Advice on Paint Shop Pro . . .

[rufuskins]

. . well not so much advice as confirmation on what I need.

Having tried to make sense of what I require for changing "textures" - see my post on the Blue Pullman - I believe that I need a programme such as Paint Shop Pro! Can somebody confirm that this is so?

Assuming that this is a suitable programme - based on its common use in tutorials - is £29.00 for a download from Corel good value ( for Paint Shop Pro Photo X2)?

I accept that choice of appropriate programme is often personal, but as I have a limited budget due to continued unemployment - no work available and too old at 60 apparently - I want to make sure that I don't buy the proverbial "pig in a poke"!!!

Ruf

[jbilton]

Hi Ruf
For a start, and simple changes, built in MS paint is adequate.
Failing that try Paint.net or Gimp, which are free.
Cheers
Jon

[casperdog]

Hi Ruf
I use Paint.net. As Jon said, its free and theres loads of downloadable plug ins to get extra effects. There isn't any catches such as free for 1 month and then pay or get reduced functions.
Downsides are that all the tutorials seem to use commercial products and Paint.net doesn't have all of the add ons and it has trouble coping with alpha channels which can be got over but takes a bit of jiggling between ms paint and Paint.net.
cheers, Clive

[rufuskins]

Thank you for the comments.

I tried MSPaint this morning on the Blue Pullman as follows:
1. Converted .ACE file to .BMP using RouteRiter
2. Loaded .BMP file into MSPaint, turned on Grid and changed MIDLAND on one side to typical body colour.
3. Erased MIDLAND on the other side at which stage I realised that there wasn't a copy facility, and that placing PULLMAN in the correct location required each individual square in the grid to be changed - obviously 'doable' but longwinded!

I will look at Paint.net later, and see what can be done with that.

One of my neighbours has rooted out an old version of PSP - not sure what version and whether it still works - and just given it to me!

Ruf

PS If I can get it to work will change the lettering to achieve a Western Blue Pullman, and also try to see whether I can change the front to include the yellow warning panels. Then it will be the reverse IC livery. Have attempted to contact the original auther wrt uploading if successful but to date no response. Therefore will remain at personal use status only.

[casperdog]

Hi ruf' i've pm'd you my step by step guide to how to do a simple change. hope this helps you.
Clive
ps if ypu want to move the 'pullman' bit to another location its just a matter of copy and paste

[rufuskins]

Hi ruf' i've pm'd you my step by step guide to how to do a simple change. hope this helps you.
Clive
ps if ypu want to move the 'pullman' bit to another location its just a matter of copy and paste

I wish that all unsolicited mail was as helpful as this, and i will be trying it after tea and before Man Utd's champions league match tonight.

I will post later with a report on success or otherwise, and based on your agenda almost certainly success.

Ruf

PS Already copied into a word file in large print as an aide memoir.

[rufuskins]

Well believe it or not I have achieved my first texture change - despite my normal lack of clear thinking and inability to read advice as shown in a brief post that I quickly withdrew!

I now have driving and trailing carriages for a Western Blue Pullman! I have yet to create the relevant consist(s) but better to go to bed in a good mood.

Once again thanks to those who gave me very good advice/suggestions, and I will try to properly read what is written in future.

As a further experiment I will look at creating yellow ends, and reverse IC livery.

Would like to upload but as I have received no response from the originator (Richard Scott) to my PM then obviously I can't. Who said thank goodness?

Once again diverted from my personal Trainset creation which is now progressing nicely.

Ruf

[rufuskins]

As a further experiment I will look at creating yellow ends, and reverse IC livery.

Having done the simple task described earlier and created the Western Pullman consist; i.e. 8 car unit rather than the 6 car Midland unit, I have just looked at the yellow ended version, except . . .

In the ACE files for the textures there doesn't appear to be one showing the ends of the units including front cab windows and connections between carriages. Therefore can't immediately see how I can achieve the yellow end!

How can I find the necessary part of the model to change the front end ( UKTS File 854 )? Could it be within the S file?

Ruf

PS My fingers are crossed that I haven't missed something obvious!

[jbilton]

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... r#p1050943

Cheers
Jon

[rufuskins]

Post noted and copied to WORD for study and change to mini tutorial.

Dealing with textures in layers appears to be a metaphor for MSTS - everytime you think you've made progress in dealing with a topic, you find another immediately below. Talk about peeling an onion . . .

. . . are we downhearted? Definately not!

Oh well further Progress report later!

Thanks Jon.

Ruf

[rufuskins]

Post noted and copied to WORD for study and change to mini tutorial.

Dealing with textures in layers appears to be a metaphor for MSTS - everytime you think you've made progress in dealing with a topic, you find another immediately below. Talk about peeling an onion . . .

. . . are we downhearted? Definately not!

Oh well further Progress report later!

Thanks Jon.

Ruf

Well actually my heart has gone down a notch or two! Peeled back the layers as suggested and this indicated which ACE file had the front section of the driving carriage. Unfortunately this showed that this part of the skin was in the ACE file that I had already looked at. AND no sign of the front and/or end sections!!!

I am now back at square one, and my head is starting to hurt.

IT MUST EXIST BUT WHERE??????

Ruf

[ianmacmillan]

Her's how to find where a part is mapped on a texture.

First rename another ace with the filename of the ace you think the shape is using.
The more variation in colour the better.

I used the first one I found.

Viewing it in Shape Viewer showed that the part used was somewhere along the bottom edge of the underframe.
I added some coloured squares to get closer.



This showed the part more clearly.



Relating the position to the original ace showed it to be textured from the side of the power car.

Since you can't repaint that part without it showing on the side I'm afraid you can't add a yellow front.

[rufuskins]

Ah . . . . I see; I think!

Therefore if i wanted to provide a yellow end I would need to create a separate texture to apply to the model - presumably "stuck" on the top?

That of course is another matter entirely!!

Would this work I ask myself?
1. Copy relevant ACE file with a different name?
2. Locate the area of the front end as you suggest?
3. Delete the rest of the texture until you are left with the front end only?
4. Repaint yellow?
5. Locate the reference to the front end in the S file, and amend to show the different ACE file - I assume that this would effectively position it as well?

Might try that later today, after finishing off some decorating - got to be useful whilst unemployed!

Ruf

[rufuskins]

Ah . . . . I see; I think!

Therefore if i wanted to provide a yellow end I would need to create a separate texture to apply to the model - presumably "stuck" on the top?

That of course is another matter entirely!!

Would this work I ask myself?
1. Copy relevant ACE file with a different name?
2. Locate the area of the front end as you suggest?
3. Delete the rest of the texture until you are left with the front end only?
4. Repaint yellow?
5. Locate the reference to the front end in the S file, and amend to show the different ACE file - I assume that this would effectively position it as well?

Might try that later today, after finishing off some decorating - got to be useful whilst unemployed!

Ruf

Oh my . . . . . . I don't think i can manage that as the front section appears to be the equivalent of "paper mache"; i.e. bits here and bits there. I do not intend any slight and apologise in advance if any is taken.

I assume that this was necessary to suit the shape of the front. I shall have to put that task on the back burner along with one or two others.

Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow or even later!!!!!

Ruf

PS I assume that the only option available to me now is to create a front end texture from scratch.

[ianmacmillan]

I'm afraid you cannot add an extra texture.

The mapping of the part to the texture is buried in the shape file.

Only a real expert would be able to find the references in the shape file in order to edit it.
It's easier to learn a modelling program and make your own pullman.

Admit defeat.