Creating custom billboard textures

Discussion in 'Content Creation' started by Aboroath, Jan 5, 2016.

  1. Aboroath

    Aboroath
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    I am currently enthralled with the Torque groundcover scheme and am wondering what it
    takes to create custom groundcover 'blocks' or 'billboards'. More specifically is how would
    I take a set of individual plant/bush/grass textures and combine them into one set as seen
    below.
    Screenshot (25).png

    No GIMP wizard here but I can do a few basic tasks. Thanks!
     
  2. Scepheo

    Scepheo
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    Copy from one file, paste into the other? Pretty much like you'd do it in good ol' Paint, except some layer anchoring/merging is needed. Unless I've completely misunderstood your question, of course.
     
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  3. Aboroath

    Aboroath
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    Thanks Scepheo. Perhaps layers are the key. I can go to the GIMP forums and ask there, probably
    more appropriate anyway. I know zilch about this particular process but am determined to
    figure it out.
     
  4. Ouerbacker

    Ouerbacker
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    Out of curiosity, are you just trying to figure out how to place multiple plants with transparency on a single texture? If so, I can explain this.
     
  5. Aboroath

    Aboroath
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    Yes sir, I believe that's what I'm after. Essentially making a single texture with multiple different
    single textures. My goal is to make custom groundcovers that can use the single main material slot
    in the groundcover object. Exactly like the stock vegetation textures in BeamNG. A prime example
    would be the Utah grasses groundcover I'm so dearly fond of lately:p.
     
  6. Ouerbacker

    Ouerbacker
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    This might answer your question. I tossed this together very quickly.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-32-33-70.jpg

    Create a new image. I used a resolution of 2048x2048.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-32-48-19.jpg

    Open the toolbox. The toolbox is under the "windows" tab.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-33-08-15.jpg

    Under "windows/Dockable dialogs," there is a thing called layers. Click it.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-33-15-14.jpg

    Right click on your layer and left click on add alpha channel.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-33-20-75.jpg

    Use the eraser tool in the toolbox window to erase the white from the image. I would recommend enlarging the brush for this.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-34-08-29.jpg

    Choose "open as layers" to add a preexisting plant image to your new image.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-36-12-66.jpg

    Find one of your preexisting plant images. I grabbed a random file from somewhere on my computer.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-36-32-65.jpg
    This layer can be move around with the tool beneath the eyeglass. Look at the above image for reference.

    Dwm 2016-01-05 22-36-54-94.jpg

    Rinse and repeat.

    At the end, you can "merge visible layers" by using the tool of this name under the "image" tab.
    Export the image as either a dds or png for transparency. ta da

    Also, if you want to erase part of a layer, select the layer in the layer window and use the previously mentioned erase tool to erase part of that image

    Also, again... , under the layer tab, there is a tool, which is called "scale layer" that will allow for you to change the size of an individual layer. Now, ta da
     
  7. Aboroath

    Aboroath
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    Whoa.....thank you! I assume this scheme would work with four different plant textures
    so as to make a groundcover with four (or more, up to eight) separate and different
    plants in Torque. Can't wait to try this out!

    What would be the better description for this kind of texture UV or billboardUV?

    Thank you so much Ouerbacker. Very much appreciated:D.
     
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