I am now at a point where feedback on what I have done so far would prove useful to me. However I really ought to explain what I am trying to achieve. My aim is to release a set of parts to enable the (reasonably) quick creation of designs for the front of shields. This is in contrast to my original purpose which was just to create a number (say 20 to 80 or so) of generic shields. What I now plan to do is to create 20 shields that can be used as the basis for a user to create their own shields by just creating their own designs that they place into a hak positioned above my hak.
So what have I got so far? 2604 separate graphics files of which more than half are finished. I have separated them into base shield designs and embellishments. The embellishments are completed. However just under half of the base shield designs are too narrow by between 6 and 8 pixels depending on their design. I will delineate which ones later in this post. I have divided the embellishments into 3 categories - types 1, 2 and 3. Type 1 are an extension of the base shield designs, type 2 are the normal pictorial devices (such as dragons, griffons, crossed keys and lions) while type 3 are runes for magic shields. Actually type 3 are sub-divided into arcane runes (2 separate types), Nordic runes and Roman numerals. In creating the embellishments, I have positioned the devices and runes so that, when used, they are positioned in such a way as to not need any adjustments.
I have made all these graphics files with just one simple free (and open source) graphics editing program in mind - the
Greenfish Icon Editor Pro (also
a portable version on portable apps). As all the images are 128 x 128 pixels in size and are in png format (small, visible as thumbnails and usable by gfie) it is IMO the obvious choice for getting pixel-perfect positioning.
Some thoughts on the use of the files. While it is blindingly obvious to me... The base shield textures are the bottom-most textures. Type 1 embellishments are the lowest (in any stack) of all embellishments. Type 2 and type 3 embellishments are mutually exclusive (either 1 or the other not both at the same time. Load all your chosen graphics for ashield design into gfie at once and then copy and paste whatever embellishments you are using nto the base shield design. One thing to note is that until you deselect a pasted graphic, you can move it around if you are desatisfied with the positioning I have given them. Once satisfied with the positioning, deselect that graphic. When you have made your shield design save it remembering to give it a unique filename - you don't want to overwrite the base images. Also don't forget to convert this image to tga if you are going to use it in game.
If you are pleased with what you come up with, why not post it here. If you have a graphic that you would like to use as an embellishment the remember to resize it to fit. An embellishment must not be more than 100 pixels wide or 75 pixels tall in order to fit comfortably within the borders of the shield design used here. Also it would be nice to post any such embellishments that you are pleased with, in this thread for others to use and for possible inclusion in this package when it is finally done and released.
Known problems - The base shield designs that are too narrow are 20 - 28 inclusive, 30 - 38 inclusive, 40 and 41. Which makes a total of 840 files to be edited so bear with me on those. While gunner was kind enough to make a model for me, I still have to look into how to go about making 20 odd shields for use in game. Furthermore ones that don't overwrite existing game assets.
Anyway, for anyone wishing to give the graphics a try, they are temporarily (until I post the finished article)
available via my dropbox here. (and
the palette image her, if needed). Note unless you want a large number of folders to suddenly appear, extract the 7z into its own folder.
BTW I have already realised that those embellishment will work fine for a flag making kit of parts but that comes later...
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TR
