What Graphic Tools Does Turbine use to Create Clothing and jewelry?

[SavinDwarf]

Assuming its not a trade secret.
1) Does Turbine use a particular graphics tool when designing clothing and jewelry? If so which one?

2) Does Turbine have a document that might describe the general rules for such content? Size, Pixel density, color palate etc.

3) Are there rules that need to be followed to allow dyes to be applied?

My thought is it might be fun to have a forum where graphically/design minded players could most some ideas for new items such as Cloaks, head piece, dresses, boots, etc.

It might be fun, and who knows, some of them might even been worthy of consideration for later inclusion in a release. Obviously no one would expect Turbine to guarantee anything at this point. But it does n't cost much to see if there is any interest/expertise in the community.

[whheydt]

From past comments, over the years, I *think* Turbine is using in-house (custom, proprietary) developed tools for their graphics development. So even if they gave you the name of the tool they use, it wouldn't mean anything as it's not on the market as a commercial product.

[booksmcread]

I'd be interested in learning about this too. I've always wondered about the design of the armor, the towns, and the landscape but don't think I've ever seen a post from someone who stated they were part of a graphic/art team. Might also be nice in the future to include in the release notes a section about the graphics and artwork, or maybe just a link to a side post to explain some of the concepts and directions the graphic artists were pursuing.

[Yula_the_Mighty]

Turbine uses a commercial package called Maya. The last time I looked a single new license was over $3,000. You can also lease the software.

They will use other tools with Maya. Maya is a common tool used by graphic designers in all market segments. Turbine uses it to do visual elements for Lotro.

We use Autodesk's Autocad and Maya in the development of things like cell phones.

[manstan]

Maya eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeck!

[undying..........]

you would only Need photoshop to do this, because you would try to edit or Change the texture files wich are Bitmaps.

Maya is for creating the 3D stuff and applying the textures to it, but the texture itself remains a Bitmap file ...

its also possible to look for those texture files in your lotro Folder, mostlikly they are stored in the Container files,
but if you edit the textures only you would see the changes in your Client

also for dying, the dyable parts of the texture is mostlikly a greyscale area, wich gets replaced by the DyeColor
in-game

btw: since a few years now you can use all autodesk softwareproducts for free as Long as you want as if you
dont use it to create Commercial stuff ... including Maya, 3Dstudio and so on ...

[WBS]

....but if you edit the textures only you would see the changes in your Client

And you would get a permanent ban.

[Castorix]

You can see requirements in some jobs : https://careers.timewarner.com/tgweb...6&jobid=658023

[SavinDwarf]

you would only Need photoshop to do this, because you would try to edit or Change the texture files wich are Bitmaps.

Maya is for creating the 3D stuff and applying the textures to it, but the texture itself remains a Bitmap file ...

its also possible to look for those texture files in your lotro Folder, mostlikly they are stored in the Container files,
but if you edit the textures only you would see the changes in your Client

also for dying, the dyable parts of the texture is mostlikly a greyscale area, wich gets replaced by the DyeColor
in-game

btw: since a few years now you can use all autodesk softwareproducts for free as Long as you want as if you
dont use it to create Commercial stuff ... including Maya, 3Dstudio and so on ...

So, in theory, if Turbine gave the community some example texture files (one for cloak, one for shoes, etc.) the community could try and create new files.

I assume that all of the clothing graphics are probably in the clientmesh.dat file? Which means that any new design would need approval by Turbine and need to be included in a patch.


but even if none of them got implemented it still might be fun and give Turbine some great ideas.

[manstan]

you would only Need photoshop to do this, because you would try to edit or Change the texture files wich are Bitmaps.

Maya is for creating the 3D stuff and applying the textures to it, but the texture itself remains a Bitmap file ...

its also possible to look for those texture files in your lotro Folder, mostlikly they are stored in the Container files,
but if you edit the textures only you would see the changes in your Client

also for dying, the dyable parts of the texture is mostlikly a greyscale area, wich gets replaced by the DyeColor
in-game

btw: since a few years now you can use all autodesk softwareproducts for free as Long as you want as if you
dont use it to create Commercial stuff ... including Maya, 3Dstudio and so on ...

LOL ahh no. No game works with BMP. Most have propitiatory formats. Those formats will be compressed with a propitiatory compression app.
First you will need to find an app that can decompress the proprietary compression, then you would need an app to convert the proprietary image format to something you can work with, like BMP.

I've done game modding, believe me you don't have the tools for it.

[Shriya]

Daz3d also has several free software packages to make 3d models. If I'm correct, they can be exported to Maya.
A few examples:
Daz Studio (100% free) (This has the Genesis Figure platform included)
Hexagon (sculpture)

And then there's Blender. I've heard this is also a very good program.

Have fun!

[manstan]

DAZ Studio can't make anything. It's a content sales app designed to sell you DAZ clothes and dollies.

Hexagon 2.5 on the other hand is a comprehensive mesh modeling app, maybe not as fancy as 3DS or Maya, but much easyer to use.

Carrara is what you need for game moding. It does it all at a reasonable price. It is a mesh modeler, texdtures, rigs and export in colada or FBX.

Blender; even though it has improved greatly of late, is proof aliens walk among us and write graphics apps.

None the less these are of no help to do anything with this game.

I spent a couple of year converting papyrus race tracks from cars to GT500 a motorcycle racing game. It was so much fun working .x in note pad. A lot of the moding was raw, meaning some had to be done in a hex editor. eeeeeeeeck.

[Yula_the_Mighty]

you would only Need photoshop to do this, because you would try to edit or Change the texture files wich are Bitmaps.

You use photoshop with 2-d art like pictures. You would never use Photoshop to manipulate visual art work like textures when are going to rendered by a 3-d engine like what is used by Lotro. In a game the 3-d image has to take the flat picture of a T-shirt somehow stretch it to fit your Avatar. Make it look right when your view your character from different angles and positions of your arms, lighting effects like shadows.

You do not have to work any of this dung with a frame from a movie or a picture. There is motion or change. You simply using a program like Photoshop to improve the frame. Remove pimples. Doing a movie set in 1750, get the airplane contrail out of the frame. It is a time consuming process like an airplane contrail. You will have thousands of framss that have to be modified.

[Shriya]

DAZ Studio can't make anything. It's a content sales app designed to sell you DAZ clothes and dollies.

Oh, I always thought you could create 3d models in Daz Studio. Hmmm... Bummer, cause I'm looking into designing a game myself and thought I could use Daz Studio to make a few things.

But Hexagon and Carrara are better than, you say? Good to know

[Roberto_the_First]

but even if none of them got implemented it still might be fun and give Turbine some great ideas.

Turbine has had design-a-cloak and design-a-mount contests in the past. You never know, they might have one in the future.

[undying..........]

only Savindwarf is right this time ... and turbine would never allow this to happen, but yes, they would have give the community some templates they can then use to make a teture from it .. remember the ... what Roberto said ...


first: Bitmap is a General term that describes every pixelbased Image regardless of Format ... a bit - map ...

second: textures are always Bitmaps and you use photoshop to make or edit them... unless you use materials
wich are shaders, wich are programms or instructions

what yula is talking about is a uv-map, it tells the renderer where to Display the Bitmap texture on the surface
oh the polygon object while Rendering ... the object and the uv map is made in programms like Maya

the textur is made in photoshop, deal with it
(I know what iam talking about, I am earning my Food and shelter with it)

[undying..........]

But Hexagon and Carrara are better than, you say? Good to know

get the free Version of 3DStudio.max and mud.box ... all games are made with it nowadays

its all and everything you will ever Need to create 3D of the highest Quality possible

3dstudio is not as complex as Maya, but still, mastering those programms remains a lifetime Task ...

[undying..........]

but even if none of them got implemented it still might be fun and give Turbine some great ideas.

the best and most convenient way to do this would be to make a good screenshot of your or any char in game,
and work on that with photoshop ... it would also be a good way to Train with the Programm because using
the different blendmodes and Tools will be key to achieve the best results with this ...

but in the end you will have good concept.drawings of your ideas ...

[Shriya]

get the free Version of 3DStudio.max and mud.box ... all games are made with it nowadays

its all and everything you will ever Need to create 3D of the highest Quality possible

3dstudio is not as complex as Maya, but still, mastering those programms remains a lifetime Task ...

There's a free version of 3dstudio? Oh, gotta find that! Mudbox? Never heard of it.

[manstan]

There's a free version of 3dstudio? Oh, gotta find that! Mudbox? Never heard of it.

If you mean Gmax, it has been out of production for years, and the plugins needed to work with games is $$$; if they still work.

A few things to know

3DS Max $3,675.00
Mudbox $795
Houdini $4.495 {think pixar}

But autodesk owns most 3D apps now.

[undying..........]

PLEASE, manstan ... inform yourself before posting, you seem out of touch with sthis stuff

http://students.autodesk.com/

Register there and use ALL autodesk Software FOR FREE !!!

[undying..........]

and when you have checked the link, manstan, I would appriciate if you come back here and appologize for your redundant comments, okay? ... they only confuse those who seek real Information here ...

have a nice day

[Elithandir]

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...linkID=9240617

The FAQ clearly states the requirements for joining. Now, I'm not sure how aggressive they are in actually ensuring that registered members meet these; but I remember having to submit a copy of my student card and use my university e-mail address when I signed up a couple of years ago.

Manstan is correct in the sense that there is no longer a plan that includes the hobbyist without a load of money in the bank or the willingness to use a trial until they build up enough capital. The best option for most people would be Blender. Odd interface, but if you take the time then it is rather powerful.

All that said, the textures used in the game wouldn't need a 3d application to edit. Even paint - depending on the format - could do that. I'd love to see Turbine run a contest to design an outfit, but I doubt it would happen.

[Edrogar]

PLEASE, manstan ... inform yourself before posting, you seem out of touch with sthis stuff

http://students.autodesk.com/

Register there and use ALL autodesk Software FOR FREE !!!

Last i checked you had to prove that you were a student and it's limited to certain countries, still doesn't help those who want to try it out as a hobby

[manstan]

PLEASE, manstan ... inform yourself before posting, you seem out of touch with sthis stuff

http://students.autodesk.com/

Register there and use ALL autodesk Software FOR FREE !!!

"Software licenses and/or cloud-based services provided without charge to Education Community members may be used solely for learning, teaching, and training in relation to the instructional functions performed by a primary or secondary educational institution or other degree- or certificate-granting institution. Such software and cloud-based services shall not be used for commercial, professional or for-profit instructional purposes."

http://www.rif.org/


Most CG app developers will give you a free 30-90, or limited feature{no export usually} trial of there CG applications.

But for free you have Blender as an all in one. There is Metasequoia and wings3d for free mesh modeling apps. And Kerkythea is a free render engine. I use Metasequoia and Kerkythea for years before I got Carrara. Carrara doesn't have all the features the big boys have but it is 1/4 the cost and compatible with Poser/DAZ prebuilts. Something you have to pay extra for with 3DS or C4D.