Just a quick questions... how do i make templates for my car models? Im completely new to this.. sorry for all the posts, im stupid

7 hours ago, GiveIt110Percnt said:

Just a quick questions... how do i make templates for my car models? Im completely new to this.. sorry for all the posts, im stupid

The easiest and legally free method is rather simple: You'll need to download an image editor such as Gimp (which I recommend, it is a free application that is pretty resourceful if you ask me...). Once downloaded, you can start with new templates for models.

 

Step 1 - Obtaining your template

Most car mods include the template of that very car. Open it with Gimp. Now the next optional step depends on your own needs/preference. Note that every car is different, so if you want to make (just an example) a template for Pete's CVPI, chances are that that skin won't work on Henry's CVPI. 
 

Step 2 - Resolution. This isn't Minecraft, so ditch the low res (optional)

You can choose to make a 4K model. If you want to do that, just stretch the image in Gimp, giving it a 4096x4096 resolution. 2K is also possible, just give it the 2048x2048 resolution. The reason to choose for this is that it just appears more detailed. The higher the resolution, the more detailed (important for small details like decals or logo's) skin. The downside to this is that (I speak from experience) your saved Gimp file (not the exported image file but the saved templates) can go over 1GB per skin.

 

So personally I'd go with the 2K or just the regular resolution the template comes in, to practice/start with. 

 

Step 3 - Layers? Layers.
Once you've opened your template and (optionally) changed the resolution, you're able to start the texture! Please note that this step is VERY important if you want to be able to edit mistakes. In my personal experience, this is the most made mistake in the skin making business. 
So you've got your texture file in Gimp, but there is this one step you need to take before you can start. You'll notice that (if you didn't close it :-P) there is a 'Layers' window. (If you've accidentally closed it, no worries, click Windows->Dockable Dialogs->Layers, or simply press ctrl+L). Here you'll see your template image. 

Create a new Layer by right clicking in the layers window and clicking 'New Layer'. This has to be the same resolution as your template image. In the 'Layer Fill Type', select White. 

 

Now the reason that you just created a new Layer, is that you want to make a new skin, and not edit the template. If you edit the template, every stripe and color in the template will appear on the vehicle in game. You don't want that. You want the stripes/colors/logos/whatever the heck you want on your vehicle. That's why we just created a blank overlapping layer, on which we'll edit the skin.

 

Step 4 - Making the layer editable

No worries now, I know that your whole Gimp screen is white. That's because the opacity of the layer is 100. We'll change that to around 30%. You can also make this 10%, 0% or whatever you find easy to use. The important part is that you can see what you are editing. 

Okay, let's imagine a scenario here. You want to make a difference and think that a pink police car is awesome. No offense, if it gets you happy I'll download it and use it for a day, but that aside, you want a pink car, period. 
That's alright, but you have just made a white layer. 
Step 4.1 - Creating the template color

Really, we can give this job to the kids in kindergarten, this is the easiest step of the whole guide. In the toolbox - the other window that is open - you'll choose the little bucket. (You closed that too? Silly. Go to Windows->Dockable Dialogs again and select the 'Toolbox'). Next, click on the two colors just a little below that bucket, and select the color you want. Pink in our situation. (Don't complain, you wanted a pink car.) Make sure that your newly created layer is selected (Which is again VERY important, you don't want to temper with the template file, as it won't be visible in our car), and just bucket fill the whole thing in your preferred color. 
Step 4.2 - A little insider's tip

What I always do, is create a new layer for every single part I edit. I.e. a layer for the right side of the car, a layer for the top, a special unit number layer. This comes in useful when you want to change a little thing. Also, it makes it easier to find things that you're looking for. Editing is all about structure and logic.

 

Step 5 - It's time...

Oh yes. Here we go. We're making our skin. Choose a point that you want to start with, let's say the right side of the car. If you've got a very creative mind and a good idea, you can, of course, do it from your head, but most of the people that make a skin use a picture of a real police car to base their skin on. So let's look at our picture or look deep into our minds on what it is that we actually want. Good luck making the skin!

Step 5.1 - Folders to organize all of our work

Let's suppose that you want to make a vehicle that has a number written on it. Of course, you can create text with Gimp, just click the little 'A' in the toolbox. But another small tip that I've got for you is naming it. Just edit the name of the layer in your layers window. Also, you can create folders in your Layers window. This is especially nice to put all the text in. Right click in the layers window, and click 'New Layer Group'. Here you can put all your text in, which if you're making a detailed skin, floods your Layers window. 

 

Step 6 - You done yet?

This is taking forever man, speed it up a little. I'm joking, of course. A nice skin often takes hours sometimes days to make. But for a start (or if you are a talent) 30 minutes will do. If you actually are done, let's finish this thing!

Step 6.1 - Let's save things

Saving is important, let's be completely honest here. How many times you had a project that you worked all night on and it was gone because your laptop ran out of power? Or your PC decided to stall on you? No? Never? Me neither, I guess I watch too many series.
But; back to work. We're saving, mate. I think you might be familiar, but if you're not, press ctrl+s to save. (I know, revolutionary, right?)

Saving the Gimp file in its own extension will make sure that you can edit everything that has to do with layers. If you just export the file to an image file, the layers are gone. So I'd say, save it as a Gimp file AND export it when you're done.

Step 6.2 - Preparing the export

First of all, you are going to want to make sure that your template is not visible. You can either do this by clicking the template layer and setting the opacity to 0% or making sure it's under all the other layers. If you did this, make sure all the layers that you want to be visible on the car, are at 100% opacity. You did this? Awesome! Let's export this thing!
Step 6.3 - Ready for testing!

Exporting. You've GOT TO export the file to make sure it's usable on a car in the game. Click 'File->Export As' and make sure you save it as a PNG FILE. Jpeg's won't work. save it somewhere that you can find it back, not in the deepest roots of your documents. 

 

Step 7 - Installing the skin on your car

Open your RPF file that your car is installed on. If you don't know what I mean by RPF, or don't know how to use OpenIV, look up a tutorial on google on how to install car mods in GTA V. Go to the car ytd file. We're taking the Police slot as an example. So we're going to the police.ytd file. Open it, and find the image named {this varies)_sign_{sometimes a number}. Click 'replace' in the top of the window, and choose your skin. Click save, and press Ctrl+Shift+R (Or find the defragment option somewhere in OpenIV). Defragment it, and launch GTA V

 

Step 8 - Lemme see it!

Allright. We're in GTA V now, welcome. Spawn the car that you installed your skin on. (So we're spawning the Police car), and enjoy your livery! If you see another skin on the car, or no skin at all, go to your trainer and find the Car Livery Menu. You can cycle between different skins there. 

 

So yeah, that's basically it. You had a short question; here is your 8000+ length tutorial. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know :-)

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Daniel

1 hour ago, BlackNoise said:

The easiest and legally free method is rather simple: You'll need to download an image editor such as Gimp (which I recommend, it is a free application that is pretty resourceful if you ask me...). Once downloaded, you can start with new templates for models.

 

Step 1 - Obtaining your template

Most car mods include the template of that very car. Open it with Gimp. Now the next optional step depends on your own needs/preference. Note that every car is different, so if you want to make (just an example) a template for Pete's CVPI, chances are that that skin won't work on Henry's CVPI. 
 

Step 2 - Resolution. This isn't Minecraft, so ditch the low res (optional)

You can choose to make a 4K model. If you want to do that, just stretch the image in Gimp, giving it a 4096x4096 resolution. 2K is also possible, just give it the 2048x2048 resolution. The reason to choose for this is that it just appears more detailed. The higher the resolution, the more detailed (important for small details like decals or logo's) skin. The downside to this is that (I speak from experience) your saved Gimp file (not the exported image file but the saved templates) can go over 1GB per skin.

 

So personally I'd go with the 2K or just the regular resolution the template comes in, to practice/start with. 

 

Step 3 - Layers? Layers.
Once you've opened your template and (optionally) changed the resolution, you're able to start the texture! Please note that this step is VERY important if you want to be able to edit mistakes. In my personal experience, this is the most made mistake in the skin making business. 
So you've got your texture file in Gimp, but there is this one step you need to take before you can start. You'll notice that (if you didn't close it :-P) there is a 'Layers' window. (If you've accidentally closed it, no worries, click Windows->Dockable Dialogs->Layers, or simply press ctrl+L). Here you'll see your template image. 

Create a new Layer by right clicking in the layers window and clicking 'New Layer'. This has to be the same resolution as your template image. In the 'Layer Fill Type', select White. 

 

Now the reason that you just created a new Layer, is that you want to make a new skin, and not edit the template. If you edit the template, every stripe and color in the template will appear on the vehicle in game. You don't want that. You want the stripes/colors/logos/whatever the heck you want on your vehicle. That's why we just created a blank overlapping layer, on which we'll edit the skin.

 

Step 4 - Making the layer editable

No worries now, I know that your whole Gimp screen is white. That's because the opacity of the layer is 100. We'll change that to around 30%. You can also make this 10%, 0% or whatever you find easy to use. The important part is that you can see what you are editing. 

Okay, let's imagine a scenario here. You want to make a difference and think that a pink police car is awesome. No offense, if it gets you happy I'll download it and use it for a day, but that aside, you want a pink car, period. 
That's alright, but you have just made a white layer. 
Step 4.1 - Creating the template color

Really, we can give this job to the kids in kindergarten, this is the easiest step of the whole guide. In the toolbox - the other window that is open - you'll choose the little bucket. (You closed that too? Silly. Go to Windows->Dockable Dialogs again and select the 'Toolbox'). Next, click on the two colors just a little below that bucket, and select the color you want. Pink in our situation. (Don't complain, you wanted a pink car.) Make sure that your newly created layer is selected (Which is again VERY important, you don't want to temper with the template file, as it won't be visible in our car), and just bucket fill the whole thing in your preferred color. 
Step 4.2 - A little insider's tip

What I always do, is create a new layer for every single part I edit. I.e. a layer for the right side of the car, a layer for the top, a special unit number layer. This comes in useful when you want to change a little thing. Also, it makes it easier to find things that you're looking for. Editing is all about structure and logic.

 

Step 5 - It's time...

Oh yes. Here we go. We're making our skin. Choose a point that you want to start with, let's say the right side of the car. If you've got a very creative mind and a good idea, you can, of course, do it from your head, but most of the people that make a skin use a picture of a real police car to base their skin on. So let's look at our picture or look deep into our minds on what it is that we actually want. Good luck making the skin!

Step 5.1 - Folders to organize all of our work

Let's suppose that you want to make a vehicle that has a number written on it. Of course, you can create text with Gimp, just click the little 'A' in the toolbox. But another small tip that I've got for you is naming it. Just edit the name of the layer in your layers window. Also, you can create folders in your Layers window. This is especially nice to put all the text in. Right click in the layers window, and click 'New Layer Group'. Here you can put all your text in, which if you're making a detailed skin, floods your Layers window. 

 

Step 6 - You done yet?

This is taking forever man, speed it up a little. I'm joking, of course. A nice skin often takes hours sometimes days to make. But for a start (or if you are a talent) 30 minutes will do. If you actually are done, let's finish this thing!

Step 6.1 - Let's save things

Saving is important, let's be completely honest here. How many times you had a project that you worked all night on and it was gone because your laptop ran out of power? Or your PC decided to stall on you? No? Never? Me neither, I guess I watch too many series.
But; back to work. We're saving, mate. I think you might be familiar, but if you're not, press ctrl+s to save. (I know, revolutionary, right?)

Saving the Gimp file in its own extension will make sure that you can edit everything that has to do with layers. If you just export the file to an image file, the layers are gone. So I'd say, save it as a Gimp file AND export it when you're done.

Step 6.2 - Preparing the export

First of all, you are going to want to make sure that your template is not visible. You can either do this by clicking the template layer and setting the opacity to 0% or making sure it's under all the other layers. If you did this, make sure all the layers that you want to be visible on the car, are at 100% opacity. You did this? Awesome! Let's export this thing!
Step 6.3 - Ready for testing!

Exporting. You've GOT TO export the file to make sure it's usable on a car in the game. Click 'File->Export As' and make sure you save it as a PNG FILE. Jpeg's won't work. save it somewhere that you can find it back, not in the deepest roots of your documents. 

 

Step 7 - Installing the skin on your car

Open your RPF file that your car is installed on. If you don't know what I mean by RPF, or don't know how to use OpenIV, look up a tutorial on google on how to install car mods in GTA V. Go to the car ytd file. We're taking the Police slot as an example. So we're going to the police.ytd file. Open it, and find the image named {this varies)_sign_{sometimes a number}. Click 'replace' in the top of the window, and choose your skin. Click save, and press Ctrl+Shift+R (Or find the defragment option somewhere in OpenIV). Defragment it, and launch GTA V

 

Step 8 - Lemme see it!

Allright. We're in GTA V now, welcome. Spawn the car that you installed your skin on. (So we're spawning the Police car), and enjoy your livery! If you see another skin on the car, or no skin at all, go to your trainer and find the Car Livery Menu. You can cycle between different skins there. 

 

So yeah, that's basically it. You had a short question; here is your 8000+ length tutorial. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know :-)

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Daniel

Wow.. i mean that is great... but i already have made plenty of skins.. i need to make templates for my own car models that I MAKE through zmodler3... sorry

4 minutes ago, GiveIt110Percnt said:

Wow.. i mean that is great... but i already have made plenty of skins.. i need to make templates for my own car models that I MAKE through zmodler3... sorry

Haha, whoops, I think I misunderstood your question. I have absolutely no idea how to use zmodler, sorry haha

NO NO, its fine really! you did an AMAZING job! i hope plenty of other people see it!

4 minutes ago, GiveIt110Percnt said:

NO NO, its fine really! you did an AMAZING job! i hope plenty of other people see it!

Haha, thanks mate. I posted it on the tutorials forum too, because I was halfway writing this tutorial and  thought that more people could use it :P

Amazing job my friend!

11 minutes ago, BlackNoise said:

Haha, thanks mate. I posted it on the tutorials forum too, because I was halfway writing this tutorial and  thought that more people could use it :P

Hey also can you download anything off of lcpdfr.com right now? because i cant and not sure if this is just me or everyone else...

29 minutes ago, GiveIt110Percnt said:

Amazing job my friend!

Hey also can you download anything off of lcpdfr.com right now? because i cant and not sure if this is just me or everyone else...

 

That's right, me neither. Seems like the website is still under attack...