195 replies to this topic

[Benjamoose]

Howdy!

As many of you may already be aware (thanks to my introduction thread),

I'm working on a layout for "Homer's Meltdown".

When I started this project a few months ago there was no proper layout for this ROM and limited images available online of sufficient quality, so I began the process of redrawing the entire thing from scratch in Photoshop.

Literally everything you see has been remade, colormatched and font-matched to the original to ensure the highest possible clarity.

This of course also makes it slightly tedious to get just right!

Tracking down the fonts was a pain in itself. There are two fonts in the set that look almost identical and are only used in a couple of places, so I didn't even manage to get the similar font found until recently!

Below are the heavily watermarked preview shots from my introduction thread, but all future updates will be posted in this thread to keep the forums tidy.

Thanks for your interest!

[ahotboy2k]

great job there 

[Benjamoose]

great job there 

Thank you!

Tonights update. Smithers!


After blowing him up, the outlines begin!





The outline is complete! Now to begin coloring him in from a hybrid of official Simpsons color palettes and the Fruit Machine Artwork!





Now he's in place !

Edited by Benjamoose, 23 November 2017 - 09:08 AM.

[Benjamoose]

Eagle-eyed "Meltdown" fans may notice a slight controversial change;



They made a mistake in the original artwork.

Whoever did the coloring for the machine itself mistook Smither's leg for his left arm

and used the same color as the jacket.

However you'll note that it connects to his ankle and foot, so it should be the same color as his pants.

Slightly controversial in the sense that I've corrected it vs. copying the mistake, but it's a subtle change I think.

Edited by Benjamoose, 23 November 2017 - 09:18 AM.

[westy20040]

This is amazing.

[ZorroJnr]

I am going to be honest, but i'm a little jealous!!!!

[Benjamoose]

Mr. Burns' turn!

 

 

 

 

[Benjamoose]

And here he is in his new home!

 

[exclaret]

Brilliant, this is amazing work. Can't wait to see the finished DX

[Pook]

Very impressive work indeed, way above my paygrade. Nice to have someone about that can re-create from scratch at such a level. I don't think the scene has had that since MJ.

 

I think a lot of people could benefit from this, forget a WIP section, open a tutorial one

[Benjamoose]

One interesting thing that (I'm sure nobody would have noticed),

is that while I had found every font for the machine, there was still one that eluded me.

At first I didn't even know it existed because it's extremely similar to a font already in-use.

The two sections that use the font are the "Moe's Tavern" and the "Siren" areas.

Initially I just assumed they were using the same font as the "Moe's Tavern" title text, but I was wrong.

Anyways, I finally have the correct font and have swapped it out:



The big giveaway is the "M" in things like "MEGA HOLD".

In the bad font, the "M" stops halfway in the center. In the correct font however it touches the floor like the sides.

Another tell is that the "A" has a bit sticking off the center-right on the wrong font, but it's on the center-left on the correct font.

Edited by Benjamoose, 23 November 2017 - 02:47 PM.

[vectra666]

Very impressive work indeed, way above my paygrade. Nice to have someone about that can re-create from scratch at such a level. I don't think the scene has had that since MJ.
 
I think a lot of people could benefit from this, forget a WIP section, open a tutorial one

To true pook and from one of our all time greatest dxer's too.
As I think I said in the other topic?
True dedication this is, to design a machines art from scratch takes a skill way beyond a fair few of us dxer's of which we can only dream of.
Obviously a long way off but how's your lamping skills if this is anything to go by I,m sure it'll look 110% true to the real thing.
Another question with the finished product. Will it have that glass look about it too?
Goodluck and I wish every success with this project and if successful you're sure to propel yourself amongst the top ten, no top five layout producers ever!!!!

[Mavroz]

Wow, really impressive Moose, looks fantastic.

[Benjamoose]

Another question with the finished product. Will it have that glass look about it too?

 
-ish, but only in a subtle fashion.

I wanted to keep it as clean as possible and the more you add to give the impression of glass (which is usually reflections or shine) the more clarity you lose.

Basically what I have at the moment, is a subtle gradient overlay (that has a little bit of noise/static applied to it) for anything resembling glass, then I've got a layer that I've called my "Darkener" layer.

These layers only get applied to the play areas where the glass would be and not the pseudo machine frame on the outside.

This should hopefully give the illusion of it sort of being a real machine and I'm thinking will help make the lit area pop more.

In most of the screenshots above they're turned off, but here's a screenshot of the layers turned on:


 

Obviously a long way off but how's your lamping skills if this is anything to go by I,m sure it'll look 110% true to the real thing.

Haha! Well I've played around with the lamp matrix and from what I've seen it's a largely trial and error thing sometimes unless you know all the lights.

BUT! After watching some videos (some showing internals, some showing it in idle mode flashing) I've made the following light map for myself for when that time comes:
 

Edited by Benjamoose, 23 November 2017 - 03:12 PM.

[richy1976]

Lamping in ps or whatever software you use vecs means.

[Benjamoose]

Lamping in ps or whatever software you use vecs means.

 

Sorry heh! Not too hip with all the terminology as of yet.

Would I be right in assuming that "lamping" refers to actually making it look like the individual bits are lit up?

If so I'm rather looking forward to that. I have a few idea about how I'll do that, but I'll wait until I have something to show.

[richy1976]

You will have to make 3 images for that machine, on, off & red.

Attached Files

•  Chav It OFF.jpg   279.43KB   0 downloads
•  Chav It ON.jpg   306.41KB   0 downloads
•  Chav It RED.jpg   276.01KB   0 downloads

[Benjamoose]

You will have to make 3 images for that machine, on, off & red.

 

Indeedy! I knew about this, but I didn't know about the red, so thanks for the heads up!

[Benjamoose]

Quick and rough test on "lit" effects for my own future reference.

 

[vectra666]

Looks good, what Richy is referring to on this particular machine the only "red"(on2) image you'll need is for the name/logo as in Immortally boards the rest are normally lamped on the On1 image.
My recent release actually had 4 (on) arts and the off one.

Edited by vectra666, 23 November 2017 - 04:12 PM.