Making a unit card - easy and fast method

[Rafkos]

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

[paleologos]

A very useful piece for the ps/GIMP "challenged".

[AnthoniusII]

Did you know that you can actually use horse skeleton as well as human one in a horseman pose for a render that could be the basis of an UI card?

[TerrorBlades]

Very useful, thanks for sharing!

[paleologos]

What I would really like to know is how to take screenshots from a "low" angle so that I can make unit info cards like in SS.

[Rafkos]

What I would really like to know is how to take screenshots from a "low" angle so that I can make unit info cards like in SS.

Simply find a small hill and put the unit on top of it (you can create a custom map as well) then move your camera slightly down the hill. This way it should work just fine.

Did you know that you can actually use horse skeleton as well as human one in a horseman pose for a render that could be the basis of an UI card?

You mean so the unit would be higher above the ground? Yeah that would save some time when searching for a nice spot, but still that would require editing files. You can always make a custom map with little hill.

[paleologos]

Simply find a small hill and put the unit on top of it (you can create a custom map as well) then move your camera slightly down the hill.

That's how I've been doing it so far but I never achieved this result:

This unit does not seem to be on top of a hill.
The "camera" is located below the average unit height "looking" slightly upward.
I think this angle is better, I mean I like it more, but I have not found a way to lower the camera below ground level.

[AnthoniusII]

Damn I am too old. I continue the clasic way :


Its a bit time consuming but when the proper render is fixed both UI cards can be made .

[Rafkos]

I can post another part where it's explained how to create EB2-like info cards if you guys want.

This unit does not seem to be on top of a hill.
The "camera" is located below the average unit height "looking" slightly upward.
I think this angle is better, I mean I like it more, but I have not found a way to lower the camera below ground level.

I will do some research and let you know.

[paleologos]

I can post another part where it's explained how to create EB2-like info cards if you guys want.
I will do some research and let you know.

Well, if it was done once it can surely be replicated.
I just can't find any instructions on how to do it and between AFK obligations and finishing the models I am working on I don't have the time to do all that digging.
So anything you come up with will be greatly appreciated.

[Araval]

Maybe the screenshots were made using the Cinematic Editor?

[Rafkos]

Maybe the screenshots were made using the Cinematic Editor?

Yes, it looks like, I guess the mystery is solved

[paleologos]

So what's the procedure?

[Rafkos]

You need to save a replay of some battle, then follow this tutorial:
http://shoguntotalwar.yuku.com/topic/16245/
or this one
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...s!#instruction

Then simply take a screenshot

[stevietheconquer]

is this great tutorial too for using with gimp?

[Rafkos]

No, my script will not work with gimp. However you can follow the tutorial to get a render of some unit and then edit it manually.

[stevietheconquer]

ok,thank you i will try it one of the days

[achilles-91]

Great tutorial !

[Rydwan]

Its just great, I was waiting for that "green screen" mod.

[asadyan]

Hello & thanks, but when I press on f2 nothing happen just my screen light decreased!! any idea guys?? Ive photoshop cc 2014 eng ver 15.2.3