GIMP Skinning tutorial (how to skin without using money)

[Killerbee]

Then your GIMPHOTO won't be able to open .dds files (and thus the textures) .. I suggest you get GIMP 2.6.6 (newest version of GIMP) , and get the .dds plugin .. GIMPhoto doesn't have anything that GIMP doesn't have , as far as i know ..

[Slobody]

First, great tutorial .

EDIT: I found the my problem .

[Kylan271]

OK,I looked at the GIMP but it was complex and I don't know how to set up,just a mass of files,lol. I am not computer literate enough. GimPhoto has just a wizip file and exe which does everything for me,so I used that. But,if not able to read dds files,aghhh.

[Killerbee]

Just follow install instructions at the official GIMP site

[Kylan271]

My download site was not the best for explaining,I found a much better mirror download site and simple exe file that did everything,I got the dds add on file link and put in files,working beautifully now. I saw my first files last night,before just gloss files mainly in grey tones in model_units/textures file..lol. Happy now,hmm how to work??? Practising..with help of the tutorial.

[Killerbee]

Don't edit Gloss files , unless you're already experienced in skinning

[Kylan271]

No I do not touch de glossy things,I have enough with normal files lol. Seeing the unit files for first time is really joyous,hmm ideas ideas,but a newbie at the helm,so will take time ..trial by errors heh..

Got GIMP working,just have to understand it..lol..

[Hakomar]

I cannot for the life of me open it with the gimp_win_remote thing, I use vista and it gives me an option to use the web to find it, to no avail. The other one was to browse my computer for it... any help please?

Edit:
I just opened Gimp the normal way and used 'Open' and found the texture instead of the other way round. Nice guide by the way

[Godless Pickle]

I cant find the BCT3/DXT5 in the compressing save, the closest were BC3n/ DXT5n and BC3/DXT5. I followed all the steps exept the one I just mentioned and picked one of the above, and started a custom game up with the unit and half way through it CTD. Am I missing something?

EDIT: Never mid, got that figured out. But I followed all the instructions and I get a CTD at the end of the loading screen. I uploaded my files if you want to see whats wrong but.....

http://www.filefront.com/14006433/unit_test.TGA.DDS (texture)

and

http://www.filefront.com/14006383/DMB.doc (DMB)

[Sknit]

I did everything you said yet the data folder didnt show up in my packs folder and i dont know why.
Here a list of things of what i did.
1. copied the PAK extractor exe. and bat. into the packs folder.
2. I then ran the exe. and pressed any button then i ran the bat. let that run until it finsidhed yet know data folder appeared in the packs folder any idea why.

EDIT im using vista if that accounts for anything.

[CPT Worsham]

I'm not sure what we mean by the word skinning? Does this mean that we can modify / create CAS files with gimp or is it only the TGA texture files that we can alter when using Gimp? Also, is it possible to do rigging for animations with Gimp? I can't afford to pay over a thousand dollars for software so Gimp would be a nice option if it allows one to do these things?

[Killerbee]

A skin is like paint . It's not a model .. Gimp can create/edit .dds files that contain textures for models .. To model , you need 3dsMax . Then you need to UVmap it , and that's where Gimp comes in (although you can just egt a lot of nice results out of vanilla models alone )

[A.P]

A skin is like paint . It's not a model .. Gimp can create/edit .dds files that contain textures for models .. To model , you need 3dsMax . Then you need to UVmap it , and that's where Gimp comes in (although you can just egt a lot of nice results out of vanilla models alone )

Glad you know all of this, seems you've been helping everybody out.

[Killerbee]

Glad you know all of this, seems you've been helping everybody out.

Well , i know the principle , but making nice skins ...

[A.P]

Well , i know the principle , but making nice skins ...

Meh, if you understand the concept i'm sure you've got some good ones.

[Av7xrocker97]

I'm not sure what we mean by the word skinning? Does this mean that we can modify / create CAS files with gimp or is it only the TGA texture files that we can alter when using Gimp? Also, is it possible to do rigging for animations with Gimp? I can't afford to pay over a thousand dollars for software so Gimp would be a nice option if it allows one to do these things?

well for rigging and animates I would suggest gmax with the cas plugin and blender to do all of the modeling. google gmax and blender 3d to fin them.

[CPT Worsham]

well for rigging and animates I would suggest gmax with the cas plugin and blender to do all of the modeling. google gmax and blender 3d to fin them.

where can I find the CAS plug-in for gmax?

[Killerbee]

It's Vercingetorix' importer i think

[Av7xrocker97]

where can I find the CAS plug-in for gmax?

yeah, the normal 3ds max plugin will work, just open the run max script and tadaa!

[Kylan271]

I have GIMP and not sure on UV mapping??? I have model with flat shields for some units and ones with full developed shields-3d,and think it cas model???? I also have warband units with 3 weapons,but can't use weapon I want,so must be someway to select primary&secondary weapons????? I alter descr_units & DMB for weapons,but no show. can this GIMP help,I have 3dsMax albeit vs 6...??? I am new in this area sorry.

My work(not my models) here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=269979 I have done some mixing webbird/warspite models to create new types,but I am no skinner so limited in what I can do. Any ideas how to help??? Flat shield bugs me...