Home » MODDING HQ 1.13 » v1.13 General Development Talk » *Random generated Portraits* Updated Generator
*Random generated Portraits* Updated Generator[message #314394]
|
Sat, 19 January 2013 12:56
|
|
Rust_Knight |
|
Messages:76
Registered:June 2009 |
|
|
(Here is the link to the tutorial topic for the program)
http://www.ja-galaxy-forum.com/board/ubbthreads.php/topics/314786/Random_generated_Portraits_TUT.html#Post314786
Quote:DOWNLOAD CUSTOM VERSION (JA2 ready):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mj0llvm3jgnd35c/XichtE_JA2kit.rar
Quote:UPDATED EXE (Saves as PNG)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/psbqf4vr5fdwmw5/XichtEd_PNG.rar
The matter at hand today is simple.
Random generated portraits. And i mean the professional ones.
And these are the animations - there is some quality loss due to the video conversion (sorry, my fault) as you can see in contrast with the actual pictures.Also, didn't handle the frame sequence and looping too well, so some animations may seem screwy.
These upper portraits were created by me (through the generator) as trying to show some of the features: male, female, ape generator plus hats and torture marks. Two portrait was personally created while others were selected from a list of randomly generated portraits.
Here i want to show the color ability of the program, you can manipulate every color component, even more you have a random color button which changes colors randomly from a given set of list. In my perspective, just by playing with the random color button on a character changes the way it is expressed, and can also reflect age to a certain degree.
These sets of portraits were generated through preferences settings ( you can tell the generator what "piaces of facial characteristics, and clothoes to use) making this tool pretty easy to handle.
Here i tried to create a biker stereotype (i included lots of facial hair, excluded some "soft" facial characteristics, and added hats) so that every time you create a random character, a biker stereotype is created. I didn't work too much on it, but enough to understand for a demonstration of what you can do:
Police people, or whatever you would want to call them. Again, as the bike dudes, i just used some guide lines for the generator and then made him do 30 faces guided from preferences i selected.
And these are some prisoners/slaves portraits
These other portraits (the two links under) were generated randomly and posted as they are here.
To note that this is what the generator actually does when there are no rules set in what he uses to create faces. Mashes up colors, clothes, ethnical characteristics and so on.
Thou as i can see some hair pieces, head, eyes and so on are excluded from it so you'll have to set it manually. (by that i mean to select that component and increase the frequency it occurs on characters)
Here is a link to the portrait generator itself, for those interested in using it or seeing what it does. You'll find it quite flexible in editing, just explore the functions - further instructions on how to use i will gladly share, only ask.
http://www.mediafire.com/?thhvg6rjhhz4wk6
(There are some features that need explaining, but the most important heads up is, if you load female pack you can't save in a gallery of male portraits. If you load a gallery of male, and you have female selected, you will get an error. I guess i wasn't too clear on it, but you'll understand.)
TO note - Quality is a bit dimmer since i am not so good at manipulating screen shots and such.
- Also, looking back, i can see not all the hair types manage to get in for the girls, total hair types being 20 in number.
A list of features from the generator:
a) A lot of variations on portraits
THEY. ARE. HAND-DRAWN. - this is the most important feature of all, since 3d rand-gen portraits are abundant, this one is unique
c) ANIMATED - lips, eyebrows, eyes.
d) Male, female and ape generator.
e) Features like tortured face marks, glasses, hats.
Another option the generator has is an ethnic criteria, being able to choose between arab, american or russian facial characteristics, thou don't expect for changes too radical. (Biggest contrast is between americans and russians, there are differences in beards, eyes and so forth; also arabs looks pretty much like US soldiers because they are mixed mercenaries, some white some with darker skin color)
Now, i am not suggesting we modify the current portraits of course. But we could for example add them to the faceless soldiers or make a new category of random mercs to hire.
I did try to convert some portraits from AIM, but it turned out that the styles are just different thou close in some aspects. Another issues is the way characters are facing, some are frontal others are shown from different angles (the JA 2 portraits), while these portraits are only from a set angle, thus creating even more conflict of art.
At this point on, the only way i see it (as Thor correctly mentioned) is to make a mod that replaces all portraits in the game, IF that is humanly possible through coding - depending on the amount of work this could sum up to.
NOTE: The generator itself i talked about as for the artwork are NOT part of my work. The generator is created by STUCUK (forum administrator and patcher of Original War) as for the art itself being part of a game, Original War.
[Updated on: Fri, 16 February 2018 09:24] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
Corporal
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Attention to all - This could be big. *Random generated Portraits*[message #314399]
|
Sat, 19 January 2013 13:41
|
|
Rust_Knight |
|
Messages:76
Registered:June 2009 |
|
|
Several reasons.
If you guys answered so fast i would be more than pleased to get into a skype conference and discuss about it and take a look at it while your at it.
Will Pm you two my skype ID.
[Updated on: Sat, 19 January 2013 13:42] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
Corporal
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Attention to all - This could be big. *Random generated Portraits*[message #314404]
|
Sat, 19 January 2013 15:29
|
|
Rust_Knight |
|
Messages:76
Registered:June 2009 |
|
|
Thor your awesome yourself! was really nice talking to you.
Don't have many friends here on Ja2 forum, and am somewhat trapped in the new comer stage because i don't post that often, but i do read a lot, since 2009 or so.
As on topic, thing is merging this with the actual portraits may or may not be a reality.
I am aware that there is a delicate concept that is called quality, and merging two things of different origin may result in a general feeling of lack of tastes or quality for that matter.
In my opinion if these portraits are to be tuned by color (as color can be controlled entirely) and restrict some of the facial features it could align itself on the JA 2 close to perfection.
On the other hand, if there is at least one person who says that they don't fit, that means there are a lot more others and that is a no go for binding these two.
BUT as a mod, this would truly shine!
Even more, we could try and adapt the original portraits with the generator.
Report message to a moderator
|
Corporal
|
|
|
|
Re: Attention to all - This could be big. *Random generated Portraits*[message #314442]
|
Sun, 20 January 2013 17:33
|
|
Thor |
|
Messages:423
Registered:February 2007 Location: Belgium |
|
|
Like you said, we should definitely do something with it... And yes, the genereator by its own seems interesting even... I am very interested in using it. I'd suggest to make a few printscreens and post them here with Imageshack or something...
[Updated on: Sun, 20 January 2013 17:35] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
Master Sergeant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: *Random generated Portraits* UPDATED[message #314593]
|
Tue, 22 January 2013 17:16
|
|
Rust_Knight |
|
Messages:76
Registered:June 2009 |
|
|
They are good indeed but i am not the one responsible for them. I only want to promote the random generator (made by Stucuk, a forum administrator and patcher of Original War), the art itself is part of a game made by Altar, Original War.
Problem with it was that it was accused of being a starcraft clone and other complaints about voice acting. The outcome was that it was very limited in popularity and thus being already forgotten by many.
[Updated on: Tue, 22 January 2013 17:46] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
Corporal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: *Random generated Portraits* UPDATED[message #314684]
|
Thu, 24 January 2013 15:18
|
|
Rust_Knight |
|
Messages:76
Registered:June 2009 |
|
|
Ok, just talked with Shanga on skype.
The situation is complex and as Shanga correctly pointed out, first thing we need is a tutorial on how to use this program.
I will try my best and make one, in explaining how to use this editor, thou i myself have some troubles and questions with it. Online as far as i know there is no known guide for it.
The second big step is to call Stucuk and see if he wants to come over here and give us a hand, regarding in how to modify faces, add new characteristics and items. (since he's the one who compiled the program). So roughly to tell us how the files are compiled and how to aces them.
--------------------------------------------------------------
After that part three of the plan is to try and add facial characteristics from JA 2 (eyes, mouth - the head being edited by us) to the generator and make the blend in of it as smooth as possible.
I have some drawing experience along with my girlfriend, as odd as it sounds, we sort of like to draw stuff - but usually i am more object oriented while she has more experience in drawing faces, people, movement and so on.
So i'm thinking, we will edit some base faces ( i will show you in the upcoming tutorial what i mean by base face) through a tablet, and then try to get that new face (which should look like, per example, shadow's base head) colored up so it blends in with the other ones.
But part three is just an idea, i know it's pretty hard and a lot of work (the time to create the faces is not such a big deal, it's the research in how to do all this is).
What i've wished for now is to see weather anyone is interested in currently replacing the actual portraits with these ones. Also making another merc company to that has completley random mercs, cheap to hire.
So what i'm saying is: we can make a new mod for 1.13 OR/AND a new clever tool to generate new ja 2 faces randomly and with style.
[Updated on: Thu, 24 January 2013 15:23] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
Corporal
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: *Random generated Portraits* UPDATED[message #314688]
|
Thu, 24 January 2013 17:09
|
|
Rust_Knight |
|
Messages:76
Registered:June 2009 |
|
|
Posting portraits at that size can be visually disturbing.
I've noticed this, female cheeks are somewhat scarred, the one you used on the second one shows like it's a burn scar or something, although i know the art technician did not intend to make it look like that.
On the safe side it's pretty much ok, since you don't notice these at a reduced, normal, scale of the game.
But Shanga, what i'm aiming at is for modders to use this as an IN-GAME mechanic. Not a face generation tools to add preset faces into mods.
A cool feature would be to have professional FIXED set of mercenaries (with fixed portraits), and an alternative cheaper way of getting random generated mercenaries, much like MERC - of course cheap and dumb that you can skill up later.
And also random enemy faces, that you capture, talk to etc.
(since the capturing part is already in game)
[Updated on: Thu, 24 January 2013 17:13] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
Corporal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: *Random generated Portraits* UPDATED[message #314693]
|
Thu, 24 January 2013 17:47
|
|
Rust_Knight |
|
Messages:76
Registered:June 2009 |
|
|
Good point, also big succes!
You CAN import new characteristics they just need to be a BMP format and that's it...
Press the import button at the desired location (if you drew a face, then import it at the face category)
Manage to import new ears for example (crappy, test-ish ones)
All we would need now is just another category for accesories, piercings etc.
[Updated on: Thu, 24 January 2013 17:52] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
Corporal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: *Random generated Portraits* UPDATED - Added generator files[message #314730]
|
Fri, 25 January 2013 11:57
|
|
Shanga |
|
Messages:3482
Registered:January 2000 Location: Danubia |
|
|
Oh well, of course there had to be a poisoned half of the nice apple...
Here's the current problem. This generator is built specifically for Original War, an isometric game of faint resemblance to JA2, in the sense that you have a merc that has about the same sprite size and when talks it uses an animated face, much like JA2.
But there is where the similarities end, because what this editor produces aren't BMPs, but a sort of index file, much like our XMLs. Here's a look:
Quote:
GALLERY
PORTRET
PAK male
PORT_COMPONENTS
TYP POZADI
COMP pozadi1
BARVY D5D5AC 85 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 0
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP KRKY
COMP rek
BARVY 516DA2 96 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 0
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP OBLICEJE
COMP new
BARVY 516DA2 96 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 0
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP TVARE
COMP rek
BARVY 516DA2 96 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 0
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP OCI
COMP 003
BARVY 516DA2 96 D5D5AC 85 384663 85 808080 85
POSUN -1 5
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP NOSY
COMP kingdom
BARVY 516DA2 96 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 5
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP PUSY
COMP john
BARVY 516DA2 96 516DA2 96 384663 85 808080 85
POSUN 3 3
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP USI
COMP uch
BARVY 516DA2 96 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 -8
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP OBOCI
COMP rek
BARVY 516DA2 96 6A9BBF 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 0
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP VLASY
COMP thorgal
BARVY 6A9BBF 85 281718 85 366A8D 85 34799E 85
POSUN -4 1
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP VOUSY
COMP zadne
BARVY 6A9BBF 85 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 0
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP SATY
COMP USsnip1
BARVY D9C4AE 85 3F5855 100 6F8DB0 85 34799E 85
POSUN 7 -3
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP BRYLE
COMP zadne
BARVY 366A8D 85 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 0
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
TYP POPREDI
COMP "NONE! check color depth"
BARVY 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85 808080 85
POSUN 0 0
ROZESUN 0 0
END_OF_TYP
END_OF_PORT_COMPONENTS
END_OF_PORTRET
END_OF_GALLERY
END
This basically saves all the bits and pieces (read: layers) that compose the face itself, from background to beard, including their XY coords/displacement and all the color (barvy, in czech) variants it can have (hex-color + contrast setting + hex-color+contrast, etc). Now, for us that's not of much use, unless we could adapt it to JA2 structure and if JA2 had an image file structure externalised.
So unless a coder figures out a way to make it usable, it's a great tool for making and testing individual faces (saves you the trouble of assembling the STI and placing it ingame to test it). But nothing capable of replacing entire AIM rooster.
What bothers me most is that it's half open, half closed system and I can't figure out what type are the unreadable files. On one hand you have these XML like files and some BMPs. On another hand you have some files with no extension whatsover that look encrypted.
[Updated on: Fri, 25 January 2013 12:12] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
Re: *Random generated Portraits* UPDATED - Added generator files[message #314738]
|
Fri, 25 January 2013 13:26
|
|
Rust_Knight |
|
Messages:76
Registered:June 2009 |
|
|
ShangaA proper artist, with real skills, would transform this editor into the real jewel of the crown of JA2 gfx modding, I tell you. I played with it all day and I can't believe how detailed and easy to use it is.
One aspect I stumbled on was creating the bmps as an animation series. Since there's no info how to make that, I only played with static stuff. But even so...man... such a nice toy!
To give you an idea how cool this is, here's a version of Linx made with ONLY the built-in components. The glasses are an artist's touch
A personal touch:
(Color in recording gets a little messed up, but ingame it looks like the portrait)
Anyway, if someone would have really busted their heads to remake JA 2 portraits with this tool - i'm pretty sure they'd manage it somehow.
And if we could add new components to the existing ones, even better! From how i see it, if we manage to reproduce facial components of the current AIM characters and others, and add them to the generator so that they can fit with the others; our goal is done.
The most tricky part is i am not entirely capable with handling the editor in importing and making pieces fit. But i can support the hand drawn characteristics.
In my opinion there should be a coordonation between someone who can get a grip on the editor (be it in it's current state, or upgrading his code) and the one that creates the new art pieces.
[Updated on: Fri, 25 January 2013 13:45] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
|
Corporal
|
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Fri Mar 29 07:07:42 GMT+2 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02330 seconds
|