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Skin guide!


YukiSenoue

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So you wanna make some skins, uh? Well, I'll teach everything I know! I'll not say that I'm some sort of texture master because I'm not, I just know how to use the tools.

0 - How to Open DDS files

Get DDS extensions for Adobe Photoshop or GIMP in the downloads section
Then it is just a matter of opening the file like normal.

0.1 - How to save a DDS File

When you try to save a DDS File you'll be greeted by a dialog box full of options. Don't worry, that's why I'm here.

The most important is the drop down list.

bPEKsNV.png

PSO just use the first 4 options.

- DXT1 RGB 4 bpp | no alpha - if the format of the texture is 06XX and the texture doesn't have an alpha layer ("Alpha" has a "No" value in Texture Manager)
- DXT1 ARGB 4 bpp | 1 bit alpha - if the format of the texture is 06XX and the texture owns an alpha layer ("Alpha" has a "Yes" value in Texture Manager)
- DXT3 ARGB 8 bpp | explicit alpha - if the format of the texture is 07XX.
- DXT5 ARGB 8 bpp | interpolated alpha - few textures use this format (Agastya, From the Depth, Zero Divide). To use if the format of the texture is 07XX and if the texture doesn't work fine in pso with explicit alpha.

Mip Maps are weird. I never had to generate them, 'cause I only skin characters and weapons, not scenery. So I just keep No Mip Maps all the time.

1 - Character Texture

Just boot up Texture Manager and choose one of the following files:
(File > Load)

plAtex.afs : HUmar
plBtex.afs : HUnewearl
plCtex.afs :HUcast
plDtex.afs : RAmar
plEtex.afs : RAcast
plFtex.afs : RAcaseal
plGtex.afs : FOmarl
plHtex.afs : FOnewm
plItex.afs : FOnewearl
plJtex.afs : HUcaseal
plKtex.afs : FOmar
plLtex.afs : RAmarl
plOtex.afs : Nurse
plPtex.afs : Hostess
plQtex.afs : Iréne
plRtex.afs : Momoka
plStex.afs : Elly
plTtex.afs : Flowen
plUtex.afs : Tails
plVtex.afs : Knuckles
plWtex.afs : Sonic
plXtex.afs : Red Ring Rico
plYtex.afs : Hooded guy



Then youll see a list of textures. Just select the one you want and

Texture > Export > DDS

You'll get a DDS file. Open it and edit.
When you're finished, select the texture you want to replace and

Texture > Import > DDS

There's it! Your texture is now inside the file. Click the diskette icon (Save) and its done!

2 - Weapon Texture

Step by Step Weapon/Shield/MAG skinning guide: http://www.phantasystaronline.net/forum/index.php/topic/23938-skin-guide/#entry133077




3 - Scenery Texture

Uh... I don't know anything about it. Check this link instead:

http://www.schtserv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=311

(Soly gave me permission to link to schtserv)

4 - Enemy Texture:

Uh... I don't know anything about it. Check this link instead:

http://www.schtserv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=297

(Soly gave me permission to link to schtserv)


5 - AFS Patching

You'll need AFS Explorer for it. Open the Itemtextureep4.afs with it:
File > Import AFS File

The program will give you a warning, click No.

Click there: Yg0Or2J.png

Then select the texture you want (remember the texture number in the list) and click create patch.

3tw0esk.png

Save it and distribute!

6 - Schthack Model Viewer

This dude right there gave me some headaches, but its pretty cool. No need to boot the game to test weapon skins! You'll need both Itemtextureep4.afs and Itemmodelep4.afs.

Open the files with AFSManager and extract both the texture and model. (Each in its respective file. Remember to check the list sometimes the texture number don't match with the model number!)

You'll get a file with a .bin extension. Use the PRSU.exe that comes with the model viewer. Extract both files. Change the extension of the model file to .xj and the extension of the texture file to .xvm. Now just open the Model Viewer and drag the .xj to the program window.
Dont forget to name both files the same name. Per example, 1.xj and 1.xvm.

7 - FAQ

Feel free to ask anything!

8 - Downloads

Adobe Photoshop DDS Plugin

GIMP DDS Plugin

AFS Explorer

AFS Manager

Texture Manager

I'll upload all the tools to this folder. If something is missing, just say!

Edit: 24/10/2015: new download link for DDS plugin for Photoshop
Edit: 5/5/2016 added new links for the tools as the link of Mega is dead and Cyane's fix didn't fix anything. Moved the plugins links to the downloads section too. Soly

Edited by Soly
Fixing fix of broken link
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Interesting!

Thanks for the guide, no idea if there has been anything like this before but looks pretty good.

Edit:

A quick check gave no result for anyone using dds (I used this myself the last time modifying something with GIMP) so I'll give it a sticky.

Edited by Soly
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F this forum, it doesn't let me post all the images I want. :onion-head76:

STEP BY STEP WEAPON/SHIELD/MAG SKINNING GUIDE

Soo.... First choose what you want to skin. I will skin the Custom Barrier v.00.

HERE IS THE MODEL&TEXTURE NUMBER GUIDE

Model & Texture List

Then, open itemtextureep4.afp (You can find it in Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst/data)

http://i.imgur.com/oeVsWGg.png

(of course I’m a smart bish and did a backup of it)
Look in the Model Texture list the number of Custom Barrier v.00 textures. It is number 404 in Itemtextureep4.afp.

http://i.imgur.com/LsDAmQO.png

Select the texture and go to Texture > Export > DDS

http://i.imgur.com/MtsNLDs.png

Save it in some folder, I dunno.

Open the DDS in Photoshop, GIMP, I dunno, and edit this sucker away:

http://i.imgur.com/gJOPK1N.png(got a cool texture in Google, hope the owner don’t get mad at me, I’m just showing how to edit the skin)

Some dumb editing later…

http://i.imgur.com/4aW3Rxg.png
When the shit is done, save it:

http://i.imgur.com/aG8KaV0.png

WHOA WHAT IS THIS SHIT

http://i.imgur.com/lKRRBUH.png

Well… do not panic, it is easier than you think. Remember this screen?

http://i.imgur.com/MtsNLDs.png

This is the important part:

http://i.imgur.com/dEEoOQz.png

Look: no mip maps, format: 600, Alpha: no

Then, following this guide here:

- DXT1 RGB 4 bpp | no alpha - if the format of the texture is 06XX and the texture doesn't have an alpha layer ("Alpha" has a "No" value in Texture Manager)
- DXT1 ARGB 4 bpp | 1 bit alpha - if the format of the texture is 06XX and the texture owns an alpha layer ("Alpha" has a "Yes" value in Texture Manager)
- DXT3 ARGB 8 bpp | explicit alpha - if the format of the texture is 07XX.
- DXT5 ARGB 8 bpp | interpolated alpha - few textures use this format (Agastya, From the Depth, Zero Divide). To use if the format of the texture is 07XX and if the texture doesn't work fine in pso with explicit alpha.

Sometimes you CAN put an alpha layer in a texture that doesn’t have it originally – I do it all the time – BUT THE GAME CAN CRASH! (It happens all the time with me lol) so try at your own risk.

So, in this texture, I select:
- DXT1 RGB 4 bpp | no alpha
- No Mip Maps

And save!

Go to texture manager again, Texture > Import > DDS

http://i.imgur.com/OVMPLyj.png

Select the texture you want to import.

When done…

http://i.imgur.com/5kVGJxx.png

To save…

http://i.imgur.com/MozMbZG.png

AFS! AFS!

Just put this AFS file in the data folder and you’re done!!

Edited by Soly
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Just a tease for the guide I'll be posting tomorrow:

NYZaUfJ.png

Using alpha layers you can make a "ghost" character (alpha 50%), you can "remove" parts of the model (look at his left arm - the shoulder is at 100% alpha, making it invisible).

I just wish someone could help me discovering from where that black part comes, so I could erase it

AW6J6Si.png

Edited by YukiSenoue
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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey!, this is a little update of my work, but im having issues with shields and mags skins, the kasami bracer skin works fine until the game randomly crash, then i log in again and the skin just dissapear for the old one, about the mag skin, i try with pioneer mag and didnt work at all, it crash with every DX except 1 no alpha, but when i try to see how it looks, no matters if i save the skins, this one it just looks like the old one.

7cIhOsH.jpgaHrEvhx.jpg8Jxj5yq.jpg

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Shit happened: Schtserv forum is dead, so the Scenery and Enemies guides are dead too. Heck, what should I do...? I don't know anything about both!

Good thing I saved the tools in a MEGA folder

I downloaded them too...

I'll see what I can find... ... nothing

Edited by Soly
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  • 5 months later...

Nope... we'll have to somehow make our own guides on those, if anyone has experience on it...

I haven't tried myself but would be good to do something random.

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