Thread Tools
Old June 29, 2003, 08:40   #1
AJ Corp. The FAIR
Prince
 
AJ Corp. The FAIR's Avatar
 
Local Time: 05:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Antwerp (the pearl of Flanders) Belgium
Posts: 444
'Art of Picturing', tips for noobs
Looking at some beautiful picturing by many AU players (Catt and others), I'm wondering how to get them so clear myself. Maybe stupid question, but tips are appreciated. I use MS Paint from Win 98, but it doesn't seem to be very useful/flexible.

Thanks in advance ?

AJ
__________________
" Deal with me fairly and I'll allow you to breathe on ... for a while. Deal with me unfairly and your deeds shall be remembered and punished. Your last human remains will feed the vultures who circle in large numbers above the ruins of your once proud cities. "
- emperor level all time
- I'm back !!! (too...)
AJ Corp. The FAIR is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 13:07   #2
Catt
PtWDG Gathering StormApolyton University
King
 
Catt's Avatar
 
Local Time: 21:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: May 2002
Location: California - SF Bay Area
Posts: 2,120
vmxa1 once recommended to me, and I heartily recommend to you, irfanview.

www.irfanview.com

A great little free image capture and manipulation program (much better than paint for screenshots). Just capture your screenshot, paste it into the irfanview viewer, resize to 800 x 600 (one command), and save as a jpg.

If I need to cut and paste images together into a compilation, I do so in MS Paint, cutting and pasting from irfanview images since resizing in MS Paint distorts the images considerably.

Catt
Catt is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 14:32   #3
Konquest02
InterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG Vox ControliApolyton University
Prince
 
Konquest02's Avatar
 
Local Time: 23:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Physics Guy
Posts: 977
If you have Photoshop, use it. It's the most powerful thing around and it can do wonders to your screenshots... (especially compoilations). That is what I use all the time and I like it a lot
Konquest02 is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 16:07   #4
Rhothaerill
supporter
C4DG SarantiumPtWDG Vox ControliCivilization III Democracy GamePtWDG2 TabemonoInterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamCivilization III PBEMC3C IDG: Apolyton TeamApolyton Storywriters' GuildApolyton UniversityCivilization IV PBEMC4WDG Huygen's UnionC3CDG Euphorica
Emperor
 
Rhothaerill's Avatar
 
Local Time: 21:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Vincent is back!
Posts: 6,844
I guess I haven't been using Photoshop to its full extent then. I've never done any compilations or anything fun like GF and the others do. I've just used it to create the file format for screenshots and that's all.
Rhothaerill is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 16:34   #5
vmxa1
PtWDG Gathering StormC4DG Gathering Storm
Deity
 
vmxa1's Avatar
 
Local Time: 00:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Oviedo, Fl
Posts: 14,103
I recently got PS, but I have yet to figure how to use it. Just no time to play with it.
vmxa1 is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 21:05   #6
Konquest02
InterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG Vox ControliApolyton University
Prince
 
Konquest02's Avatar
 
Local Time: 23:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Physics Guy
Posts: 977
PS works upon the principle of layers, which are treated independently. You can edit/alter/add new layers without even touching the other ones. Once you get to know it, it's pretty powerful...

--Kon--
Konquest02 is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 21:10   #7
Konquest02
InterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG Vox ControliApolyton University
Prince
 
Konquest02's Avatar
 
Local Time: 23:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Physics Guy
Posts: 977
A quick guide to Photoshop (Part I)
When you capture a screenshot, you press the PrntScrn (or whatever it is) on your keyboard. Your image then goes in your clipboard.

When you open Photoshop, click on File/New... and the screen captured below will pop up. Select a resolution of 1024x768, which is the resolution Civ uses.

Then hit Ctrl-V or Edit/Paste to paste the image on your screenshot.
Attached Thumbnails:
Click image for larger version

Name:	ps1.jpg
Views:	213
Size:	86.5 KB
ID:	48818  
Konquest02 is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 21:23   #8
Konquest02
InterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG Vox ControliApolyton University
Prince
 
Konquest02's Avatar
 
Local Time: 23:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Physics Guy
Posts: 977
Part II
To resize the image in 800x600, go to Image/Image Size... and select a format of 800x600. The image will automatically resize. If you create a 800x600 file and then you paste your screenshot in it, the lower right part of it will be cut out, as in the example below.

In the screenshot, #1 is the crop image tool. Select it, drag the frame you want on your image then hit enter. The rest of the image will be cut out. Useful when you want to single out a detail

#2 is the type tool. Hit this, click where you want your text to appear in your image and then type. You can choose the font, size and color too.

#3 is the pencil tool. I used it to draw those amrvelous numbers.

#4 is your layer box. This of your image as a big sandwich. You're just piling things up. If you select the layer you want, and then use the move tool (#5), you can slide layers on top of each other., creating beautiful arrangements!

Don't be afraid to experiment. If you ahve done something wrong, you can go back in your history box (#6) or simply hit Ctrl-Z.
Attached Thumbnails:
Click image for larger version

Name:	ps2.jpg
Views:	208
Size:	120.8 KB
ID:	48819  
Konquest02 is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 21:26   #9
Konquest02
InterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG Vox ControliApolyton University
Prince
 
Konquest02's Avatar
 
Local Time: 23:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Physics Guy
Posts: 977
Part III
Photoshop cannot create .jpg images with layers. They have to be flattened first. To do so, go in Layer/Flatten Image. All of your layers will collapse into the background.

After doing that, you can go in File/Save As... and save your great montage.

Have fun with PS!

--Kon--

P.S. (No pun intended ) If you have any questions about this, I have followed a digital photography course based on Photoshop, so I might know the answer to your problem...
Konquest02 is offline  
Old June 29, 2003, 23:28   #10
Theseus
PtWDG Gathering StormApolyton UniversityApolytoners Hall of FameBtS Tri-LeagueC4DG Gathering StormApolyCon 06 Participants
Emperor
 
Theseus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 00:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The warmonger formerly known as rpodos. Gathering Storm!
Posts: 8,907
Is PS the best tool for full screen re-sizing? I've got all the usual suspects, plus irfanview, PS, and Corel PP.
__________________
The greatest delight for man is to inflict defeat on his enemies, to drive them before him, to see those dear to them with their faces bathed in tears, to bestride their horses, to crush in his arms their daughters and wives.

Duas uncias in puncta mortalis est.
Theseus is offline  
Old June 30, 2003, 06:57   #11
AJ Corp. The FAIR
Prince
 
AJ Corp. The FAIR's Avatar
 
Local Time: 05:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Antwerp (the pearl of Flanders) Belgium
Posts: 444
Thanks for all these useful inputs. I guess Photoshop isn't for free?

AJ
__________________
" Deal with me fairly and I'll allow you to breathe on ... for a while. Deal with me unfairly and your deeds shall be remembered and punished. Your last human remains will feed the vultures who circle in large numbers above the ruins of your once proud cities. "
- emperor level all time
- I'm back !!! (too...)
AJ Corp. The FAIR is offline  
Old June 30, 2003, 07:37   #12
FrustratedPoet
PtWDG Gathering Storm
Emperor
 
FrustratedPoet's Avatar
 
Local Time: 04:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
Quote:
Originally posted by AJ Corp. The FAIR
Thanks for all these useful inputs. I guess Photoshop isn't for free?
No Photoshop isn't free - there are various illegal ways of downloading it for free, but we aren't allowed to discuss them here.

However, a free (and legal) trial version of Paint Shop Pro - which is just as good as Photoshop for Civ purposes - is available from Jasc Software: http://www.jasc.com/

Irfanview should fulfill all your needs, though, and I recommend you use it (Catt posted a link).
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
FrustratedPoet is offline  
Old June 30, 2003, 07:40   #13
FrustratedPoet
PtWDG Gathering Storm
Emperor
 
FrustratedPoet's Avatar
 
Local Time: 04:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
Quote:
Originally posted by Theseus
Is PS the best tool for full screen re-sizing?
I find the Paint Shop Pro interface more intuitive, but the answer to your question is Yes.
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
FrustratedPoet is offline  
Old June 30, 2003, 21:55   #14
Konquest02
InterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG Vox ControliApolyton University
Prince
 
Konquest02's Avatar
 
Local Time: 23:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Physics Guy
Posts: 977
You can download for FREE, a great tool called The Gimp, which is basically Photoshop, running mostly for Linux. They also have a windows version which is FREE too.
Konquest02 is offline  
Old June 30, 2003, 21:59   #15
Theseus
PtWDG Gathering StormApolyton UniversityApolytoners Hall of FameBtS Tri-LeagueC4DG Gathering StormApolyCon 06 Participants
Emperor
 
Theseus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 00:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The warmonger formerly known as rpodos. Gathering Storm!
Posts: 8,907
I'm still not in love with the re-sizing in PS... any tips to make CivIII text more legible?
__________________
The greatest delight for man is to inflict defeat on his enemies, to drive them before him, to see those dear to them with their faces bathed in tears, to bestride their horses, to crush in his arms their daughters and wives.

Duas uncias in puncta mortalis est.
Theseus is offline  
Old July 1, 2003, 13:06   #16
Hueij
Emperor
 
Hueij's Avatar
 
Local Time: 06:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Kokonino Kounty
Posts: 4,263
Quote:
Originally posted by Theseus
I'm still not in love with the re-sizing in PS... any tips to make CivIII text more legible?
There is not much you can do about that. One thing that may help is sharpening the original image (Filter-->Sharpen) once or twice before resizing.

Oh, and something else, before you "Save for web", make sure to twiddle with the compression settings so your filesize will be as small as possible.

And finally, it isn't necessary to flatten the layers before exporting to jpg. If you don't it will be easier if you ever decide to edit your original image.
__________________
Within weeks they'll be re-opening the shipyards
And notifying the next of kin
Once again...
Hueij is offline  
Old July 1, 2003, 13:31   #17
TheArsenal
Apolyton University
Prince
 
TheArsenal's Avatar
 
Local Time: 21:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Sunny Southern California
Posts: 900
Delete. Responded to wrong thread
__________________
"Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription is ... more cow bell!"
TheArsenal is offline  
Old July 1, 2003, 20:42   #18
Konquest02
InterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG Vox ControliApolyton University
Prince
 
Konquest02's Avatar
 
Local Time: 23:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Physics Guy
Posts: 977
Quote:
Originally posted by Hueij
And finally, it isn't necessary to flatten the layers before exporting to jpg. If you don't it will be easier if you ever decide to edit your original image.
It isn't necessary, bur you will have to save the image as a copy of your photoshop file...

--Kon--
Konquest02 is offline  
Old July 2, 2003, 22:29   #19
Theseus
PtWDG Gathering StormApolyton UniversityApolytoners Hall of FameBtS Tri-LeagueC4DG Gathering StormApolyCon 06 Participants
Emperor
 
Theseus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 00:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The warmonger formerly known as rpodos. Gathering Storm!
Posts: 8,907
Kon, your screenshots using PS seem to come out somewhat better than mine, especially the text... what am I missing?
__________________
The greatest delight for man is to inflict defeat on his enemies, to drive them before him, to see those dear to them with their faces bathed in tears, to bestride their horses, to crush in his arms their daughters and wives.

Duas uncias in puncta mortalis est.
Theseus is offline  
Old July 3, 2003, 04:24   #20
FrustratedPoet
PtWDG Gathering Storm
Emperor
 
FrustratedPoet's Avatar
 
Local Time: 04:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
Is there an option to "Maintain aspect ratios" or something similar when you resize? If there is you'll need that turned on.
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
FrustratedPoet is offline  
Old July 3, 2003, 07:56   #21
FrustratedPoet
PtWDG Gathering Storm
Emperor
 
FrustratedPoet's Avatar
 
Local Time: 04:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
Theseus: If you have Windows XP you can turn on ClearType to get clearer text on your monitor. This might help the screenshots be a bit more readable.
Link: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/...pe/default.htm

Is it possible for you to post a "before" and "after" comparison of you re-sizing efforts? It might be possible to work out what the problem is from them.
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
FrustratedPoet is offline  
Old July 3, 2003, 16:41   #22
Konquest02
InterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamPtWDG Vox ControliApolyton University
Prince
 
Konquest02's Avatar
 
Local Time: 23:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Physics Guy
Posts: 977
Theseus: Try to adjust your compression level while saving your file in .jpg. A larger "quality number" (typically from 7-11) will make your image much clearer, but also heavier.

You can try running an unsharp mask on your image after resizing (Filter/Sharpen/Unsharp Mask...). Fiddle with the settings and get a clearer image. I have not done it on those screenshots but it does make a huge difference.

--Kon--
Konquest02 is offline  
Old July 3, 2003, 18:07   #23
Theseus
PtWDG Gathering StormApolyton UniversityApolytoners Hall of FameBtS Tri-LeagueC4DG Gathering StormApolyCon 06 Participants
Emperor
 
Theseus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 00:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The warmonger formerly known as rpodos. Gathering Storm!
Posts: 8,907
Thanks guys... I'll play around with those settings when I next do screenshots.
__________________
The greatest delight for man is to inflict defeat on his enemies, to drive them before him, to see those dear to them with their faces bathed in tears, to bestride their horses, to crush in his arms their daughters and wives.

Duas uncias in puncta mortalis est.
Theseus is offline  
Old July 10, 2003, 05:21   #24
Torkkeli
Civilization III Democracy Game
Warlord
 
Torkkeli's Avatar
 
Local Time: 06:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: in a bush near You.
Posts: 192
Re: A quick guide to Photoshop (Part I)
Quote:
Originally posted by Konquest02
When you capture a screenshot, you press the PrntScrn (or whatever it is) on your keyboard. Your image then goes in your clipboard.

When you open Photoshop, click on File/New... and the screen captured below will pop up. Select a resolution of 1024x768, which is the resolution Civ uses.

Then hit Ctrl-V or Edit/Paste to paste the image on your screenshot.
I belive PS automatically gives you the resolution equal to the image in the clipboard.
So no need to modify it.

And remember if you are using greater than 1024x768 resolution you can have Civ to use it too with keepres=1 in your civ.ini (or what ever it is called) file.
__________________
So many pedestrians, so little time
Torkkeli is offline  
Old July 12, 2003, 17:34   #25
Theseus
PtWDG Gathering StormApolyton UniversityApolytoners Hall of FameBtS Tri-LeagueC4DG Gathering StormApolyCon 06 Participants
Emperor
 
Theseus's Avatar
 
Local Time: 00:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The warmonger formerly known as rpodos. Gathering Storm!
Posts: 8,907
I can't seem to figure out how to get a new picture into the clipboard... I thought Windows just over-writes what's there?

And when I purge within PS, I can't get anything into the clipboard at all.

I've been closing PS after each shot, which is a huge PITA... any ideas?
__________________
The greatest delight for man is to inflict defeat on his enemies, to drive them before him, to see those dear to them with their faces bathed in tears, to bestride their horses, to crush in his arms their daughters and wives.

Duas uncias in puncta mortalis est.
Theseus is offline  
Old July 12, 2003, 18:07   #26
FrustratedPoet
PtWDG Gathering Storm
Emperor
 
FrustratedPoet's Avatar
 
Local Time: 04:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
/edit: For some reason I actually can't get this to work in my copy of Photoshop. However, it works perfectly in Paint Shop Pro.


Quote:
Originally posted by Theseus
I can't seem to figure out how to get a new picture into the clipboard... I thought Windows just over-writes what's there?

And when I purge within PS, I can't get anything into the clipboard at all.

I've been closing PS after each shot, which is a huge PITA... any ideas?
Step 1: Load your graphics program (PS)
Step 2: Load Civ
Step 3: Press Print Screen (or "Prnt Scrn") when you have the desired image on the screen.
Step 4: Press Alt+Tab to switch from Civ to PS (if you don't have much RAM this might take a while ... or crash your PC)
Step 5: Paste (Ctrl+V) image into PS.
Step 6: Alt+Tab back into Civ
Step 7: Goto Step 3

Yes, when you press Print Screen Windows will overwrite what's already on the clipboard. If for some strange reason this isn't happening then you are beyond the limits of my skill.

Don't close PS ... you really shouldn't need to.

(I'm writing this while drunk ... I hope it makes sense and that it helps you)
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.

Last edited by FrustratedPoet; July 12, 2003 at 18:33.
FrustratedPoet is offline  
Old July 12, 2003, 18:12   #27
FrustratedPoet
PtWDG Gathering Storm
Emperor
 
FrustratedPoet's Avatar
 
Local Time: 04:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
You might also want to try the free trial of HyperSnap (http://www.hyperionics.com/), which should let you take screenshots without mucking around with Alt-tabbing and Photoshop.

Also, Paint Shop Pro has a "screen capture" option, wherby you can configure it so that after pressing an assigned hotkey it automatically copies and pastes the current screen image into PSP. I would hope that Photoshop has a similar feature (it bloody should do, but I have no personal experience of it).
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
FrustratedPoet is offline  
Old July 12, 2003, 18:20   #28
FrustratedPoet
PtWDG Gathering Storm
Emperor
 
FrustratedPoet's Avatar
 
Local Time: 04:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
Hmmm ... after just experimenting with my *cough*acquired*cough* copy of Photoshop my official opinion is that "it's weird and I don't understand it".

I can't get my copy of PS to work with the Print Screen key at all. I expect you are having a simialr problem. My suggestion = use something else.

Or .... use MS Paint to copy the image from the clipboard and then save it as a BMP. If you open the BMP in Photoshop you should be able to manipulate it in such a way as to make it suitable for posting (ie. cropping/resizing it and saving as a JPG).
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.

Last edited by FrustratedPoet; July 12, 2003 at 18:26.
FrustratedPoet is offline  
Old July 12, 2003, 18:25   #29
Rhothaerill
supporter
C4DG SarantiumPtWDG Vox ControliCivilization III Democracy GamePtWDG2 TabemonoInterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamCivilization III PBEMC3C IDG: Apolyton TeamApolyton Storywriters' GuildApolyton UniversityCivilization IV PBEMC4WDG Huygen's UnionC3CDG Euphorica
Emperor
 
Rhothaerill's Avatar
 
Local Time: 21:46
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Vincent is back!
Posts: 6,844
I'm certainly no computer graphics wiz, but I've never had any problem with Photoshop. I'd add step 4.5 to FP's post though. Click 'New' for each screenshot you want to paste into the program. And step 5.5 - Go to image/image size to resize the drawing to a maximum of 800x600 for 'Poly posts.

Hey this will be a good thing to boil down for a link on the possible AU page.
Rhothaerill is offline  
Old July 12, 2003, 18:28   #30
FrustratedPoet
PtWDG Gathering Storm
Emperor
 
FrustratedPoet's Avatar
 
Local Time: 04:46
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
Quote:
Hey this will be a good thing to boil down for a link on the possible AU page.
Agreed. It's a very common problem that people have. If we intend to encourage new AU recruits to post AARs and DARs they need to know how to do screenshots properly.
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
FrustratedPoet is offline  
 

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 00:46.


Design by Vjacheslav Trushkin, color scheme by ColorizeIt!.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Apolyton Civilization Site | Copyright © The Apolyton Team