nybt-forum-threads NYBT BAT Thread

[Jumpthefence 74]

[capslock] PAGE FLIP!!!1!!one!!1!1!!!!1!

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

The cornice is an ornate part of the facade (outer walls), usually at the top, but also at some other significant intervals. In this case, it is just that wide bit at the front. Oh, and I'm not changing the definition of flashing, it is just stuff that keeps the elements out of your walls, be it on top of the parapet walls, or in the wall/roof transition. In most BATs, flashing against a wall is far less obvious (I leave it out most of the time), but flashing on top of the walls is far more prominent and, thus, relevant.

The new bricks look pretty good, but you might want to make them a little smaller (I might have over estimated last time), try making them 25-50% smaller (don't quote me on that!). Also, lower the saturation of the bricks slightly, they are a little too vibrant now. Speaking of bricks, is the white one actually a brick texture? It looks like plaster in your render (which is odd to me). You could probably make that bitmap a little brighter too so it doesn't look so beige and dull). Anyhoo, you can add any fun details to the back, as long as the saturation is not as high as the "OBEY" sign you already put up. If you put something on the wall, you could then put little boxes or junk in front of it, so it isn't so bare.

I think the roof looks alright though.

[PBGV103 729]

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[Sgt Pepper 864]

Is the pageflip gone?

Well it's not much now, very incomplete and some stuff isn't final yet. If you haven't guessed yet, it's Main Place Tower in Buffalo New York. Now, I didn't say Manhattan only BATs when I started NYBT, now did I?

[Jumpthefence 74]

try making them 25-50% smallerquote>

You know the only reason I'm quoting you is because I was told not to. And if it makes any difference, I made it 22.875% smaller. I hope I don't get the flamey eyes smiley for not falling within the range...

Anywho, I'm tired, it's Friday, let's get this post done.

Ohh... the picture looks really clear! (Yes, Todd, I know it looks better. I used Print Screen, formatted it in Paint which I refuse to give up on, Ctrl+V into GIMP and saved there to surpass the anti-aliasing automatically used on JPEGs in Paint. Not that you would care... chances are you already have a method.)

So it turns out that I was using some brick texture on top of the plaster texture (starting when you told me it was, in fact, white brick and not plaster), but the brick wasn't dark enough to have any real impact at all. I revamped it and it looks a lot better now. The only trade-off is that the brick looks darker, so I did some low-tech lightening to even that out. Nonetheless, it looks better than what was basically plaster.

I messed with the brick texture, as I mentioned, and desaturated the bricks a bit.

Anyhoo, you can add any fun details to the backquote>

And I did! It was also a good excuse to go hiking through the woods to the Cold Spring commercial district to look at dumpsters! And other various items near back walls! Though I might have broken the rule of saturation for that one large ad on the right. Bright orange?!- Todd is not pleased! So I will most likely be fixing that. Tomorrow.

I finally got the roof accesses to look right! I eventually figured out that the "roof" of the "tower" should be the same or very similar to the actual roof texture. Though it looks a little funky on a side view, the front view looks good.

By the way Todd, I told someone at school about you (and your colorful commie coffee-loving sleep-deprived personality) and I guess you're somewhat fascinating to three or so people. Congrats, you're popular in a place you've never been to!

G'night y'all! Have a good weekend!

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

I'll bring out the rage face if you don't add some flashing to the tops top of the cornices... I'll do it! Don't tempt me!!!

The saturation on the graffiti is a little intense, but something else you could try is to reduce the opacity of their layer in GIMP, this will let more of the brick show through them, which would look better in SC4 then something really vibrant. Also, try making the white brick brighter ( I upped brightness, under "brightness and contrast"up by 40 in photoshop which looked good, I don't know if gimp has the same scale though), I also shifter the hue to be a tiny bit more pink too. It looks really green now (which is bad).

Things are looking much better. Also, glad to know people like me in where-ever-the-heck-you-are.

Edit: simcity4fan12: looking good! Try to bring out the details a little better with the  (textures). The shape is nice but it needs more life to it to make it seem like more than a box (I think).

[T Wrecks 10,209]

This is officially the funniest BAT thread these days.

But not only that, there's also some great progress to be seen whenever there's a new post. 

[Jumpthefence 74]

Originally posted by: T Wrecks

This is officially the funniest BAT thread these days.quote>

Did Dirk say that? O rly? Well, then, I guess it's not official!

The only reason this thread is funny is because there are so many Soviet jokes I can make, and Todd's just too tired to complain. And Todd's just a natural at saying stuff. Including jokes. And I shouldn't use sentence fragments... Really.

Alright, you know the drill.

I don't know exactly what to do with the cornices. I added flashing on the inner perimeter to the roof, but that's all I could derive of what you wanted. If there's more I need to do, which I'll guess there is, commence explaining.

I don't know if Photoshop and GIMP have the same scale, but I upped the brightness 40. So I'm going to quote you on that. As for the hue, I upped the magenta and red hues each 5, which is out of 128 (I think), so it's pretty slight. If I need to be more extreme, just say so. Besides, I don't want it to look green (although I didn't think it looked very green before... maybe Todd had some bad coffee... or maybe I'm just not seeing it).

For the graffiti and ad, I desaturated based on color (red and orange were affected the most) and edited the opacity bitmaps so that the white portions are now a bit darker, therefore making the graffiti more opaque.

When I go to the city tonight, I'll see if I can find any graffiti and take pictures to use in my models. After all, I support the local arts.

Brandon: I can't say much at this point, but it's coming together nicely! At the very least, you seem to have picked a nice building to model (IMO). Good luck with it!

Except doesn't NYBT shorten NYC BAT? That's what I thought when I made my avatar at that unmentionable website. Of course, you can use the excuse "there's an exception to every rule!". Though I don't think anyone's really going to care. A good BAT is accepted by the ST community, be it from NYC or Buffalo.

Y'all have a good day. And Todd, congrats on posting before midnight!

Edit: Oh, hey, I'm a Commoner now!

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Putin, The head sovietski himself? Egads, hand me another quart of coffee!

For the cornices, I was thinking something more like this:

You don't have to make them exactly like the rest of the flashing (that might look just as boring), but you can also be a little creative and make them not match each other/ the main roof texture. If you look back on bing maps you can see that they are completely covered like this.

The back looks really good now, it give a lot of interest without screaming it. Subtlety is king in BATing. The blue one on the side is still rather bright though. http://www.cgtextures.com has some really good graffiti, look under signs> big graffiti or tags. The problem for you is isolating the background and removing it so you can overlay it properly.

[Jumpthefence 74]

Originally posted by: SimHoTToDDy

Putin, The head sovietski himself? Egads, hand me another quart of coffee!quote>

Egads! Not a Sovietski! The only thing worse than that is... two Soviet skis!

"Gah! Drew! You make such terrible puns!"

Gimme two quarts of coffee, a surprisingly large number of sugar packets, then post a picture!

'Kay, here's the picture.

I added the flashing on the cornices, matching the colors up to that on Bing Maps. I also darkened the textures to compensate for the BAT lighting. How'd I do?

I also made some graffiti.... in the program... so far this weekend I haven't broken any laws... I don't think...

Anywho, I didn't know CG Textures did graffiti. I was using Google Images up until now, but CG Textures is several times better. I think I'll be all set for a while, considering they have over 400 images for graffiti.

Here's my method to separate the graffiti from the background:

• Copy and paste the image into Microsoft Word
• Set contrast to 100% and usually leave brightness alone
• Copy and paste into MS Paint
• Clean up any static in and around the image and round off any edges; basically make it look nice
• Copy and paste into GIMP
• Use color select tool and bucket fill tool to make any minority colors (often pink or green) white to blend in with the all white background or to create small amounts of static
• Using the same method, make some of the other colors black to blend in. What should be left is a white background, a black outline or fill of text, and a fill color for most, if not all the letters
• Using the fuzzy select tool and bucket fill tool, color the graffiti to your liking
• (optional or necessary) -Copy and paste into MS Paint, and buff out the edges, or add static with the spraybrush tool
• Sometimes this is the first point I'll save, but usually I'll save throughout the process

There you have it. And yes, I know you can do it better and faster with your better method. You don't earn college credits unless you do. Meanwhile I'm still trying to figure out if I should take Honors Algebra when I eventually get into high school. But I think I'm just rambling now because it's getting late...

Good night y'all!

Postscript: By the way, I got bored around noon, so I started on the geometry for 309 E 10th Street, which is in "Little Germany". To be honest, I didn't even know such a thing existed until I looked up neighborhoods of Manhattan on Wikipedia. I also learned there's such a thing as "Little Brazil", though there isn't a Wikipedia page for it. I found that interesting.

[PBGV103 729]

Wow the detail you've put into this is incredible!

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Two..

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Soviet...

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Skis?

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[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I have tried to work on the wall and roof textures on the Transportation Building and there is no success. If I post the Transportation Building again it will soon be exported and uploaded no question asked. Im just tired of the building, I have been working on it to long and im losing interest.

[nofunk 1,933]

I'm not following all the Soviet stuff, lol, but nice work on the BAT, Jumpthefence! I see a lot of great details!

[pckiller 1]

don't feel bad , I cannot even do what you are doing. feel proud in what you have done.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Yes, Jumpthefence you are doing a great job, the details are great.

[Gwail 52]

Aaron, don't give up ! Take a break, next take a deep breath and post what you've got. I'm pretty sure we'll be able to make it up together. Take a look, how does Todd train JTF and what is the progress. Your building is worth every sweat dropped .

[Jumpthefence 74]

Sorry 'bout my lack of posting for the last three whole days. Midterms, essays, notes, RL, you know how it is!

Originally posted by: nofunk

I'm not following all the Soviet stuff, lol, but nice work on the BAT, Jumpthefence! I see a lot of great details!quote>

Nolan, if you don't mind first names: You don't have to follow the jokes, I just make them up on the spot. As for the actual reason you're here...the BATs...I'm glad you like 'em! You Barry Sanders Project guys are pretty notable BATers, so it's good to hear that you like the work we're doing here at NYBT. BTW, are you in college? You post at a pretty reasonable time for your time zone. Compared to Todd. Although I guess it's his prerogative.

Aaron: It's certainly understandable, and it's happened countless times to me as well. Times change, maybe now you're not as attracted to something as you previously were. If you're still willing to pursue the Transportation Building, that's what we're here for, and you've got our support. Personally, I think it was looking good.

Paul, if you don't mind [first names] as well: Well, I'm glad you like it, too!

Todd: I still don't know what a Sovietski is. Was someone fail-ish-ly trying to make Soviets cute or less intimidating during the 1980s or something? Anyway, what do you think of the models? I'm going to work on 109 Mott St some, but if you like 129, I'll export it. Also, I added some generic graffiti to the back of 112 Mott Street, just because I felt like it and t'was looking bland.

Gwail (lacking name) : Well, Todd did do a pretty good job. Just my opinion. And as for the building, I'm glad you like it! That seems to be the general concensus, so hopefully I'll render it soon. As for me actually sweating while making it, I think you're a little inaccurate.

But whatever. I've broken, like 16 copyright laws on this forum, haven't I?

I'm not going to be able to post this weekend (at least, not progress) as I will be in Boston, competing in this state math competition thing. I'll be in the city from early Friday afternoon to Saturday, I think. 'Gonna go show Eastern Massachusetts (including Kryptowhite) how awesome Western Mass is! So I'll probably upload these Little Italy Shops after the weekend, instead of jamming it down your throat now. I won't give an actual timeframe at the moment.

So I'll see y'all later. Have a good day!

[Vlasky 1,803]

 Well, finally I'm working on a BAT for NYBT. It's still in progress, and lots of modding left to do. But as the texturing part is the thing that concerns me the most. A lot of work is ahead of me, but can anyone guess which building is this?

[Sgt Pepper 864]

@JTF- I believe you have broken more than 16 copy right laws...haha PLEASE BREAK MORE!!! I can't wait to have your BATs in my city.

@Vlasky- Good to see ya back! Hmm...I think it's a modern building based on what you have so far...shape seems familar...Is it in Lower Manhattan or Midtown? Or anywhere else like Harlem or Chelsea? Or out of the city? Hint please.

I haven't worked on much NYBT stuff ya'll sorry, I'm kinda in a creative flow with other stuff. I'll see about getting back to Main Place Tower and 160 to 170 Water Street soon.

[Vlasky 1,803]

The game is on. Hint: 1932 building outside of NYC, in the state of NY, but close to it. It is considered one of Art Deco finest examples.

[pckiller 1]

don't look at me for a guess, I am a d u m truck driver LOL

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

As Aaron try to guess what the name of building is, he thinks ,thinks and thinks, but still can't think of an anwser, so Aaron said. " this is really tuff, what is the name of the building Vlasky".

[Jumpthefence 74]

Okay, I'm back from Boston. Kryptowhite/Al has a nice city, although the trip wasn't exactly perfect. For one, I didn't win, but the people who did are a helluva lot smarter than I am. Second, the Prudential Center, then the John Hancock Center gave me vertigo on the way into the city. Third, your transportation system, between the T, Big Dig, and Mass Turnpike were too much to handle. And finally, I couldn't sleep well. The hotel had some form of emergency service going by every half hour, and the college kids next door kept slamming doors. Yet believe it or not, it was a good trip and I fully enjoyed it. It's just you can tell by my sob story that I'm not cut out for the city.

Oh, and I celebrated my 1st anniversary on Simtropolis yesterday. Dang, it's been a whole year?!

Vlasky: At first I thought it was Radio City Music Hall, but I guess not. I even searched "built in 1932 New York art deco building", but all I got was a list. Maybe as you reveal more I'll be able to get it. Just don't tell us! We'll slowly figure it out!

Well, Todd must be hibernating or taking exams or just busy with RL, so I'll just post now.

I told you I was going to do stuff to 109 Mott St, and this is what.

Ever since I more or less "discovered" and back windows of the building on Bing Maps, I decided to revise them. I also kept a little sticky note on my desk of what Todd said about "subtlety is key in BATing". So with that in mind, how'd I do? I haven't yet done back nitemapping and window variation int the back, nor have I darkened the edges of the roof textures or desaturated/darkened the bright red brick, two things that I wanted to get done tonight. I know there's a lot of people who want me to just upload them (including myself), but if you hold out for a little bit longer, the kickass factor on these could be, like, 15. So keep waiting!

By the way, Todd, tell Jason he did a good job with that brick-making tutorial he did. I've been able to use it a whole mess of times in the past few weeks!

Alright, have a good week y'all!

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Russian Bear enjoys your improvements.

You are applying what you have learned, always nice to see. I'll have to wait untill I re-install PS before I can compare it in game, but I think it looks pretty damn good. The graffiti is especially well balanced.

Oh, and sovietski is a bastardized method of spelling  "?????????" (sovetskikh, or soviet) in English, mixing the pronunciations of both languages in the most stereotypical way possible. lol.

Edit: this forum really needs to support Cyrillic fonts.

[Jumpthefence 74]

Todd, I don't think I'll be able to "bear" any more puns! Oh noes! There's another one!

Change the subject! With a picture!

What's there to say? All I did was mess with the saturation on the bright red brick one and play with the roof texture by adding blending-out grime around the edges. It's not much, but the details are what make a good BAT.

You didn't suggest anything else for the current models, so I'm going to make some geometry for the next pack, Little Germany that is. Sorry, but they didn't have a Little Soviet Union or a Little Russia for me to do. And anyways, you can't make Russia "little". It's too damn large to start with.

I'm also playing around with custom query sounds, thanks to the indirect help from Pegasus. I haven't done it successfully yet, but a little more work and I think I can get it. How hard could it be- (Famous last words, I have a strong feeling this will take a number of tries). With any luck, I'll put the Italian National Anthem on the Little Italy Shops you've seen. Then the kickass factor on these will be, like, 27! Or something.

I think that's all I have to say. I'll probably just stop talking and go to sleep. Good night, and have a good Tuesday y'all!

[Triforceseek 2]

Dayuuuuumm, those look friggin amazing. i live close to the city, i should go to the guys who own those restaurants and tell em whatcha doin

[gutterclub 2,729]

It's great to have followed these and see how much they have improved. I'm not technician but from an untrained eye them have improved ten fold. Looking forward to seeing them in game.

[_Atticus 10]

I've been following your progress for some time and I'm very impressed. You have come a long way and your models are excellent, especially with all the details such as the graffiti. Since the beginning, though something about your models bothered me, and I just realized what it is. I think your models are great but lack a bit of character. They are too boxy and square in my opinion. Maybe you could make more prominent cornices, or recess the windows or add an addition on the back. You get the idea. Anyways, there are my two cents. Don't get me wrong though, I love your stuff, I just feel I could love it even more if you added more variation to them.

-Pingangster

[Triforceseek 2]

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