What do i need to create custom Pipboy Icons?

[Z3R0B4NG]

Hi,

 

i am thinking about making simple Pipboy Icons for Mods that have none or just using the default Icons.

Shouldn't be to hard to do...

 

 

I have an idea of what i want to do but not much more ^^

I never did anything with GECK or Photoshop/GIMP so what software do i need?

Is there a tutorial for that special purpose (Pipboy Icons) anywhere?

 

 

 

I guess i need to change the path inside the .esp file for most icons with GECK? (at least if i want my icons to be together in one folder or the mod uses a default Icon).

Best would be if i could make ONE .esp file with only the redone filepath for all the files i changed and nothing else, so i would not need permission from every single author because i basically do not change their files.

 

Next i need something to make decent Screenshots of the Armor, Weapons and Stuff.

I guess i need some kind of Model-Viewer? (can nifscope do that?)

I'm not good at painting so i will not even try to make those neat Pipboys with Weapons in Hand!

 

 

I aim for something like this:

 

http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/cw684318/thumb/gcvan8gb.jpg to http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/l9ijbodn/thumb/m8iova68.jpg

 

 

IF i get the hang of it and did all what i wanted to do i might even take User Requests... a compilation mod for all missing Pipboy Icons so to say.

 

If i get one done i can do a hundred more, just help me to do that first one!

:thanks:

 

 

 

*****

//edit:

 

- got GECK running

- found the setting for the pipboy icon .dds files, still dont know how to save only that one setting in a seperate .esp ...

- found the preview function, works sometimes, not allways (sometimes it shows only a RED mesh without textures?)

http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/3r21w340/thumb/vuuvgg8l.jpg :blink:

 

 

...

http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/gtyz00fd/thumb/mses8c5k.jpg http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/ttj4qfml/thumb/9udlczws.jpg http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/64euyl1m/thumb/abagflml.jpg

 

well when it work the output should be good enough as source for icons, at least as long as the preview shows me what i want to see...

[Baelkin]

You can easily designate a Pipboy icon in the GECK itself or using TESnip so that's a pretty easy thing to do.

 

Making a working Pipboy icon is a more tricky as you have to work with the Alpha layers of a .dds file in GIMP or Photoshop. There should be some threads around here on the subject of making new Pipboy icons, so you should try and find those to get a sense of what needs to be done. If I recall correctly, you'll basically need to "paint" the icon with black and white colors on the Alpha layer, which complicates things a bit - if you are not familiar with GIMP or Photoshop it could prove a quite difficult place to start, but anyone interested in modding needs to start from somewhere. :)

[Z3R0B4NG]

I tried to search, but "pipboy" and "icon" are kind of bad search terms to find anything remotely usefull ;)

And to find small infos like that may take a while to find in the big tutorials... for now trial&error is faster... so i just ask, maybe somebody answers ^^

 

Do the icons realy need a Alpha Layer? i thought since they don't reflect anything they would not need that? Well i will see into that later.

 

The next problem i see is in GECK when a .esp has multiple masterfiles it tells me that... and aborts loading. UH?

 

//GIMP drives me crazy allready... -.-

[BadPenney]

I tried to search, but "pipboy" and "icon" are kind of bad search terms to find anything remotely usefull ;)

And to find small infos like that may take a while to find in the big tutorials... for now trial&error is faster... so i just ask, maybe somebody answers ^^

Really? I just typed "pipboy icon" into the search box and got multiple thread listings. On the second page of threads there was even two entitled "Creating new PipBoy Icon in PhotoShop" and "How to create Pip Boy Icons Please?"

 

How much simpler can it get? Well, getting someone to retype it all again for you is simpler I suppose. Z3R034T.

 

I used to answer questions quite a bit, but now I pretty much avoid answering the same questions that I have already seen a great many times.

[HugePinball]

Here's a pretty simple tutorial by Drag0ntamer: http://www.fookunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=448

[Z3R0B4NG]

@BadPenny

I dont asked anyone to write me a big tutorial, i asked for LINKS and maybe some SHORT infos, because i did not find anything useful.

If that is to much for you than PLEASE just ignore.

THX but not helping... (and i still only find my own thread in the first 2 pages, maybe you get diffrent results)

Not to mention that i asked more then one question and would have posted anyway.

 

@HugePinball

thx this may help but i guess i am going with GIMP now because the nvidia photoshop plugin had some strange glitches for me.

 

 

 

Progress Report:

 

Actually i managed to get my first .dds replaced by a picture that i made.

But i still need to try nifscope and how to get proper Pictures of Armor/Clothing, in "GECK Preview" they only appear as if the clothing is dropped on the Ground, if at all, not as if equipped.

[BadPenney]

So you don't like my tone. I gave you actual names of threads and you still couldn't find them? ok http://thenexusforums.com/index.php?showto...hl=pipboy+icons.

 

You want links? Did you look at the pinned threads at the top of the page? Ones that include lines like "links, links, links" and "tutorials"?

 

You never used GIMP or PhotoShop, so what software do you need? Well... GIMP or PhotoShop, I think.

 

To make the best use of this forum you need to read what is here and learn to search for stuff. If I have offended you by pointing out the obvious, then I should also point out that only 3 people have responded to your questions, even though many people here know the answers, and you have told one of the responders to ignore your questions because I am "not helpful". Most knowledgeable people on this forum seem to respond well to questions from posters who have put efforts into finding answers on their own. Few like to expend efforts that save a poster from making efforts. If you doubt that, then consider the vast number of responses to your post.

 

The search engine will respond to words over 3 letters long. and it will allow combinations of words. Learn to use it and read the pinned items with links and tutorials that people have made the effort to create. Do not say something like "to find small infos like that may take a while to find in the big tutorials... for now trial&error is faster... so i just ask, maybe somebody answers ^^". It makes it seem as though your time is more important to you than the time of the people from which you are asking assistance.

 

BTW, I have made pipboy icons with PhotoShop saved as .dds files. No painting of the alpha layer is needed. Just start a new transparent image with the same dimensions as a vanilla icon and cut and paste a light grey image on it. No mip maps. Save it in subdirectories with the same names as vanilla icons.

 

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/imageshare/images/1103832-1251986561.jpg

[nfckitten]

Thanks for that BP... helps me out! You rock! +Kudos... >.<

[Z3R0B4NG]

now that was helpful THX!

 

You want links? Did you look at the pinned threads at the top of the page? Ones that include lines like "links, links, links" and "tutorials"?

yes

 

You never used GIMP or PhotoShop, so what software do you need? Well... GIMP or PhotoShop, I think.

(I allready have GIMP + dds plugin.)

I never did anything with GECK or Photoshop/GIMP so what software do i need?

 

mmh ...let me rephrase that.

 

What Software do i need to get Armor (Mesh+Textures) displayed like this example on my screen? (so i can make a Screenshot with FRAPS or whatever):

http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/l9ijbodn/thumb/m8iova68.jpg

 

I'm thinking "nifscope" but had no time to test it yet and if not what then?

 

 

and you have told one of the responders to ignore your questions because I am "not helpful"

No, because i obviously annoy you with my stupid questions and i dont want to do that, i know that i'm a noob with this stuff so its going to happen anyway ;-)

[nfckitten]

Look, the best thing to do... would be (in my opinion...) get the mannequin mod... dress them up with the armor... Screen shot or fraps shot it... then go from there... I was lucky, my icons were things I made in flash for the textures... So I just used them... >.< Turned out great...

 

EDIT: Oh yeah... wherever you are uploading your pictures to seem not to like hotlinking so all I can see of your pictures is something about "DirectUpload.net No Hotlinking please" try use photobucket or something like that...