This might be pretty noobish to most but I don't really know how to flip numbers so that I can use them for the other side of my car...
Reflecting Numbers
- Thread starter DavidLivez
- Start date
Do you use GIMP?
If so then go to the tools tab at the top left and select transform, then hit flip, If you go to tool options you can pick which way to flip it, I dont know what to do with putting the number in reversed italics, but what I just described works. On finding the flip tool, its much easier to just press Shift + F
If so then go to the tools tab at the top left and select transform, then hit flip, If you go to tool options you can pick which way to flip it, I dont know what to do with putting the number in reversed italics, but what I just described works. On finding the flip tool, its much easier to just press Shift + F
Yeah I discovered the Flip tool and tried using it, but that only seems to half the job, as it does reflect it and have it facing the way I want but the number is facing the wrong way....
Here's an example:
I am making a scheme with Annett's #1, so it is essential that I get the reflected version of it but still facing the same way
I want the number to be leaning back like the flipped version, but still facing the same way
Here's an example:
I am making a scheme with Annett's #1, so it is essential that I get the reflected version of it but still facing the same way
I want the number to be leaning back like the flipped version, but still facing the same way
The problem that I see is that you're basically talking about two numbers and trying to use it as if it's one. It's two numbers though because they are slanted different directions. On one it'll be slanted to the left and on the other it'll be slanted to the right.
I can only explain in from what I do in Paint Shop Pro, but what you've got to do is take it and slant it yourself. I made an example to show you. As I mentioned, this is PSPx7, not GIMP so some things may be different.
What I do is click on the arrow selection tool (you see it chosen on the right). See how on the box there's 8 points (3 on top, 3 on bottom, and 2 in middle). What I did was chose the top middle one and "pulled" it towards the right.
Maybe someone with GIMP can help add more to that but it's really that simple. You just gotta pull the slant whatever way you want it until it's to the right point of slanting that you want.
I can only explain in from what I do in Paint Shop Pro, but what you've got to do is take it and slant it yourself. I made an example to show you. As I mentioned, this is PSPx7, not GIMP so some things may be different.
What I do is click on the arrow selection tool (you see it chosen on the right). See how on the box there's 8 points (3 on top, 3 on bottom, and 2 in middle). What I did was chose the top middle one and "pulled" it towards the right.
Maybe someone with GIMP can help add more to that but it's really that simple. You just gotta pull the slant whatever way you want it until it's to the right point of slanting that you want.
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Also at least to me it tends to look really off when skewing a number in the opposite direction. I will often mirror the number as you did above and then try to match a duplicate number (that isn't mirrored) to the mirrored one. It tends to not look quite as warped when I do it that way.
Sorry for the misleading title
I thought we were gonna talk about 'Chrome' reflecting numbers.
That works when the number isn't slanted different directions on each side. Think of the RCR/DEI cars, for example (or Junior's 88).
Those cars numbers slanted towards the front. So on the left side the slant goes to the left. But on the right the slant doesn't go left, it goes right. So the two numbers side by side won't look the same, they'll be slanted in opposite directions.
So if you simply do the rotation like that, then the number on one side is going to be slanted the wrong way. That's basically what the OP did with the Annett numbers.
If I have a number on the left hand side of a car which is pushed forward.
It might be:
Skew: 30
Rotate: 2.2° (or whatever the tilt of the beltline is)
On the other side it will be:
Skew: -30
Rotate: -2.2°
Then that whole thing will be rotated through 180° and/or ±90° and resized for the front and rear numbers.
It might be:
Skew: 30
Rotate: 2.2° (or whatever the tilt of the beltline is)
On the other side it will be:
Skew: -30
Rotate: -2.2°
Then that whole thing will be rotated through 180° and/or ±90° and resized for the front and rear numbers.
That's basically what I do too. So I'll usually make the number straight up and down to start with, because shearing it too much one way or the other can make it look weird. Then I'll copy it twice, and shear the copies in two different directions. In extreme cases (Terry Labonte's #5 around 1995 comes to mind) two separate numbers need to be made. One other tip, make your number BIG. I usually open a separate 1024x1024 file and use as much of that area as I can.
Here I made a straight up and down version of your number. You can open it it GIMP and use the shear tool to create left and right-side numbers. Set the "shear magnitude X" at 400 for one side and -400 for the other. There's always going to be some trial and error, but that will get you close.
Here I made a straight up and down version of your number. You can open it it GIMP and use the shear tool to create left and right-side numbers. Set the "shear magnitude X" at 400 for one side and -400 for the other. There's always going to be some trial and error, but that will get you close.
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Yeah that's what I did but making it straight right off the bat is a really good idea
Yep, it makes it easier to make them the same angle on both sides and they just end up looking nicer in general. Once you get the hang of it, making numbers is pretty fun. Keep in mind there's often more than one technique you can use with a paint program to get the same result. It just boils down to personal preference sometimes. I've been thinking of doing a step by step tutorial on making numbers in GIMP, so stay tuned.
Of course it should go without saying that everything that applies to numbers also applies to a whole host of the other assets which make a livery.
If the logos and word assets (and even massive mascots) aren't also titled to match the beltlines, the result is that the thing looks compoundedly melty and bad.
(of course you could always pick a mod where the angle of the beltline rise is 0°)
If the logos and word assets (and even massive mascots) aren't also titled to match the beltlines, the result is that the thing looks compoundedly melty and bad.
(of course you could always pick a mod where the angle of the beltline rise is 0°)
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