Okay, moving on from the color tests to try to get December's guide out while it's actually December. But I really need feedback on how things are going.
Right now I've rigged up the Saladin class (2245 version), for the guide. Please let me know what you think before I tackle the other ships...
If I were you I'd lighted that shadowing behind the text or remove it altogether. The relative contrast is so low, at first glance it just looks like fuzzy bold text.
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
At 100% magnification, the lines on the ship itself are rather fuzzy. Is there a way to adjust that? Even zooming in to, say, 125%, the ship itself still has a lot of artefacts... not sure if that's part of the PDF process or you ported over a JPG?
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
I think it's a PDF thing (same with the text), 'cause it doesn't look that on the source screen. I'll have to check the settings.
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
What is the source for this, anyways?
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Many sources, starting with the Technical Manual, Aridas's SFPO, Mr. Scott's Guide, ASDB, and others... (a complete bibliography is on Jaynz already, just not in the work sample here.)
Posted by Pensive's Wetness (Member # 1203) on :
*drools, impressed*
Sooooo, how does the Kelvin fit into all this...? Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
No no, I mean what is the source for the PDF. Like, what are you converting into PDF?
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Pensive> No idea about the Kelvin. There's been a lot of requests for her (or a Baton Rogue design thereof), but I'm really not sure how to fit her in. Definately would have to change the registry at least... but it may have to wait until the movie's out.
Fabrux > The images are PNGs (which were shown earlier) while the program I'm using is PDF Create. I just had to turn off loss compression again, since the bloody thing got reset.
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
Ah, that should fix it right up.
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Updated with the entirety of the ship catalog I was shooting for for December. I'm not 100 percent happy with the guide, but I'll leave as-is for now unless someone hits me later with something.
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Aft and ventral tests.
I'm really unhappy with the ventral windows, but I'm not really sure how to fix them at the moment, short of a CAD-like redraw of them. Of course, it may come to that...
there's nothing wrong with that pic. it looks fine (and very dead on) to me...
Posted by HerbShrump (Member # 1230) on :
I see what you're saying about the windows. What program are you using?
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Paint Shop Pro XI... which is a decent 'poor mans' tool, but I think I've hit it limits. It's a pixel basher, and good for what it does, but I'm noticing too many flaws in my work these days, from the font anti-aliasing, the rough edges, etc. I've got Canvas, thanks to Jackill, but I haven't mastered it yet. :S
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Endeavor Class, based on SFPO design Yeah, I know the caps are wrong, but I honestly think the stylized bussards work better with the design than the 'hatch-caps'.
(Half size for display...)
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vanguard: I've got Canvas, thanks to Jackill, but I haven't mastered it yet. :S
Thou shalt buy thyself Illustrator CS on ebay.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
I really can't stand illustrator, or anything adobe for that matter. I had to use it for a job recently (for which I was not paid, again!) and it took me two hours to do something that I could have done in ten minutes, had I been using PSP. The controls are so counter intuitive it's as if it's been intentionally designed to be more complicated than it really needs to be.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Really? I've always thought it was pretty user-friendly. Illustrator is my least favorite of the Creative Suite, but I find it handy, mostly for logos. Sometimes I'll do the basics in Ill. then copy/paste everything into Photoshop for finishing flair.
Guess it's just what you get used to.
Posted by Pensive's Wetness (Member # 1203) on :
i'll have to look at that saved page of side classes but the Phase II version of the Enterprise that will be shown in the next episode of ST:PII... what exact class is the Enterprise considered when it looks like This? (assuming that any ship that gets a major mod simular to others in it's original class)
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Well, hard to say. In general terms, the 'first ship of the class' is the class name, but that's generally colliqual. SO, if in Phase II, this 'updating' is the FIRST of the kind, she's the Enterprise class.
I personally had her as the Tikopai, but I'm revisiting the subclasses due to the insanely large number of ships born of Constitution stock.
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Bloch Class Research Cruiser Based on the USS Bakker from "Action of the Tiger"
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by Aban Rune:
quote:Originally posted by Vanguard: I've got Canvas, thanks to Jackill, but I haven't mastered it yet. :S
Thou shalt buy thyself Illustrator CS on ebay.
Fuck's sake- I'd give him a copy....
It's a nice take (Endeavor Class) but I really dont care for the angular bussard collectors- I think rounded is the way to go with those... Maybe translucent with some vague mechanical detail beneath the surface.
that linked-in phase 2 is great except for the silly blue bussard collectors (which only ever occur on the TOS RBOP).
Posted by The Ginger Beacon (Member # 1585) on :
And the Excelcior (sort of)?
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vanguard: I'm really unhappy with the ventral windows, but I'm not really sure how to fix them at the moment, short of a CAD-like redraw of them.
How to draw windows Step 1: On the side and front views, draw lines at the top and bottoms of the windows. Step 2: Draw lines to the top view from where the window lines intersect with the outline of the bridge. Step 3: On the top view, inset the bridge outline to meet the lines from step 2. Step 4: Draw windows within the inset bridge outlines.
If you’re a steely-eyed missile man, you’ll curve and slant the windows to follow the curves of the bridge.
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
That's actually what I did, Masao, on two attempts. The problem is the limitation of PSP, I think, which attempts to 'square off' anything pretty decisively, making them look MORE off than if I just copied in straight squares and rotated them.
It's probably the best argument yet for me to 'upgrade' my tools to something a little more professional, I guess.
Posted by Triton1 (Member # 2124) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vanguard: Bloch Class Research Cruiser Based on the USS Bakker from "Action of the Tiger"
Is "Action of the Tiger" a comic book? I like the design. Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
I think it's one of the DC comics from several years back, but the many different Trek comic lines blur to me. :S
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vanguard: That's actually what I did, Masao, on two attempts. The problem is the limitation of PSP, I think, which attempts to 'square off' anything pretty decisively, making them look MORE off than if I just copied in straight squares and rotated them.
It's probably the best argument yet for me to 'upgrade' my tools to something a little more professional, I guess.
The main problem is not the shape of the windows, it's their positions. Your inner row of windows on the top view are almost touching the bridge dome. If they were in that position, on the nearly horiztonal section of the dome, they'd be barely visible on the side view. Similarly, the lower windows on the side view are on the nearly vertical part of the dome and would thus be nearly invisible on the top view. That can't be the fault of PSP. I know you can draw these windows better, Vanguard!
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Oh, thought you meant the ventral ones. I'm afraid I got a little myopic there.
You mean the B-C decks are too high on the image, they're up in the roll-over bit. I see that now. I'll get on it in the mornin' then, once I recover. Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Don't you go bashing PSP! If I can make the windows and gridlines on this and this line up using pretty much the same technique as Masao demonstrated, then so can you!
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Yes Rev, but you're a witch.
Also, I'm stealing that bridge for an upcoming model. It's not theft, it's an homage.
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
Yeah, I've got a ways to go before I hit Rev's level of talent. I'm not jealous, really. *hides the pitchforks and torches*
I did tweak the windows again, crossing between measurements and eye-balling. Of course, with this tweaking, they're now more significantly off of FJ's work (which is where all this started), but that's okay, I guess. I don't think Karen will mind.
Posted by Vanguard (Member # 1780) on :
New Zealand Pearl Basically a piece of leftover art I didn't want to throw out... so, a TOS transport ship.
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vanguard: I did tweak the windows again, crossing between measurements and eye-balling.
Oh, man, don't eyeball! You'll be guaranteed to get it wrong every time. Learn how to construct your views correctly now and you'll be able to apply the methods easily in the future. I taught myself early on how to draw registry numbers and other details on curved surfaces and now don't have to rely on my untrustworthy eyeballs; I'm sure Harry and Reverend did the same thing. What separates great schematics from average schematics is the precision of details.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
That and rubbing cheetah blood on the mouse.
Posted by aridas (Member # 1051) on :
quote:Originally posted by Reverend: That and rubbing cheetah blood on the mouse.
I spitted my egg nog on that one.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Is that what they're calling it nowadays?
vanguard, that there transport resembles a certain FASA ship...Kawasaki Maru or something... Kinda looks good TOS-ified that way. I'm still uncertain what those fin-thingies do on that design but any design that's not a "saucer-and-blob-plus-nacelles" is a winner in my book.
hmmm...maybe the fins are landing struts? add some egress points at the bottom and I could totally see it.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
