Becca at BAT

[RebaLynnTS]

Only reason I thought about it, was there is a place here in Atlanta, that has them

[jmyers2043]

I think the only thing the MSS lacks is some grime, and dirt, and I have an idea on how to to that so

How to make grime? Well, you can always spend a lot of time searching the internet for a picture of some metal that has grime on it or you can make your own using Paint Shop.

The picture below upper left is a picture of some metal siding. I got it from a web site that sells metal siding. I added a 20% gradient to it. This means that the lower part of the wall is slightly darker than the upper part. See the RGB values (red,green,blue) of the metal? R=203,G=191, and B=255. Those are the three primary colors. These RGB values will have lower numbers near the bottom of the image. My rule of thumb about gradients is that 'less is more'. I want the casual player to preceive something is there but I don't want to smack them between the eyes with my gradient either. By the way - I put gradients on almost everything. Including brick but I digress.

Step one - prep work



The upper right image is a picture that I grabbed from a model rail road site. It is suppose be a material used to make rail way water towers. I like all the streaks. And I guess you are looking from grime that appears to be like dirt splashed up from the ground after some rain. So ... lower image I copied and pasted a small section of the texture, turned it upside down, used the eraser tool to get rid of all the ribs, then applied a wind distortion affect to it to blend or smooth it out a bit. I now have the two images needed to make a metal wall with grime.


Step Two - layers


The next thing to do is to layer the grime over the siding. I know Paint Shop 6 can do this. I can't give you the exact 'clicks' because I have Paint Shop X. You may have to F1 for help.  Basically you highlight the grime picture, and click edit, then copy. Then you highlight the siding picture and click edit, then paste. The grime will now be superimposed over the top of the siding. To the right hand side of the picture you see (1) the base layer of metal (2) the grime layer (3) and the blend tool. Grab the blend tool slider move it back and forth until you have the desired affect. You can see that I selected 'burn' and layered it over the siding at 30% opacity. This is the part that is truely trial and error. You'll know what you want but will sometimes have to fiddle until you get it right. No art degree needed just some practice makes perfect.

Good Luck.

[RebaLynnTS]

Jim

Thank you very much. I plan on doing 2 seperate versions, one that looks new, and one that looks weathered. If I can figure out how to do it, I might just include a patch that converts from new to weathered. If I am right it should be a simple matter of having a patch with different model numbers.

Anyway, this information will prove very useful.

[RebaLynnTS]

MSS - Biege and Red - New:

Still need a few props on the lots, and some fence lots, but getting closer.

[Pat]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaum Becca that is looking real sweet!!!

[RebaLynnTS]

Here is an update on the LAR ... Darkened textures. Still need to add some details, but you get the idea.

[threestooges]

The MSS models are really coming along. With props (fences, cars, etc) the lot should really come alive. The LAR looks pretty good too. A little river junk should do nicely there, but I'm sure you've already planned something out. Good work so far on all of it.

[xxdita]

The LAR is looking good! Don't forget that people also park their boats, RV's, and other vehicles at storage centers as well, so some of that would finish off the lot nicely.

[RebaLynnTS]

I have a question about LAR. Since the NAM is designed to work at 15 meters, I was considering, redesigning the LAR to work at that depth as well, any thoughts?

[SC4BOY]

I'd go weith what looks "real" or looks good.. be nice if it matched some standard "digger lot" depth, but there are many to choose from.. just make it clear in the instructions.

[Pat]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet Nibbblets there Becca that is sooo much wonderful with the darken textures and the water seems alot better as well!!!

[RebaLynnTS]

OK, keeping the 12 meter depth (which is the one for the ground highway digger).

[RebaLynnTS]

A new photo of the LAR with NAM support.

[threestooges]

Now that is cool. It look like a very clean transition with the NAM pieces and that slight hump is dead on with some of the bridges around the Santa Ana River near me.

[RebaLynnTS]

Threestooges: Thank you very much.

I have added some trash ...

[RebaLynnTS]

MSS Update:

Not only can your SIMs store their stuff, but you can say anything you like

(I know, too many light posts, going to fix that)

[rooker1]

If you don't mind my two cents, I have some suggestions.

I have one of these by my house and my brother stores some of his stuff there now.
The one we go to has an office in the front with only about four parking spaces, I think this is because you are aloud to drive your vehicle in and around the lot.  I would also suggest adding more parked items.  Maybe some timed trucks to make the illusion of people moving thier stuff in and out.
Just some ideas.
Robin 

[RebaLynnTS]

Thank you Robin ... Just to let you know. I did three different types of offices, so you can mix and match. I'm still working on more small props for the set, and want to include a lot with rental trucks, as well as timed trucks.

I've been reading up on timed props, but can't seem to get them to work right, but I am sure I'll get it sooner or later.

(Each parking lot is a seperate lot, so you can mix and match those too.)

Please keep up the comments. I want these to be right when I release them.

[Pat]

Becca you are truely magnificant here WOW!!! LAR is looking real dirty lol bad bun.... The MSS is coming along real sweet IMHO... Cant wait to see what you do next!!!

[RebaLynnTS]

Thank you ver much Pat.

LAR Update .... is that graffiti?



This is just a test to see if I could get it to work, now I need to improve them.