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Orion nameplates

I'm not a great modder or campaign builder of freespace 2 but I thought I'd have a try at making a small campaign. Anyway, since an Orion class destroyer plays a leading role I really think it would be good for it to have a nameplate. That's where the problem is; I'm useless with programs such as Paintshop Pro. Could anyone give me a list of instructions as to how to go about making nameplates. I've already extracted the right map and changed the pof to use the edited map. It's just the editing of the map I need a hand with. Thanks in advance.

First step would be having the font those nameplates used...I'll dig around and see if I have it on one of the computers in the house.

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Ahh, sorry. I forgot to mention I already have the Stop font.

Make an image the same size as the nameplate, with the nameplate as the background and the name written in Stop in white on top. To get that faded paint look, all you need is a program that lets you blend two different images. Use the graphics program to merge the image of the plain nameplate with the one with the name, adjusting the slider until you're happy with the result. 0% should be the nameplate only, 100% the name and nameplate only. Inbetween should let you fade the words in and out.

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Ok. Thanks. Any suggestions for a decent program that would let me blend the two images together? Preferably one that I can download for free. Or will Paintshop Pro 7 do that?

Hehe. I think you can do it in MS Word. Take the nameplate, put it into word, do the name in WordArt and then in the format menu tick the semi-transparent checkbox.
It isn't very good, buyt iw will be done.

EDIT: where can I get the Stop font?

It's on the Port page, follow the link in the siggy. Follow the Extras link.

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Thanks.
Oh, by the way, I can't download the actual port for some reason. THe download window comes up, but the thing just stays on 0% forever.

quote:

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Originally posted by F S W
Hehe. I think you can do it in MS Word.

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I'd be very surprised if PSP 7 wasn't able to do the job...

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It can, just download the trial and re-install it after the expirey runs out. Or buy it... it's not much more than a game these days...

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1. Open the nameplate image. (Available [url=http://jgmart.tripod.com/blanknameplate.zip]here[/url])
2. Open it in paint shop pro and go to Colors/Increase Color Depth and set it to 16 million colors (24-bit).
3. Select the text editor and click on the image. Make the stroke and fill colors white and make the size about a 48. Make sure you select the stop font and then type in GTD Whatever and press OK.
4. Position it to how you like it then goto View/Toolbars and check the Layer Palette.
5. Right click on "floating selection" and press "promote to layer".
6. Change "normal" to "dodge" in the drop-down box and bring the 100% down to your liking.
7. Goto Colors/Decrease Color Depth and select 256 colors.
8. Save your image as something in your \maps\ folder in your FS2 directory.
9. Open your orion's model in ModelView 32 and press "POF Editor".
10. Click on "texture names", Goto capital01-05a, press edit, name it whatever you saved your nameplate as, and then save your model's changes.

There you go, 10 easy steps.

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Thanks Joey!