male basic mirrored

[Amazo Version 2.2]

is there any way to mirror the mapping on a male basic mesh? kind of like how the  and  meshes are? can it be done in nifskope, or does an actual mesher have to do it? thanks.

[Kenn]

Are you asking about changing the mapping so only one half of the mesh needs to be skinned and the other half will just duplicate or are you asking about flipping the skin so right is left and left is right?

The former would require remapping, I believe.  It could be done, but probably only by a mesher.  That said, the mapping on most meshes is such that flipping one half of a skin to the other half shouldn't be difficult.

The latter can be done in NifSkope, but it is a lengthy process.   I'm developing a program that will do it automatically.  Whilst I work out the kinks though, I'm willing to "take requests".

[Amazo Version 2.2]

thanks for the quick response kenn.

Are you asking about changing the mapping so only one half of the mesh needs to be skinned and the other half will just duplicate

yeah, this is what i was referring too. i really would like to try skinning ssomething other than the microwave and super collider meshes, so i was hoping that there would be a male basic version that i could try. since there is not, then i will try "flipping" a skin on the regular male basic mesh. again, thanks for the quick reply.

[daglob]

thanks for the quick response kenn.

Are you asking about changing the mapping so only one half of the mesh needs to be skinned and the other half will just duplicate

yeah, this is what i was referring too. i really would like to try skinning ssomething other than the microwave and super collider meshes, so i was hoping that there would be a male basic version that i could try. since there is not, then i will try "flipping" a skin on the regular male basic mesh. again, thanks for the quick reply.

This is a silly question, but why do you need to do this?

[Amazo Version 2.2]

basically, i have trouble lining up my designs from one side to another. mirrored meshes, like microwave, take that problem away. i admit it limits design options, but currently, its just alot easier for me.

[Kenn]

Do you use the wireframes that come with a lot of the meshes?   I don't know which art program you use but if you use one that supports layers I'd suggest maintaining a layer that has the wireframe at a low enough density so it can be seen and seen through.   That helps a lot with keeping the "seams straight" and you can always turn that layer off when the skin is complete.

[daglob]

You can also set the blend mode (if the program uses them) to either Difference or Exclusion and the black background of the wire will become transparent. Sometimes the white areas need to be another color, but that's fairly easy to fix.

If the program you are using does not support layers, then check out GIMP:

http://www.gimp.org/

It does a surprising number of things for being a free program. I know it does layers; I can't remember if it does blend modes.

[Amazo Version 2.2]

cyberburn set me up with both gimp and paintdotnet. paintdotnet is easier to layer becuase of the blend modes, i still havent figured out how to do this in gimp, other then decrease the transparencies. i do use the wireframes, but getting things lined up from left to right still is difficult, and the designs always seem a little bit of. im not a artist, i dont consider myself a skinner, but i am trying. eventually, i wopuld like to release something so i can give back to the community.

[Cyber Burn]

cyberburn set me up with both gimp and paintdotnet. paintdotnet is easier to layer becuase of the blend modes, i still havent figured out how to do this in gimp, other then decrease the transparencies. i do use the wireframes, but getting things lined up from left to right still is difficult, and the designs always seem a little bit of. im not a artist, i dont consider myself a skinner, but i am trying. eventually, i wopuld like to release something so i can give back to the community.

Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to do the layers on GIMP, so I'm not really in any position to teach the robot. So if anyone else can give him some help, it would take a load off of me.

[Kenn]

1) Can GIMP use .PSD files or is there a way to convert .PSD files to something that GIMP can use?

2) For parts that could be mirrored, what I'll often do is, using the grid as a guide, mark the edges on both sides of that part of the body and just draw the one side and then duplicate that layer and flip it.  For instance, a mask, I'll render the mask on the right hand side, and set on dot on the outer side of the right ear and the outer side of the left ear.  All this in a layer by itself.  Then I'll duplicate the layer, and flip the layer right to left (so the ear dots overlay) effectively duplicating the right mask as the left.  Then I'll combine those two layers and erase the eardots.

[daglob]

I played with GIMP a little; enough to be impressed with it. However, since it didn't do anything Photoshop wouldn't...

I also had no problem at all loading PSD files into GIMP.