Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => Arts & Talents => Topic started by: Dysko on December 28, 2014, 06:25:09 am

Title: FS pilot patches
Post by: Dysko on December 28, 2014, 06:25:09 am
Hi everybody,
I suppose almost everybody of you don't remember me... I used to post quite a lot some years ago (under the username Darth Dysko, but got bored of the Darth part), until I started studying aerospace engineering and became silent (apart from some random post every... err... 2 years or so) due to lack of time. I graduated 10 months ago, found a temporary job as ground crew in a flight school, and finally a month ago I found a job as an enginner (only for 3 months though :sigh: ). Meanwhile, my aviation photography hobby allowed me to publish some articles on some Italian aviation magazines  (I don't get paid a lot though, I can't make it my main job).

Anyway, these are the first Christmas Holidays in a long time in which I don't have to study. Having a lot of time on my hands, I tried to learn vector graphics software (namely, Inkscape). Looking for something to draw, I thought I could draw FS-themed pilot patches.
Since I own a small pilot patches collection, I took inspiration from patches used mainly by European air forces pilots, with a stylized airplane (usually drawn from above, but also from the front or from the side, rarely from other angles too) superimposed on an Air Force roundel (examples: http://s226.photobucket.com/user/cenciotti/media/ItAF%20patches/F-16ADFnew.jpg.html  http://patchcollecting.jouwweb.nl/upload/a/2/a/patchcollecting/dsc-607814480022.large.jpg and http://www.airforcecollectables.com/Belgium-Air-Force-BAF-Patch-3-Wing-Tac-Mirage-5-Bierset-Patch-1P-04BE-1BAF-03WIN-1OP-0003WG-01.htm ).

GTVA logo and fighter shape manually traced from screenshots. These are not intended for use as squadron insignias (why would you want to tell your enemy what are you flying, especially when his targeting computer already tells him this info clicks away?), they are made just for fun.
If they are well received, I may do some more of Terran fighters and bombers (GTVA, GTA and NTF). I suppose Vasudan pilots don't have such tradition, so I don't think I'll make Vasudan ones. Plus, I don't have Vasudan fonts installed on this PC :lol: Oh, and I hate Zods :nervous:

(http://www.golfvictorspotting.it/altro/fs2/gtf_perseus.png)

(http://www.golfvictorspotting.it/altro/fs2/gtf_pegasus.png)

What do you think? Constructive criticism is always welcome :)
Title: Re: FS pilot patches
Post by: Grizzly on December 28, 2014, 07:13:28 am
Ooh, these are quite nice. There are some things I note:

The ship's title is perhaps a bit too close together. Specifically, the letters ocasionally seem to intersect with one-another.
The GTVA logo being covered up by the fighter looks rather weird. I'd rather see it seperated (in case of the perseus, having the logo below the fighter would help imo)
Title: Re: FS pilot patches
Post by: headdie on December 28, 2014, 07:35:51 am
I have to agree with increase the character spacing

As for the not being able see the GTVA logo. 
For the Perseus perhaps having 2-3 smaller images  positioned more into the empty spaces.
For the Pegasus try angling the fighter to more of a front on angle so it splits the GTVA logo
Title: Re: FS pilot patches
Post by: Dysko on December 28, 2014, 11:51:52 am
Thinking about the logo, you are right, the "shape over roundel" style looks good with "bullseye-like roundels", but not with complex logos like the GTVA one.

Here is the remade Perseus one:
(http://www.golfvictorspotting.it/altro/fs2/gtf_perseus_2.png)

I'll remake the Pegasus one tomorrow since I'll have to retrace the fighter from scratch from another angle.
Title: Re: FS pilot patches
Post by: Nyctaeus on December 28, 2014, 12:42:07 pm
Make some space between missile racks and main line of the section. Pretty cool anyway. I prefer version with GTVA logo under the fighter.
Title: Re: FS pilot patches
Post by: Mobius on December 28, 2014, 01:07:54 pm
Those are pretty nice! I would like to see a Zeus patch, if possible. :yes:

Also, do you think these pics could be printed, and/or somehow turned into real patches? Does anybody here know how to do that?
Title: Re: FS pilot patches
Post by: lostllama on December 28, 2014, 01:43:51 pm
Also, do you think these pics could be printed, and/or somehow turned into real patches? Does anybody here know how to do that?

Or how about being printed on T-shirts or coffee mugs? Like the stuff at Galemp's FS store.
http://www.cafepress.com/freespace (http://www.cafepress.com/freespace)
http://www.cafepress.com/mf/1517844/neoterran_mugs?productId=3684388 (http://www.cafepress.com/mf/1517844/neoterran_mugs?productId=3684388)
Title: Re: FS pilot patches
Post by: Dysko on December 29, 2014, 06:36:28 am
Here is the remade Pegasus patch... I decided to scrap the whole "view from the top/front" thingy and use a different angle, inspired by the Transcend logo.

(http://www.golfvictorspotting.it/altro/fs2/gtf_pegasus_2.png)

Also, do you think these pics could be printed, and/or somehow turned into real patches? Does anybody here know how to do that?
Having personally known guys who make embroidered patches for air forces worldwide, I can tell you that they need to sell at least 50/100 pieces for every single patch to break even. I think it would be quite difficult to reach that number.

Or how about being printed on T-shirts or coffee mugs? Like the stuff at Galemp's FS store.
http://www.cafepress.com/freespace (http://www.cafepress.com/freespace)
http://www.cafepress.com/mf/1517844/neoterran_mugs?productId=3684388 (http://www.cafepress.com/mf/1517844/neoterran_mugs?productId=3684388)
I was wondering... would there be IP copyright issues?