1. Paint Shop Pro tools

Finding the tools in Paint Shop Pro and what they do can be a difficult task as there are a lot of tools available. Some of which are very useful in reskinning and others have no use at all. Below is listed all of the tools on the main Toolbar

	---------Arrow
	---------Zoom
	---------Deformation
	---------Crop
	---------Move
	---------Selection
	---------Free Hand
	---------Magic Wand
	---------Dropper
	---------Paint Brush
	---------Clone Brush
	---------Color Replacer
	---------Retouch
	---------Scratch Remover
	---------Eraser
	---------Picture Tube
	---------Air Brush
	---------Flood Fill
	---------Text
	---------Draw
	---------Preset Shapes
	---------Object Selector

2. Identifying what goes where

One of the most time consuming tasks in reskinning is finding what goes where especially if there are a lot of small textures or small areas mapped to one large texture. To simplify this proceedure I used the "Type" tool and typed a number on each section of the texture. Some items such as the sides and the roof are obvious as to where they are applied but other parts are not. I have created a numbered texture that can be downloaded here. NOTE: It can be used to replace the existing texture. References will be made throughout the tutorial to the numbers on this texture.

3. Images and resizing

The first thing we need to do is open the files from the BN-SD40-2_body up in Paint Shop Pro. As stated in the previous chapter the files that need to be edited are 6genSD40-2undec.tga and emdheaddetails.tga. Once you have them open we need to resize the 6genSD40-2undec.tga image to improve the effects on the final locomotive (Numbered texture is presized to 1024 x 1024) . Go to the "Image" menu and select "Resize". Type in 1024 in the width and height boxes of the "Pixel Size" setting. If you have the "Maintain Aspect Ratio" checkbox checked and set to 1:1 then Paint Shop Pro will automatically change the height when you modify the width.

4. Layers

Now that the files are opened in Paint Shop Pro we need to create a new layer. Near the top of the Paint Shop Pro screen you will see the "Layer Pallete". It should have one layer there already called the background layer (If you are using the numberred file then there will be two layers). At the top of the "Layer Pallete" you will see an icon similar to figure 2. Click on this icon to create a new layer called "Layer 1". In the window that appears you can type a name for the layer and you can specify "Blend Ranges", Opacity etc. Leave all settings at the default setting and click on OK. We are going to use this layer to create the impression of the door panels on the side of the locomotive. It is possible to create a similar effect using a transparent layer over the entire texture but getting the color right can be very time consuming. Also creating the initial layers means you can turn them off when doing any future reskins to show other details etc. You could also use different layer sets for different reskins thereby only requiring the one texture, however you should remember the more layers you use the more resources Paint Shop Pro will require to run

NOTE 1 More layers will not affect performance in Trainz.

NOTE 2 As soon as you add a layer to tga file you will only be able to save the file as a Paint Shop Pro PSP document. If you try to save the file as a TGA file you will be asked to flatten all layers.

Figure 1 Layer tab with background layer selected

Figure 2 New layer button

Figure 3 Layer Properties window

5. Color selection

Before we start drawing we need to select a color for the door panel outlines. To do this we need to select a color from the palette that we want to use on the final locomotive. For the example we are creating we need to select the 150.146.146 color. To do this left click on the "Foreground Solid Color" and a "Color" window will appear. In the groupbox "Current Color" to the left of the window you will see the names Red Green and Blue and this is where you need to type the three numbers for the outline grey. As you type each number the "New Color" box to the right of the cancel button should change color until after you have entered all three numbers it will show the grey. Once you have done this click on OK to return to the main Paint Shop Pro window.

Figure 4 Forground Solid Color

Figure 5 Color window

6. Creating lines with the Draw tool

Now that we have a new layer and a color selected, click on the "Draw" tool and in the "Tool Options" window change the settings of the "Draw" tool to "Single Line" and uncheck the "Anti-aliased" and "Create as Vector" checkbox and change the "Width" to 2 and draw a line over an existing line on the left side of the locomotive texture. Try to keep as close as possible to the original lines location. Repeat this procedure until all the panel and handle outlines on the left side of the locomotive have been covered by a new line on the second layer. Do not use this layer for the right side of the locomotive. Another option is to go to a web site and download line pictures of the locomotive and use the lines from the image. Sometimes the original author of the locomotive or rolling stock will suply the original Paint Shop Pro files in which case a lot of these steps can be skipped over.

7. Blending options

Once you have created the lines and you are happy with their location then we can add a blending option to give the appearance of a raised door surface in relation to the rest of the locomotive panneling. Open the layers tab and right click on the layer that you created the panel outlines on. Then in the menu that appears select "Blend Options..." and wait for the blend options window to appear. You will see an array of check boxes each of which creates a different effect. In the first screen we need to change the "Opacity" percentage to 47 and the "Fill Opacity" percentage to 54 This changes the opacity of the lines and you can customize it to suit your own preferences. For the door panels the effect we need to add is "Bevel and Emboss". Click on the "Bevel and Emboss" checkbox to add the effect and then click on the words "Bevel and Emboss" to open the setting. Change the "Style" to "Pillow Emboss", the "Technique" to "Chisel Soft". Change the "Depth" to 4%. Make sure the direction is "Up" and the "Size" is set to 3 and "Soften" is set to 2. Make sure the "Shadow Mode" is set to "Linear Light".. With the "Preview" checkbox on you can see the results of each change on the lines of the locomotive texture. Now you will see why we only did one side of the locomotive. By changing the "Shading" light source directions we can change the direction the lighting is coming from. As you can see with this texture the locomotive has been flattened from the top whereby the left and right side of the locomotive has been hinged out using the top as a base point. This is not the same for all locomotives. Some locomotives and rolling stock including all of my locomotives have the left side reversed to simplify texturing of the locomotive. As the locomotives left side is reversed the ideal light location for all sides is not from the top of the image so we have to create a different layer and layer effect with a different light source for each side of the locomotive. Change the light source for the right side to an "Angle" of 120 and an "Altitude" of 30 and then repeat the entire procedure, including creating another layer, for the left side but this time change the light source to an "Angle" of -120and an "Altitude" of 30 ensure you have the checkbox "Use Global Light" unchecked. NOTE These settings are a guide only. Personal preference will decide the final effect.

8. Pencil tool

Now that we have the handles and panel outlines created we need to paint over the original handles and panel outlines. Before we do this we need to draw a line from one end of the locomotive to the other as per the origianl loco. OT To do this we need to select a color from the palette that we want to use on the final locomotive. In this example we are creating the BN Locomotive with cascade green on the sides so we need to select the 001.139.061 color. Use the "Color Picker" window to select the Cascade Green. Now we need to select an appropriate tool to erase the original outlines. We need to change the sixth tool from the top on the right hand side. The default tool displayed by Paint Shop Pro is the "Brush". This tool is more useful for creating effects such as rust etc. The tool we require is the "Pencil" tool. Click on the small triangle on the bottom right of the "Brush" tool and a drop down menu showing all the available tools for that button will appear. Select the "Pencil" tool. Now we can use the tool as is or we customize it further by changing the shape of the pencil. As we are creating a locomotive texture whereby most areas are square and not rounded I suggest you change the shape to a square. To do this, underneath the layer menu you will see the word "Brush" followed by a box with a number in it and then another box with a small triangle in it. Select the triangle and the "Brush Preset Picker" should appear. Once open click on the triangle in a cirle pointing to the right and from the menu that appears select "Square Brushes" In the dialog that appears you can either replace the current brushes by clicking OK or you can add them to the existing brushes by clicking "Append" in this case I have selected replace (OK). You can change the brushed back to the default anytime by selecting "Reset Brushes" from the menu.

Now that we have the color selected and the correct brush we need to change back to the background layer. In the "Layers" tab right click on the "Background" layer and it will now be the current layer. While you are there you can also turn off the new layers you created to simplify the erasure of the existing oultines. To do this left click on the "Layer visibility icon" (eye) for each layer and the layer will be turned off. Now we can begin erasing the existing outlines on the lower side of the white lines we created earlier. Click over an outline and if the brush is too small or too large you can change the size by either typing or selecting the size from the "Brush Preset Picker" or by right clicking on the image and selecting or typing a brush size from the window that appears. Once you have the Cascade Green portion complete change the color to 000.051.034 which is BN Heritage Green and remove the panels above the white line.

9. Paint Bucket tool

Once you have erased the outlines of the panels and handles and you have a result similar to figure 8 we now need to use the "Paint Bucket" tool to color in the rest of the loco. You could also use the pencil tool to fil in the gaps but the Paint Bucket tool is quicker and is also a good tool to know how to use. Once again the "Paint Bucket" tool is not a default tool so we need to find the "Gradient Tool" which is the sixth from the top on the right hand side of the toolbox. Change the tool to the "Paint Bucket Tool" and then in the settings for the tool change the "Tolerance" to 20 and deselect the "Anti-Aliased" checkbox. Leave the "All Layers" checkbox unchecked. Once you have the tool set up then left click on the uncolored areas until you have a result similar to figure 10

10. Roof detail layer

Now that the sides of the locomotive are complete we need to create the detail for the roof of the locomotive. For the purpose of this tutorial I have used the same layer effects as the left side of the locomotive however this is not ideal and a better shadow effect can be used. I have also created another layer for the bolts and changed the "Direction" setting to "Down" which gives the bolts the appearance of being raised. Create a new layer and use the "Line Tool" to create a new overlay on the existing lines and then erase the existing lines with either the "Pencil Tool" or the "Paint Bucket" leaving the new layer visisble. Once you have completed the outlines expand the layers tab and right click on the left sides layer and select "Copy Layer Style" then right click on the new layer you created for the roof and select "Paste Layer Style". This will copy the layer effects from the first layer into the second layer. Repeat the proceedure for the bolts on the top of the loco on a new layer. Use the "Pencil Tool" set at two pixels square to create the bolts. Then repeat the proceedure to copy the layer style and change the "Direction" effects to "Down".

NOTE: Any combination of settings can be used and the combination will depend entirely upon the desired results.

Figure 11 Copying layer style

12. Rectangular Marquee and Brightness/Contrast

Save the texture again and click the reload button in TOE and you will notice the dynamic brake vents are too light in comparison to the rest of the body. There are several methods we can use to correct this. One method is to use the "Rectangular Marquee" tool to select the texture area and then darken the texture by the appropriate amount.

Select the "Rectangular Marquee" tool from the "Toolbox" (Top left tool) and left click near the top left edge of the number 50 texture. While holding down the left mouse button drag a rectangle over the area and release the mouse button. Now while holding down the "Shift" key repeat the proceedure for the number 51 texture area. Once you have both areas selected, go to the "Image" menu and expand the "Adjustments" submenu and then select "Brightness/Contrast..." In the window that opens type -85 into the "Brightness" box and -62 into the "Contrast" box.

13. Finishing touches

Now that you have the bulk of the texturing complete there are a few areas left to paint including the cabin. Use the same methods in the previous chapters to color the remianing texture areas. If in some areas the textures do not lign up correctly then adjust them up or down to suit. The handrail posts are all together in one area as are the grab iron textures. Take your time and create as many layers as you need to create the effects you require. Eventually you will end up with a result similar to figure 15

14. Conclusion

As you may have noticed in this tutorial there are many different ways to achieve the same or similar result. The desired end result is what will decide the method used to create a reskin. A good reskin cannot be rushed and takes time to get everything right.

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