Aesthetic tips - Decoration tricks!

[RonPierce]

Hello everyone. I just wanted to give a few decoration tricks I've learned while creating models for my upcoming lbpMMO "Last Hope". This is entirely for design reasons, and doesn't really serve to fix any issues, unless of course you're having design issues!

Trick 1: Stretching
Stretching decorations can give some really unique effects. I can't really list all the uses I've had for them in my time because decoration stretching and squishing varies (visually) quite a bit between the decorations as far as uses and effects go. One simple use is stretching a DogTag makes a beautiful sword blade.

How to: Place down a counter or timer (2x size) and make it very small. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT SET TO VISIBLE, otherwise in play it will not show up! This rule carries to the next 2 tips as well. Place a decoration on the timer. Change the timer size setting to 2.5+ or 1.5x or less. This will squish or stretch the decoration in the direction the timer grows, but not the cross direction. Also, you can exceed the max size of a decoration by placing it on a timer/counter and raising the counter's size.

Trick 2: Mid-layer Decorations
Sometime's you want decorations in the middle of layers. Of course you can put them anywhere on an object in the middle, but then it's flat against it. This isn't always wanted, especially for top down.

How to: If you place a timer on the side of an invisible sticker panel or holo, then place the decoration on it, you can effectively have that object still face what ever direction you want by rotating the timer, and moving it around the surface of the hologram, and not be forced into having it lie flat against the object itself. After you find the position you like simply glue the hologram to the object you want it attached to.

Trick 2.5: Decorations facing the back layer
As a side note to tip 2, putting a decoration on a timer on the side of an object, then rotating it 180% will cause that object face the back layer, which normally isn't possible if you're trying to decorate the back of something. Using this method you can, then simply glue holograms with the decorations to the object you're decorating.

Hope they help!!!

Examples:
This is the Last Hope warrior character and the basic animations for attacks. The sword in the hand is mid-layer so it appears it's being held in the hand.

Here's one of the quick models (unfinished!) that I have done these tricks with to give you an idea of how it can been applied. This is a top-down dragon model, and as said, it's unfinished and will still need some new details, but it'll give you an idea to start with:

[damaz10]

Awesome dude, didn't know about using counters to stretch out a decoration, I've used similar techniques with theck layers to get interesting layering of decorations, and awesome bone dragon by the way, you should check out elvenbanes level where you can see another bone dragon made out of decorations http://lbp.me/v/1724g3

[Wolffy123]

Brilliant. I'm curious to how you figured these tricks out :P

EDIT: Just tried this out. First of all, what do you mean by "180 Degrees"? In what direction? Secondly.. You can use the first tip to squish objects as well. Make the Timer long first, (Set to 10 or so). Place the sticker on it, then shorten the length. Looks awesome .. And, the "Motor" sticker looks like a machine gun when you stretch it, it's really cool

[RonPierce]

By 180 degrees I mean, if you stick an object on the side (facing you) of a timer/counter you can then turn the counter 180 degrees, thus the decoration would no longer be facing you you'd see the "bottom" of it. This allows the illusion of sticking decoractions on the back side of objects. Personally I don't know much about the 3d layer glitch so this may be irrelivant, however the other 2 tips are always uniquely useful.

I discovered them just by playing with them. I realized you could decorate stuff such as circuts and I found out by accident you cant decorate timers when I was decorating a lifebar I was making. When I tried to change the size of the health bar, I realized I had also changed the decorations shape. After that accidental discovery it just sort of exploded into trials of different things. Remember. Wheny you stretch or squish decorations if you turn them 90 degrees you strech them in a different direction, you just have to keep trying all kinds of things. You'd be surprised of the effects you'll end up with.

[Wolffy123]

By 180 degrees I mean, if you stick an object on the side (facing you) of a timer/counter you can then turn the counter 180 degrees, thus the decoration would no longer be facing you you'd see the "bottom" of it. This allows the illusion of sticking decoractions on the back side of objects. Personally I don't know much about the 3d layer glitch so this may be irrelivant, however the other 2 tips are always uniquely useful.

I discovered them just by playing with them. I realized you could decorate stuff such as circuts and I found out by accident you cant decorate timers when I was decorating a lifebar I was making. When I tried to change the size of the health bar, I realized I had also changed the decorations shape. After that accidental discovery it just sort of exploded into trials of different things. Remember. Wheny you stretch or squish decorations if you turn them 90 degrees you strech them in a different direction, you just have to keep trying all kinds of things. You'd be surprised of the effects you'll end up with.

Ohh I see. Thanks

[RonPierce]

No problem! I hope it helps with some creative outcomes. This should give even expert players something to toy with design wise. I hadn't seen anyone else using the technique of stretching and squishing decorations, and based on these responses I'm assuming it was a little known effect? That's pretty cool to me. I hope everyone enjoys it. I've definitely had some fun with it.

[Lordwarblade]

Hmm sounds interesting i'll have to test these out and see what happens.

[PPp_Killer]

i use the deco timer/counter trick all the time, as one of my friends said "You and your timers".

Also you should add this, if you emit a timer/counter set to invisible, the decos willl show up in play mode without the timer/counter

[Wolffy123]

i use the deco timer/counter trick all the time, as one of my friends said "You and your timers".

Also you should add this, if you emit a timer/counter set to invisible, the decos willl show up in play mode without the timer/counter

I just have the decoration on the counter set to "invisible" .. Works like a charm. Here's a pic of what my friend and I made for my level, looks awesome!


It's unbelievable what kind of things you can make with these tricks.

[RonPierce]

Glad it helped! Also yes in preview mode it shows up but will disappear in play mode if turned to invisible.

[fumetsusozo]

I've never knew about this until i read this topic... seems no matter how long you are in to something there is always something new to learn. this is really useful to be honest. *mew

[RonPierce]

Yeah, I've recently had a learning burst. I knew some obscure stuff before I learned a lot of basic things I found. xD

[rialrees•]

Lovely tip for the stretching and squishing of decorations - the thought of it never even crossed my mind. Will have to have a play about with it now! Thanks for sharing!

[Super_Sackboy]

Oooh the things I could make with this... I can't wait to fire up the Playstation again.