEVER SAVE A FILE WHEN OPENED THROUGH HERE

WE'LL START WITH Pak0.pk3
1. find the ___.tik file that you would like to use.
easiest way to find the ___.tik files is to sort the Winzip program by Type
I used the files that already have the
nameofsoldier.tik and
nameofsoldier_fps.tik (fps refers to First Person)
now extract the 2 files to a folder, somewhere other than in the MOHAA folder
directories (best to make your own before hand)

2. Open the __.tik files and look at the code.

ex. German_elite_sentry

TIKI
setup
{
//scale 0.52 // Set default scale to 16/30.5 since world
// is in 16 units per foot and model is in cm's
scale 0.52
path models/human/German_elite_sentry
skelmodel German_elite_sentry.skb
surface pants shader Sentry_pants
surface tunic shader Sentry_tunic
surface face shader Gface_1
surface helmet shader Sentry_helmet
surface riflebelt shader Wehrmact_riflebelt
surface hand shader hand

radius 20 // defines size of shadow

}

init
{
server
{
classname Animate
setsize "-16 -16 0" "16 16 92"
}
}

animations
{
idle German_elite_sentry.skc
}

/*QUAKED posed_german_elite_sentry(0.5 .25 0.25) (-16 -16 0) (16 16 92)
badass
*/



Notice how each line starts with SURFACE and then has a SHADER section
do not change the SURFACE part, only use the SHADER section

3. find the SHADER file that contains the words that come after the word SHADER
in this case it would be the
german_sentry.SHADER
EXTRACT this file also to the folder that you used for the __.tik files

4. open the shader and look at the code.

ex.
sentry_tunic
{
qer_editorimage textures/models/human/germanmaps/elite_sentry/tunic_sentry.tga
{
map textures/models/human/germanmaps/elite_sentry/tunic_sentry.tga
rgbGen lightingSpherical
}
}

notice that there is a directory structure to the __.tga file
also notice that the name of the ___.tga file is tunic_sentry.tga

5. find the __.tga files that correspond to the soldier that you want to edit
should be in the Pak2.pk3 file
EXTRACT these files also to the folder that you made for the __.tik files.



NOW YOU ARE READY TO EDIT THEM



6. close all open Winzip windows.

7. -traverse the folder that contains all of the files you extracted.
-find the __.tga files that you will edit.
-do what ever u want to them, TRY TO STAY IN BOUNDARIES (i have not tested what
happens if you add too much)
-SAVE the file as at least 24 or 32 bits

8. when all files are edited, give them new names.
ex. tunic_sentry.tga becomes tunic_WHATEVER.tga

9. Then in the SHADER file change the names according to step 8.

10. then change the headers of each SHADER title to read differently (you do not want to
overide other skins)
ex.

sentry_tunic
{
qer_editorimage textures/models/human/germanmaps/elite_sentry/tunic_sentry.tga
{
map textures/models/human/germanmaps/elite_sentry/tunic_sentry.tga
rgbGen lightingSpherical
}
}

BECOMES

sentry_WHATEVER
{
qer_editorimage textures/models/human/germanmaps/elite_sentry/tunic_WHATEVER.tga
{
map textures/models/human/germanmaps/elite_sentry/tunic_WHATEVER.tga
rgbGen lightingSpherical
}
}

11. SAVE the SHADER

12. OPEN the __.tik files and change the words after the SHADER word to read the name of
the header that correctly corresponds to the shader you just edited.
ex.
surface tunic shader Sentry_tunic
becomes
surface tunic shader Sentry_WHATEVER

13. SAVE the __.tik file as the name of the soldier that you want it to be viewed as by
the game
NOTE:
german_WHATEVER will put the player model on the german team
allied_WHATEVER will put the player model on the allied/american side
american_WHATEVER will put the player model on the allied/american side
I think that everything automatically goes to the american side unless
stated as german_WHATEVER, but i dont know

CONGRADULATIONS you have done the hard stuff.

14. go back into the __.tik and SHADER files and delete the unnesassary code that
is only repeating what the original SHADER and __.tik files stated.

15. MAKE SURE THAT THE FILES ARE ACTUALLY ___.TIK AND ___.SHADER FILES
if they aren't reopen the files and SAVE AS __.tik and choose ALL FILES

OK now its done. just repak

16. go back throught the folders to the main directory of the skins. there should be 3
folders:
Models
Textures
Scripts
THESE were made when u extracted them.

17. select all 3 folders at once.
18. right click on anyone of them
Winzip -> Add to Zip file
if you have a trial version choose AGREE
then change the name of the file to the name you want it to be in the
directory of the original 3 folders would be best, or destop is good too.
ex.
directoryextentios\User-WHATEVER.pk3
then choose ADD

19. place this file User-WHATEVER.pk3 into the MAIN folder for the MOHAA game
20. PLAY THE GAME and test to make sure that its how you like it to be.
repeat as much as you'd like to.
21. Use FORCE MODELS to see the skins in the game, or submit them to MOH web sites so
that maybe someone will use your skin, and even be able to see your skin.

hope this helps

dave---{HamsteR}-slime

[{HamsteR}Blue]

thanks mate  

[LoveQuafferAngel]

thanks mate  

You mean Slime didn't put you off!

[{HamsteR}Blue]

well the truth is I'm stuck already,  I opened a tik file in photoshop7 but it will only save it as a photoshop file, so how do i save it as a tik file or do i have to convert it?

better still if you want slime     mate     I could show you the design i want and you could stick it on the skins that you already done?

did I mention what a nice guy you are?  

[slime**uk]

oh go on then    
ive sent you me email add for you to send design to



{HamsteR}-slime   (the nice guy)