Well, since the last time I posted anything, my modding ambitions finally, FINALLY got to something I can in theory actually accomplish: Retexturing! Problem is I can't get GIMP to translate those ddps files into a form I can post here as an image. Mostly what I'm doing is restoring a few things to relative pristine condition. I'm taking the blood stains out of the female doctor's fatgues, just to make it on par with the male version, trying to take that horrible fade out of the back of the US General's coat, and repairing the cosmetic damage to the mark I reinforced helmet.
The problem or potential problem I'm running into is that my 'skills' with digital art are stuff more appropriate to MS Paint. I have no concept of how to think about how the shading of a outfit works when seen on an actual character. That is, my inclination is to find the most olive green color on the general's overcoat and paint the whole thing that color, but that would look wierd. Knowing that, I still don't know how to texture it properly.
I do have the hunch however, if I could do wholesale palette swaps, I'd do better to get the original Colonel autumn's overcoat and palette swap the colors. Or failing that, General Chase's overcoat, whichever is actually more pristine.
This is what I want to do as my first mod, and with pallete swaps I could do it in short order:
Create a US (senior) officer wardrobe using the LAZ overcoat and such as standardizedd uniform form for all branches, in keeping with the kitsch 1950's vibe, this one specifically to McNamara's standardization of most of the military's supply uniforms and logistics. This is how it would run:
1. Olive drab coat and tan uniform for the army, as seen in Lonesome Road
2. Olive drab coat and black uniform for the Marines
3. Navy Blue coat and white uniform for the Airforce
4. White coat and Navy Blue uniform for the Navy (which I think is in keeping with the Navy's traditional white officer's uniform)
5. Olive Drab coat and Navy Blue uniform for the Coast Guard.
6. Though already made, the Brown coat and Black uniform would have been standard for authorized paramilitary units, such as Enclave security, Border Patrol, etc.
7. I want to do a retexture of Oliver's cap which I need that great seal of the US in gold that I can cut and paste that in after taking the Gold Bear and Star out. But I can't make that great seal in gold. If someone knows where I can find one in existing mods, I'm all ears.
Can I get some help on this? If nothing else, a video tutorial telling me how to swap that kind of stuff out. I'm really excited but as my mentioned problems make clear, still a noob. Thanks!!