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Wiping an existing car clean in PSP Use an existing car to begin with. First you got to wipe clean the areas which you don't like. You can use the dropper tool for that. Leftclick it at an area you like and then right click it at an area you don't like. Then select the color replacer and left or rightclick the area opposite to what you want to change and the colors change if you move the mouse and hold the button (left or right) at the same time. Just experiment. You can also use the paint brush and just make it one color. But stay within the original lines of the bitmap or else you can't see the components of the car anymore.
Painting the car Adding paint to your blank template is the utlimate way to customize your car. - Always work in layers, before you start to paint a new bit on the car create a new layer in the layer palette - Because the car is symetrical you don't have to paint the mirror image just flip or mirror the layer and postition it right and the other side is ready and identical! In the layer pallette choose the layer click it. Then go to the image menu and flip or mirror the layer. With the Mover tool you can then position the copied layer to its position. So you actually only have to paint half of the car!! There are several ways to paint to your car: Using straight lines: This is usually a good technique to add lines to the car. Using pretty thick lines usually gives a good effect. Use the anti alias option (tool option) to create smoother lines. Using bezier curves: This is great to create curves and bends. Check Dizzo, Jonk and Mommark of the GPVWC cars and 7up Mercedes and Argentina F1, all made with bezier curves. Just experiment!
Painting pixel by pixel using zoom: This technique is usually complementary to both the straight lines and bezier curves technique. Using the clone brush: This is really magic for me. This is how it works. Open a design you like and a blank template. Create a new layer. Use the clone brush tool. Make sure the two cars are the same size on your screen (see important viewing technique in psp). Right click a point on the design you like to clone. Remember the coordinates (bottom left of your screen) or just use the CTRL TAB technique. Position the cursor on the template on exact the same location and leftclick and presto the other car emerges. This is very very usefull as well as fun. Because the bmp's are all the same size you can clone every car onto your own template. You can use the original bit of the car you are cloning from or you can clone a bit with lines on it. Then create a new layer. Paint over the exact lines in any color you like, but stay on or between the lines. Go to the layer palette and click the spectacles on the cloned layer you first used. Now you have the same style painting on your own car with your own colors!! You can also have a little fun with it and create these monsters To the left the Jorrari!!! Which is a combination of a 97 Jordan (the one with that beautiful snake!) and a 2001 Ferrari. And to the right the Bastard car which is a combination of well...see for yourself try to guess.
Both cars are available now in the download section in the art cars collection. I usually combine all techniques and the pixel by pixel technique only to make the edges perfect. In effect combining all different techniques can lead to this:
Which is the basic design for the 7up Mercedes.
Tricky lines Lines accross the whole car are beautifull but very tricky. I spent hours to figure out how the pieces of the bitmap fit together in the game. I have created a line template. It features three fat lines across all parts of the bitmap. If you open this special bitmap in a paint program and write down the coordinates of the lines you will save hours of time :-) it is available now in the download section.
Shading Shading is crucial to a good car. If you make a car without shading it is not going to look pretty in the game. Lower bits of the car should be darker then the upper bits which catch the light more. One of the easiest techniques I use to add shade to a car I got from Bramzel. Use a white blank template and select all (selections, select all). Then selections, modify, transparent color. Select black (if the background is black). Then copy the selection (ctrl c) and paste it onto your design using ctrl L. This copies the shade onto your design. In the layer pallette drag the 100% slider to about 40%. Select hard light (where there is "normal"). Then adjust brightness and contrast in the colors menu. Pres ok and presto you got shade on your car. For this example I used the select all option but you can use any selection you like but be carefull to position it right when you paste it. Without shading: With shading using the above mentioned technique:
Don't worry if you add some bits of paint later that you'll ruin the shading. Go to the layer pallette and leftclick the layer with the shading. This one is easily spotted because of the slider somewhat in the 40% position and drag it to the top of the layers. The shading then will cover the underlaying layers. And as it is transparent will they will be visible throught it!. So now you think you are ready to add the logos. Wrong! Here comes the most boring bit. You have to check the car in the game over and over again until you are satisfied with all the paint! Look at the car from all angles to see if the paint is in the right area. Use the different campositions well.
Viewing the car in the game Start the game in practice mode so you are out of the pit fast. Just step on the throttle and then select the outside cam for a good view of the car. Also try the other cams to see if you can see the lines. I always use the Zolder track (Belgium) because in the first corner you can spin the car around and you can take a good look at it. Also it has a helicam just after the 100m sign before the last chicane to the long straight. This helicam is great for viewing the car from above. This is necessary to see if the logos and the lines are correctly symmetrically aligned. The Detroit track is good for viewing too, because this has some kind of floating cam just before the first corner which you can run the car under back and forth to check out all the lines. So now you got the basic paintjob done. Make sure you are satisfied with it before you add the logos. Go to the Logos page
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