Canvas Control surfaces

[Serval]

Yes, also a revealing text.
For the English: "Want some pleasure, sir?"

I guess you guys know that one, since it can be seen often enough at Duxford as well.

[Hunhunter]

I dont see the canvas HH... All i see is the girl...

Lol, no offense m8, but I always thought that the RAF was quite conservative regarding arts on their warplanes. Really surprised to see one that didnt, actually.

Hahaha!! You should have seen the other side!! Nah, it is not a standard marking. The plane was rebuilt in the States and the owners name was Sue (you did notice the codes on the side of the plane?? SU*E?? ) The painting on the tail was supposed to be Sue. Well, I met her once and she doesn't look much like the artwork, thats for sure The plane was operated by the OFMC at Duxford where it stayed for a few years before returning to the States. It also have the distinction of being the 1st single engined plane I ever flew in

[Macwan]

Hello everybody,

for your website... That's the first time I browse SimmersPaintshop forums... and now I am registered and logged in...

Erretje asked me some help on ubi.com and we already friendly discussed...
But I've seen this topic, so I just would like to add some of my latest attempts about 'canvas effects'.

As you, Serval and Adlabs, already explained how to realize a standard effect (with an excellent render), I just propose studying how to made canvas older, dirtier or repaired...

Of course, you don't need to apply this on every plane ! Hard conditions explains that situation and it is always better to find proving photographs.

...

[Macwan]

...
So, before the beginning, just suppose that :

-we can compile all the new layers with textures effects layers that Adlabs mentionned
-we have a good knowledge of our 2D graphic software main tools (PSP 7.0 in my case, and we do not need to have "professional" skills)
-we have already draw the main layers (see Serval and Adlabs advice) for a canvas effect.

Now, we can begin.

1. Drawing a 'reference' layer

We will try to reproduce a primitive grid that will to refer to the canvas fabrication process.
Its scale must be highier than what we could suppose for 1024x1024 skin for IL2/FB.
So, if we need whole wings canvas application, we have to create a 1500x700 blank layer (but if you think it's a bit complicated, let's work on a very smaller layer and then duplicate our result ).

a- you draw vertical lines (irregular, it's important), all very close from each other (pencil tool, 1 or 2 sized, full opacity, colour is black).
b- you extend vertically these lines thanks to the "Wind" plug-in or the "Directionnal blur" tool (high rates). Your lines mustn't be very spaced and quite long. If it's too short, apply your extend effect a second time. If lines are to spaced, copy and paste what you have done and just move your copy...
c- you center the lines in the layer and you duplicate the layer (in the 'Layer palette'). Now you rotate this new layer (90?). Just verify that the lines are long enough.
d-you merge the layers (and keep transparency background !). Copy and paste as a new picture the perfect grid area (should be quite big)... and save that effect file.

...

[Macwan]

...
Now we suppose that you have include that layer into you plane template, so :
-you have resized the former layer (by decreasing it's scale)
-you have well placed all the canvas parts and oriented everything (perpendicular application)

2. Applying a dirt effect (into the template)

(Make a copy of your new layer into your template)

We suppose, for example, that you want to reproduce an exhaust effect on canvas.

a- select your layer (lines colour is black, do not forget). create a 'mask' (hide everything mode). Edit that 'mask' and aplly white where you want an canvas dirt effect.
b- when it is done, apply a 'Gaussain blur' (among 4.00) and unedit the 'mask' (to come back into the "layer mode"). Now reduce your layer opacity... it's done.

3. Applying an old canvas effect
(seen on my latest Hawk81)

You just need the same basic layer, hence the importance of doing copies...

a- your lines colour is black... turn it to grey (not too light). Now add a new colour ('colorise' tool, I guess), which is very close to the french "Chamois"... just the canvas primary colour...
b- to make some parts of that layer appear, just use a 'mask' and proceed as we did in 2.a and 2.B ...


4. Repaired canvas effects

Now we don't use our "special layer" any more.
We'll just need 2 new layers...

a- New layer 1 : select the parts of the wing/rudder/fuselage where some canvas had bee repaired. Apply the 'Painting pot' tool (colour is quite like Dark Earth, full opacity). When you have finished, reduce the layer opacity...
b- New layer 2 : we will draw the small parts that join the repaired canvas with the rest of the canvas parts. Just draw it on the limits ('Paintbrush' tool, dark grey colour, full opacity). When it is finished, add a small 'Gaussian blur' (Max 2.00) and a 'Deformation' plug-in (rate is Max 55). Now reduce a little the layer opacity (between 50 and 85)...

Hope it helps,

Macwan.

[Serval]

Good story.
Could you support it with screenshots? I think it would be a very nice addition to the tutorial section.

This Deformation plug-in is it something you can download somewhere?

[Macwan]

Hello Serval,

I'll try to find a link for the plug-in... but it will be rather difficult for me to upload pics soon... maybe for the next two weeks...

Sincerly yours,

Macwan.

EDIT : OK, I've found the plug-in.

"Deformation" is its PSP name and "Ripple" its Photoshop name. If you don't already have this filter, you can download it here :

http://amouretfleurspsp.free.fr/filtres/Ripple.zip

Macwan.

[Serval]

Thanks
Take your time

[Erretje_1.JaVA]

Still haven't uploaded that P-40 skin , although I finished it weeks ago
shall do it this week I think

thanks for all the help, was really superb!
special thanks to Macwan