Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Fineus on August 03, 2001, 02:28:00 am
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After very little persuasion and the eternal desire to show off I've created my very own guide to creating beams in Adobe Photoshop.
Note that the ships were made lighter than normal on purpose to make the whole thing clear to the eye. Normally I'd have had them darker than they are here.
Any questions can be posted right here although I hope the tutorial speaks for itself. Enjoy!
EDIT: For the sake of all the 56K-ers out there, this amazing, yet simple tutorial has been thumbnailed and is available here (//"http://www.3dap.com/hlp/beams.shtml"). Enjoy, and yes... you're welcome! (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
**BA**
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Co-Creator: Hard Light Productions (//"http://www.3dap.com/hlp/")
Webmaster: Sounds of Thunder (//"http://www.3dap.com/hlp/sot/")
[This message has been edited by Black Ace (edited 08-03-2001).]
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I've got to start getting into the habit of taking credit for my own techniques (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/wink.gif)
Top stuff dude, very well explained. Next time thumbnail them, though (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/wink.gif)
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Agreed...nice work. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
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neato, but my way of making beams allow for far less limitations...but is much harder.
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thanks... this may help me figure out how to do good beams in truespace
i'm thinking use the FreeSpace 2 beam textures and also making a bump-map out of it.. apply it bump-mapped to a plane
can you tell us how you do your backgrounds?
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I'm glad it's going to come in useful. My backgrounds are done using a special program....
Setekh As I'm just this minute about to leave for nine days can you tell anyone who asks how I do the various aspects of my renders. I think you know how by now (even if it's not as good as yours). Cheers. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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| | ICQ:57179504 |
Co-Creator: Hard Light Productions ("http://www.3dap.com/hlp/")
Webmaster: Sounds of Thunder ("http://www.3dap.com/hlp/sot/")
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This tutorial gives me some ideas for something in PSP! Thanks Thunder!
Edit: Here we go. My first render. Everything was done in PSP. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
jgmart.tripod.com/render1.jpg
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Creator of the Table Edit ("http://denebsystem0.tripod.com/tbledt.html") project.
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[This message has been edited by Joey_21 (edited 08-03-2001).]
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Love the new post count, Thunder. You must have stayed up al night, getting it from 6 to 10010.
Oh, and for Photoshop, you can also use the Paintbrush (soft brushes) and Shift tool similarly, making a big, colored outer glow as a straight line then a smaller white one down the center, and then rotating the line into position. You can get the foreshortening effect with a little skill by rotating the line partially and drawing another one. Sounds morre complicated, but actually vastly better and simpler.
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Nice tutorial Thunder. I haven't been all to successfull with beams in PS. My first beam in 3d sucked, but I've tried a new tecnique (sp) in 3DS Max.
(http://home.swipnet.se/~w-81377/fs2/sat_4beams.jpg)
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Technique
anyway.. That technique i think is used on the FS2 box... just look at it... dang thats good!
mmm I need to know how to do that LOL
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-Director of the staff of Hidden Terror. ("http://www.hiddenterror.f2s.com")
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The fear always controls our attitude, let us fear no more!
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First, you hire a bunch of professionals, and then second, you give them several days...
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Joygasm! i did these in truespace - those two beams are the same geometrically and texture wise - just different rotations (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
(http://alliance.sourceforge.net/Screens/Larges/RavanaBeamTest.jpg)
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Those look very true to FS, Kaz. Nice job.
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Finally, Thunder has done a beams tutorial involving Photoshop. But I find it to be rather vague. Maybe more details are required? Because I'm not an expert user of Photoshop. I just use it occasionally.
I'll try to create a beam in Photoshop based on your tutorial. If I got any questions, I'll post them here for clarification.
Hehehe.......now time try... (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
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I want a better title!!! (http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence/Crazy.gif)
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
[This message has been edited by NeoHunter (edited 08-03-2001).]
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Daedalus i used the FreeSpace 2 textures (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
You should see what my computer just got done drawing - i'll mix the audio before i let it out though
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My 2nd render using Thunder's method (except the engine glows aren't too good in this one).
jgmart.tripod.com/render2.jpg
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Originally posted by Thunder:
Setekh As I'm just this minute about to leave for nine days can you tell anyone who asks how I do the various aspects of my renders. I think you know how by now (even if it's not as good as yours). Cheers. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
*waves* Nah dude, I just gave you a few guidelines, you did the rest (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
As for those backgrounds - check out Gliteratto (I'm sure you've heard it a million times before) at www.flamingpear.com ("http://www.flamingpear.com") . Just don't overuse it, as it rapidly gets old. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/wink.gif)
Oh, and kudos to BA, good job on the page (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
[This message has been edited by Setekh (edited 08-03-2001).]
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I need something that isn't photoshop based - i cant use photoshop
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Okay. Here's what experimenting with Photoshop 6.0 produced.
(http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence/DemoBeam.jpg)
I admit its not good but its a start. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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I want a better title!!! (http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence/Crazy.gif)
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
[This message has been edited by NeoHunter (edited 08-04-2001).]
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Then there is always this
(http://alliance.sourceforge.net/Screens/Larges/Beam1.jpg)
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Hmmm.seeing how the Shivan beams look like, I was wondering if Terran beams should have a bit of the transparency effect. Maybe 60 to 80 percent tranparency.
maybe I'll try that. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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I want a better title!!! (http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence/Crazy.gif)
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)
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Oh yeah, can someone who has done beams in Photoshop tell me if the beams I created for the first time were on target? I followed Thunder's instructions.
Maybe Setekh, you can tell me. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
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I want a better title!!! (http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence/Crazy.gif)
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)
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Originally posted by NeoHunter:
Maybe Setekh, you can tell me. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
Seems pretty right, but that particular try had no white beam core. Maybe you could try that. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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Okay. Here's one I did and experimented with Outer Glows on the beams.
Please be patient. It may take a while to load.
File Size: 466kb
(http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence/HecateBeams.jpg)
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I want a better title!!! (http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence/Crazy.gif)
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
[This message has been edited by NeoHunter (edited 08-06-2001).]
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Well here is my attempet at beams, there are no ships or backgrounds but its a good looking BFRed
src="http://www.vidavision.com/entertainment/drzer0/BFRed.jpg">
(If that dosent show up then go here ("http://www.vidavision.com/entertainment/drzer0/bfred.htm")
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Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes):
YAAH! DEATH TO OATMEAL!
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This is what happens if you're on SpaceCrack: (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~planetannihilation/ubb/smilies/ubercrack.gif)
[This message has been edited by Dr.Zer0 (edited 08-12-2001).]
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Woah... just looking at the amount of talent here is impressive, you guys all have the stuff to make great renders as we've seen by the stuff you've all posted here. I'm sorry I haven't been around to directly answer questions but I'm back now and I'm thinking about making a few more tutorials although that'll have to wait for now. It just shows that with a little practice everyone is capable of making some pretty damn good renders and I think your all great. Again - well done.
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Damnit! How did Kazan do that? His are the best looking ones I've seen yet! (True To FS that is)
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Originally posted by Kazan:
i used the FreeSpace 2 textures (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
(http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/rolleyes.gif)
It is definitely true to FS, although I'd prefer to use his method I'm no good with 3D programs and thats why I made the FAQ- not everyone has TS or 3DS etc...
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So... What tool did you use? I searched all of mine, and couldn't find a polygon lasso (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/rolleyes.gif)
Bah... I think I figured it out in TS, I just need to put in beam charges, transparency, and light emmissions. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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Are you sure you used the right tool? It's right there infront of you if you look properly (you are using Photoshop right?)
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err... Photoshop... righ...t... I think I'll stay with TS, atleast that way I can get the beams pointing in the right directions... without my usual errors...
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You didn't know the FAQ was for Photoshop specifically? lmao! (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/lol.gif)
Ah well, yeah - you use TS, maybe you won't muck that up as apparently it's a lot more straightforward.
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Well, I think Photoshop is okay. Not too sure if its the most widely used image editing and creation program around though.........been using it since I learnt how to do web sites.......
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I want a better title!!! (http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence/Crazy.gif)
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)
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Originally posted by Thunder:
You didn't know the FAQ was for Photoshop specifically? lmao! (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/lol.gif)
...I wasn't sure... I skimmed through it...Make one for TS!!!
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Read it more carefully before commenting on it's inacuracies then (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/wink.gif)
As I mentioned before I don't have TS nor would I know how to use it if I did. I'll leave it to Kazan to do that as he seems to have nailed the technique...
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Originally posted by Thunder:
It is definitely true to FS, although I'd prefer to use his method I'm no good with 3D programs and thats why I made the FAQ- not everyone has TS or 3DS etc...
Funny, that. Because TS (v1, at least) is easier to find than PS, which is at least $1000 where I live, and no demos are available.
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Well from what I've heard TS1 is dodgy at the best of times, suffice to say I don't want to try to learn it right now - I don't have the time or the dedication.
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heh! I did an attempt to beams too, a while ago (beware oldish renders (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/tongue.gif)), just let me find it... ok here it is:
(http://lancelot.legendjsm.net/mellis/venompics/Helldiving.jpg)
ouch, those laser shots are not pretty...
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