The tutorial of Creation of SKIN by PEPER.

Once you master this tutorial, you will skin all the models you dream of:

In this tutorial, we will do this again :-D

Step by step ;-)

You only need a little time and photoshop (7.8, CS ...)
You can get a trial version here.

We will realize together, step by step, this deliberately complicated skin. So, after this exercise, you will be autonomous.

: Presentation :

This Tutorial comes in the form of an exercise to do in order to achieve the skin in photos above. Each step is explained, I will guide you even if you have never used Photoshop before.

Approximate duration of the exercise: 2 Hours

Notable effect: Increase of the skill "Skinning" by 30 points for 5 months :-D
Side effect: May cause "Blurred vision"

: First question :


First of all, what is a SKIN ?
Quite simply, it's a modification made to the textures of a 3D model. In summary, thanks to a SKIN you are able to modify the visual appearance of a vehicle.

 : Summary :



Introduction: the prerequisite :

To have all the essential tools to make our skin.


Part I: The departure :

Starting Photoshop and setting up the elements to work.


Part II: Painting :

We start the serious things. Basic color and decoration of specific areas.


Part III: The Stickers :

Layout of the various stickers and last graphic details


Part IV: The alpha channel :

Let's see how to tame this mysterious alpha layer.


Part V: Direction the slopes :

Well finally! we will see what it makes "In Game!"

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Hello! My name is Phung Shu! Grand master of photoshop! Throughout the tutorial, I will bring you tips.

Introduction: the prerequisite :

To modify the skins, you will need several tools associated with Photoshop.

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The required tools
The files to be reworked are .dds files (Nvidia texture files). Basically, Photoshop does not manage this type of file, so you have to install a specific plugin.
There are several photoshop plugins to manage .dds files The photoshop plugin that I use is made available for free by Nvidia, and it is really good I think.
You can get it there:
https://download.nvidia.com/developer/NVTextureSuite/Photoshop_Plugins_7.83.0629.1500.exe

Activation of plugins in Photoshop

So then to activate the plugins on Photoshop 7 (it should be about the same on the CS version) you have to go to Edit -> Preferences -> Plugins and working disks.
There, you have to make sure:
1. that "Add-on directory" is checked
2. that you have installed the nvidia plugin in the correct directory, generally "c: program filesadobephotoshop vXPlug-Ins"

If "Add-on directory" was not checked, you must check it, click OK, and restart Photoshop so that the plugins are now taken into account.

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If photoshop does not recognize the plug-ins take these (version 8).
To find out if your Nvidia plug-ins are taken into account, restart Photoshop and look in the Filter tab. an Nvidia tools option should appear.

For my part, I use Photoshop CS3.

I also advise you to download this small free tool: dds_thumbnail_viewer, which allows you to have a direct preview of your .dds files from the windows explorer (as for your JPG images for example)

Do you have all the tools you need to modify .dds files? Very well let's move on!

Choose a model to skin :

To find skins : http://www.trackmania-carpark.com/.

In my example, we will use the Mitsubishi Evo X d'Xkev'. We will download it; for that go to this page.

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On Carpark, the template is only available on the 3D model download page. it is not available on 2D skins associated with this model.

We will download the skin AND the template.

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Template: Excellent skinner tool. these are most commonly two files:

The wire, with the 2D deployment of the zones displayed on the 3D model:

The prelight, with shading and some details of the car:

Okay, we have everything we need, we launch photoshop!