Introduction
This tutorial explains how to make unit cards using only Photoshop and Medieval 2 game engine in a quick and easy way. This method is being used in Europa Barbarorum 2 and requires absolutely no 2D graphics skills. Once everything is set up the process of making a single card should not take longer than 2 minutes The idea is really simple, all you have to do is just take a special screenshot of a unit and process it in Photoshop using my custom script.
Examples of cards made by using this method:
Required tools
- English version of Photoshop CS6 or newer.
- My scripts/templates for Photoshop: link
Video tutorial
Text tutorial
Step I - Installation
- Unpack the Tutorial_Data.rar file into some empty directory.
- Go to Tutorial_Data\tutorial\data\ folder and copy all its content to your mod's data folder. Remember to create a backup of your own files.
- Go to Tutorial_Data\tutorial\ and copy the Actions Palette.psp file to X:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC\Adobe Photoshop CC Settings\.
Step II - Setting up the game
- Run the game in windowed mode.
- Go to video options and disable: Bloom and Reflections, tick the Widescreen option if needed as well.
Step III - Taking a screenshot
- At first you need to select a correct map in custom battles, it needs to be a desert climate map - sand textures are replaced with "green-screen" ones.
- Set the season to "winter" and time to "midday". It's necessary if you want to get correct colors.
- Pick your unit and start the battle.
- Now you need to find some nice spot for the unit where you can easily take a screenshot. The best are small hills because you can easily zoom in. Also make sure that the unit is facing the sun in a correct direction so there are no shadows.
- Use loose formation to make it easier for you to take a screen.
- Now Alt-Tab and go back to the folder with tutorial stuff: Tutorial_Data\tutorial\templates and open up one of the templates so you can see how to make the screenshot correctly.
- Take a screenshot of the unit and save it as a .PNG file.
Step IV - Generating a card
- Open up the screenshot in Photoshop.
- Press F2 button and wait (The script will only work with English version of the Photoshop).
- All done, you can now save your card