Realistic Patches?

[Krozex01]

Hello, since I cannot PM or something yet lol I was curious how Slave Boy made his patches, I know how to use photoshop and all that, I make my own patches, but what I would like to know is how he makes his patches so realistic? Like here: http://gtaforums.com/topic/779496-couple-of-small-mc-badges/I've tried so hard for days to try and make it but I keep coming up with garbage. If anyone or if slave boy can reply and tell me how he does it if he is willing to, that would be great. You don't have to show me how to do it exactly, like I can figure it out even if I have a .psd file. I'm sorry if this is spam or in the wrong section but I'd really like to find out.

Edited March 28, 2015 by Krozex01

[Graven]

No You´re not spamming, I´ve been asked about it.

I make the patches base work usually in Inkscape or another vector editor it´s much easier and convenient. Or I can just use older patch and edit the style, fonts etc what ever is needed and make only the center.

I keep the MC and 1% often separate so they can be moved if the middle piece is different. This ain´t so important though as it´s easy to copy a part to another layer as You know.

The rockers have a good leather pattern which is most important, got it from texturemate I believe. And uses layerFX features to create a somewhat "realistic" look.

Honestly it´s not even close, if You take a look at real knitted sleeve patches they are completely different looking. But I´m still tuning the style and have new ideas to make them look better.

If I only got more time. Don´t have the game, don´t even have really time to play but if people like how they look in-game that´s cool.

 

If You take a look at the stitching around the edges You may notice that it´s just an I or X shaped brush, that is stroked along a path.

I select with a wand tool outside the rocker, invert selection and expand little, just 1-3 pixels and make a path from selection and stroke brush along path.

In Gimp You can use anything instantly as a brush simply be selecting, copying and using the script. But it´s good to have a stitch brush anyway.

It´s all about the brush sizing, dynamics and the path to get it right. OR, You can even draw it. I tried in PS with a mouse and it did not take more than minute longer to get good result.

You can see at some points the stitching gets little crazed, it´s because the path is not smooth enough. But I like it, makes it look little messy and worn.

Maybe some blood stains and grunge cracks for next emblem, like a back-stabbing effect from rival gang haha?

Could make them paths in Inkscape and export to Gimp if wanted a perfect shape. There are also good custom shapes for PS which are almost ready to use as patch, Or use banner, heraldry and other shapes if You don´t want to create everything from scratch.

I simplify the middle image with a graphics mode, cartoon plugin or something else that looks good and use a duplicate layer often for the FX.

They have 1-pixel line pattern, like the fonts and some small FX to stand little out from patch base. I recommend eroded fonts they look best without needing a lot of tweaking.

 

You can make the stitch edge in PS or Gimp which ever You like.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Slave Boy

[Krozex01]

Thanks for the reply mate. As I said I've been trying to get something like this for awhile so I'm going to keep trying. I hope what you told me can get me a decent result because I make stuff for my friends and I don't want to keep giving them these flat designs.

[PREZ OOMC]

Slave Boy, your patches are the most realistic in the game!

[Graven]

Thank You. I will prepare one with a steak in middle.