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

[SavinDwarf]

lots of great feedback in this thread -- some in disagreement with others. I'm going to try and summarize what I read and perhaps you can all tell me where I get something wrong.

1) Pure graphic artists tend use more simple tools like Photoshop or GIMP to create a texture/pattern. However, much as in dress making, they would need a pattern outline to know the shape of the item and then they would only do stuff inside the shapes. These dress/item patterns would be a sort of template.

2) For these to become in game items a Turbine employee would need to use very different/more expensive tools to convert them into things the game engine can use. AND the process of applying the texture might stretch/distort things and require some tweaking.

3) The Dye process probably relies of a color swap of a particular color (like blue screen). It might be a particular shade of gray used.

4) In theory, if Turbine posted some templates, then Community Created textures/patterns could be created but then could never be implemented without Turbine being responsible for implementation.

5) Turbine ha never said they are interested in such activities nor have they agreed to use any such items in the game or issue any templates. Without templates it would be close to impossible for players to design anything.

6) If turbine were to have a competition and perhaps pick the top 5 designs there would be no real licensing issues since the publication process could go through their normal process of which Turbine has total control. But most believe that such a thing will never happen.

7) I assume these templates might look like typical dress making patterns. For example, a tunic might have separate sections in the template for front, back, sleeves, etc.

Ok, what did a I get wrong?

[manstan]

lots of great feedback in this thread -- some in disagreement with others. I'm going to try and summarize what I read and perhaps you can all tell me where I get something wrong.

1) Pure graphic artists tend use more simple tools like Photoshop or GIMP to create a texture/pattern. However, much as in dress making, they would need a pattern outline to know the shape of the item and then they would only do stuff inside the shapes. These dress/item patterns would be a sort of template.

A UVmap of the model mesh. For that there is always the old tried and true solid as a brick UVmapper. But most good CG apps can give you a uvmap/template of the object mesh. This gives you a mesh texture that can easily be turned in to a tempalt to paint on say clothing details with photoshop or paint shop. Even real world photos can be skewed and warped to fit. But I much prefer to use Genetica; just look around LOTRO Yes, Genetica is one of the big boy toys, I only have a copy because I have been one of the lead beta testers since inception. Lucky me Genetica was just a texture generate to start, now people use it to make garage browser games; well back grounds effects, characters ect. I know people that use it to make prints for table top board games.

2) For these to become in game items a Turbine employee would need to use very different/more expensive tools to convert them into things the game engine can use. AND the process of applying the texture might stretch/distort things and require some tweaking.

Not really. I mean companies usually have in house apps for conversion and compression.

3) The Dye process probably relies of a color swap of a particular color (like blue screen). It might be a particular shade of gray used.

Or a layer template. The issue I have is the color is not going on over white. Each item seems to have a set base color, so dye color doesn't remain consistent.

4) In theory, if Turbine posted some templates, then Community Created textures/patterns could be created but then could never be implemented without Turbine being responsible for implementation.

I've seen this done in racing games. Usually draws a very creative crowd with some serious PSP talent. Even though they may not have a full understanding of copy rights

5) Turbine ha never said they are interested in such activities nor have they agreed to use any such items in the game or issue any templates. Without templates it would be close to impossible for players to design anything.

Their loss. The more people feel they are actually contributing to the game, the more active they get.

6) If turbine were to have a competition and perhaps pick the top 5 designs there would be no real licensing issues since the publication process could go through their normal process of which Turbine has total control. But most believe that such a thing will never happen.

7) I assume these templates might look like typical dress making patterns. For example, a tunic might have separate sections in the template for front, back, sleeves, etc.

Ok, what did a I get wrong?

Yes. UVmaps do very much look like dressmaker patterns.

[Sapience]

5) Turbine ha never said they are interested in such activities nor have they agreed to use any such items in the game or issue any templates. Without templates it would be close to impossible for players to design anything.

Ok, what did a I get wrong?

#5 is wrong.

There are 4 player designed horses in game. Two festival mounts (Springfest Blue Roan and one other I cannot recall off the top of my head) and both of the PAX mounts. All were designed by players after we gave them a template. These were done in a contest.

There is at least one cloak that was player designed, again based on a template we provided; Wig-feld. This was also a contest. It also spawned a pretty funny 'rejected cloaks' thread. http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.p...-Cloak-designs

[SavinDwarf]

#5 is wrong.

There are 4 player designed horses in game. Two festival mounts (Springfest Blue Roan and one other I cannot recall off the top of my head) and both of the PAX mounts. All were designed by players after we gave them a template. These were done in a contest.

There is at least one cloak that was player designed, again based on a template we provided; Wig-feld. This was also a contest. It also spawned a pretty funny 'rejected cloaks' thread. http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.p...-Cloak-designs

Some of those are very funny as heck! I want a cloak that is just for riding. It says "If you can read this the dwarf has fallen off"

But on a serious note it seems like a fun community activity for those players who are into design. have you given any thought to having a forum for this and putting the templates links on a sticky? I bet a lot of players would get a blast out of sharing the designs and who knows, you may get some more good ones worthy of later inclusion in the game.