Noob at skins need help :)

[LongLife]

Hey, so I want to edit/paint skin for tm2...more specifically I want to use this template and I want to paint it...

But I don't quite understand the process...I download the template paint it save it as .dds and what then...

Can someone tell me the guidelines/general steps/which tools do I need If I'm using this particular template...can I paint this 3d model just using PS ?

[TMarc]

eh... why don't you read tutorials?
At the maniapark page, there is a nice "button" on the "menu bar" just below the page logo.

And then you will find:
http://www.maniapark.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=85

[LongLife]

eh... why don't you read tutorials?
At the maniapark page, there is a nice "button" on the "menu bar" just below the page logo.

And then you will find:
http://www.maniapark.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=85

Yes, I know, I've seen that...that is not the problem but there is the tutorial for skining 2d cars and there is tutorial for making 3d cars but I dont understand what am I suppose to do If I have template like this...it's 3d model and I download template from that link and than I edit/skin that and where do I get 3 model than or whatever I cant seem to find that information...I think I'm stupid

[TMarc]

Well, then forget about the template first.

If you want to skin only the existing car, open the ingame painter.
Use one simple plain color, e.g. white or orange. Paint the whole car.
You might apply the shadows already now, you might also do it only later.

Save the skin, using "Save As" (disk symbol with + on it) and give a name you will find easily.
Now close the game.
Go to your documents, Maniaplanet folder, and search for that skin, it will have the ending .zip.
Typically Skins\Vehicles\StadiumCar or Skins\Models\StadiumCar.

Extract the ZIP, and edit the skin dds file.
There is a DXTC plugin for Photshop / Paint Shop Pro from nVidia, and Paint.net also supports DDS files.
After editing your skin, save it, with the same format (DXTC5 iirc).

But again, please read the tutorials, or look for some youtube videos, they explain much better.

The template is only a help / a base to make skins.

Or, if this is all still to complicated, you should limit to the ingame painter entirely.

[LongLife]

Well, then forget about the template first.

If you want to skin only the existing car, open the ingame painter.
Use one simple plain color, e.g. white or orange. Paint the whole car.
You might apply the shadows already now, you might also do it only later.

Save the skin, using "Save As" (disk symbol with + on it) and give a name you will find easily.
Now close the game.
Go to your documents, Maniaplanet folder, and search for that skin, it will have the ending .zip.
Typically Skins\Vehicles\StadiumCar or Skins\Models\StadiumCar.

Extract the ZIP, and edit the skin dds file.
There is a DXTC plugin for Photshop / Paint Shop Pro from nVidia, and Paint.net also supports DDS files.
After editing your skin, save it, with the same format (DXTC5 iirc).

But again, please read the tutorials, or look for some youtube videos, they explain much better.

The template is only a help / a base to make skins.

Or, if this is all still to complicated, you should limit to the ingame painter entirely.

Well that's the thing I want 3D model It looks nicer...but I don't understand how this template work. In my mind template would be already made 3D model of the car and I just do the paint job on it...it would be like making a big custom sticker and when I put it in the same folder with 3D model the game would automatically apply that sticker on that model...is that how it goes ?

So he even included additional templates for the details like helmet and the pilot and such...so lets say I paint all that and save it like .dds and put everything in one folder and than I have the list of all files to make and import that skin...but I'm missing .3ds files thats what I don't understand...

I've seen this tutorial:http://hideou.se/trackmania/#8

And there he has those MainBody***.3ds files, and where are those in this template ?


BTW, thanks for help

[TMarc]

You might find templates for the original three cars, but most probably not for any custom car.

Be creative!

3DS files you only need for 3D modeling.

At your current state I would encourage you not to want too much at the beginning.
First try to reskin properly existing models.

And how to create 3D models and to skin them, is a much more advanced step.
I'm not saying that you can't do that, only that it needs much more patiences and talent.

[LongLife]

You might find templates for the original three cars, but most probably not for any custom car.

Be creative!

3DS files you only need for 3D modeling.

At your current state I would encourage you not to want too much at the beginning.
First try to reskin properly existing models.

And how to create 3D models and to skin them, is a much more advanced step.
I'm not saying that you can't do that, only that it needs much more patiences and talent.

So you are saying I'm not getting models served on the plate ? I have to make my own ? But there is even included 3d model but is .max extension...I hoped I wont have to use 3ds max since I dont know anything about it...

[TMarc]

Why do you keep asking things here that are actually wery well explained in the tutorials and in the special forums dedicated to the modelling and skinning, like Maniaplark?

If you want a special model, first search in Maniapark if it is there.
If not, try to create it on your own, or ask someone there to create it for you.

I can't help you further on this.

[LongLife]

Why do you keep asking things here that are actually wery well explained in the tutorials and in the special forums dedicated to the modelling and skinning, like Maniaplark?

If you want a special model, first search in Maniapark if it is there.
If not, try to create it on your own, or ask someone there to create it for you.

I can't help you further on this.

Ok, thanks for the help

[Electron]

Hey, so I want to edit/paint skin for tm2...more specifically I want to use this template and I want to paint it...

But I don't quite understand the process...I download the template paint it save it as .dds and what then...

Can someone tell me the guidelines/general steps/which tools do I need If I'm using this particular template...can I paint this 3d model just using PS ?

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