Issues & quesrtions re: tutorial, folders, saving, ini and files etc
Ramon, huge thanks for the tutorial, but I have a few points / questions.
1. I downloaded official templates from SimBin, and wished to skin an Aston Martin DBR9 for Race 07. The 3 main files are in psd format are comprised of several layers; my skin design now has in excess of 50 layers. Do I flatten ALL the layers before saving as DDS or do I keep them as they are? This is especially difficult for the DBR9's windows because there's 2 psd files for the windows, do I flatten them and save as suggested or do I not flatten? (I ask because when I flatten all I can see on the texture is the colours shown on the alpha layer and not the colours you'd expect to see).
2. You only mentioned about saving the files into the Custom Textures folder, surely they should be put into a designated folder for each car, yes? No? I have no idea exactly HOW and WHERE the files should be saved,.. to a specific folder for each car, if so, what do I name the folder?
3. The ini file, how should I name the car, like this:
Code:
[[R3plicant34]]
[[Kris]]
[B][Aston Martin DBR9][/B]
Body=DBR9_CHASSIS_D.dds
Yes? No?
Also, exactly how do I process the other 2 textures for the windows in photoshop, (they have multiple layers), before saving as DDS files?
DBR9_WINDOW_D.dds
and
DBR9_WINDOW_INT_D.dds
Also, during saving the .ini file, I've got the option of, 'ANSI', 'Unicode', 'Unicode big endian' and/or, 'UTF-8', which do I use when saving it? Oh and do I have to call it by a certain name given that my game isn't the demo but is in fact the full game and was installed through Steam? Surely calling it Aston Martin DBR9 Tutorial can't be right, and would that affect how the game recognises it?
4. Where can I look at existing skins? I just hope they're not encrypted, look at them would be really helpful in determining the file structure, folder paths etc, (that's assuming custom skins followed the same methods of course). At the moment I have no idea exactly where is the right place to have all my files.
If *I* don't know where to save my files, how will I be able to tell others where to save them in the Read.Me file when I publish it?
5. Thanks.
Help appreciated.
Here's a screenshot of the skin as it looked yesterday, (23rd June 2010).
