JMDesigns: Game Mods - Automobilista |
My portfolio featuring mods for Automobilista by Reiza Studios.
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Welcome to my portfolio of Automobilista from Reiza Studios! Here is where you can see some of the material I have created as mods for this game.
Hello! Before you continue on with this page, let me share this with you. Your participation for this brief section is voluntary, so you can skip this section if you choose. Your involvement is very much appreciated should you take part in this brief offer.
All of the material here is provided for free and for educational purposes. When I am not blogging, I am trying to make content to my creative works studio, JMDesigns (you are here). Donations can help me to provide more content and even finance getting certain programs and licenses. Would you like to donate to support my creative work on ? Donations to JMDesigns are voluntary, but would be appreciated:
Having said that, enjoy the rest of this page! Thanks for your involvement (if you did so here)!
All of the material here is provided for free and for educational purposes. When I am not blogging, I am trying to make content to my creative works studio, JMDesigns (you are here). Donations can help me to provide more content and even finance getting certain programs and licenses. Would you like to donate to support my creative work on ? Donations to JMDesigns are voluntary, but would be appreciated:
Having said that, enjoy the rest of this page! Thanks for your involvement (if you did so here)!
Automobilista
Automobilista is a simulation racing game developed by Brazil's Reiza Studios. This game is almost essentially an upgraded rFactor. AMS is a great game but has a very limited mod community. So you can only do so much or only see so much in the way of new tracks and new cars. With that said, I still wanted to develop material for AMS.
Unlike GTR2 or rFactor, there is no real way to preview skins in Automobilista without having to load the game beforehand. That is, unless you downloaded a viewer to see skins as you edit them. Reiza Studios and RaceDevelopment both have viewer files available if you have 3D Studio Max to view the 3D meshes. Since it costs an arm and a leg to get 3D Studio Max, you have to find some other method to view those files. While you can view VEH files in 3DSimEd, I have had no luck loading models into 3DSimEd for Automobilista models.
I basically have to study similar skins to determine what element of a vehicle mesh goes where. You also have to tone down the opacity so the vehicles do not appear overly glossy and shiny. You can, of course, play around with certain parts of skins to affect the glossy appeal. Your painting skills with rFactor also play well in making skins for Automobilista. If you happen to put the skin into a game, you can update the skin in real time by refreshing the game as you select different skins.
The importance of previewing skins can be costly. For example, you may place a logo on some part of the car, but it may not come out right because the logo is not aligned correctly. The model may require you to rotate or mirror (or both) certain logos so that they appear correctly on the car. You may also edit a part of the car that isn't supposed to be edited or may appear strange. So it is very important to have some kind of tool or method to make car skins that you can properly have control of.
Unlike GTR2 or rFactor, there is no real way to preview skins in Automobilista without having to load the game beforehand. That is, unless you downloaded a viewer to see skins as you edit them. Reiza Studios and RaceDevelopment both have viewer files available if you have 3D Studio Max to view the 3D meshes. Since it costs an arm and a leg to get 3D Studio Max, you have to find some other method to view those files. While you can view VEH files in 3DSimEd, I have had no luck loading models into 3DSimEd for Automobilista models.
I basically have to study similar skins to determine what element of a vehicle mesh goes where. You also have to tone down the opacity so the vehicles do not appear overly glossy and shiny. You can, of course, play around with certain parts of skins to affect the glossy appeal. Your painting skills with rFactor also play well in making skins for Automobilista. If you happen to put the skin into a game, you can update the skin in real time by refreshing the game as you select different skins.
The importance of previewing skins can be costly. For example, you may place a logo on some part of the car, but it may not come out right because the logo is not aligned correctly. The model may require you to rotate or mirror (or both) certain logos so that they appear correctly on the car. You may also edit a part of the car that isn't supposed to be edited or may appear strange. So it is very important to have some kind of tool or method to make car skins that you can properly have control of.
Automobilista Skins: Preventing Glossy Cars (And Recommendations)
If you plan on making vehicles, most people will tell you go to with Adobe Photoshop since everyone uses it and loves it, even if you have to pay for a subscription. You may even go with Photoshop Elements if you prefer a non-subscription, stripped down version of Photoshop. Some of us are better served using free programs- such as GIMP and Paint.NET. So here are some things I'd suggest if you want to use either of these two programs to make skins for Automobilista...
• GIMP Advice
If you are using GIMP like I am, there is a way to ensure your car isn't overly shiny. Flatten the image of your skin (make sure to have the wireframe (if available) turned off if you don't want your vehicle to look funky!) and add a Layer Mask. You can add a Layer Mask by clicking on the "Layer" menu followed by going to "Mask" and selecting "Add Layer Mask." Or, you can right click on the layer tab and choose "Add Layer Mask." In the Add Layer Mask, set the option to its Alpha Channel. You can either save the resulting image as a DDS, or you may Apply the Layer Mask followed by saving to DDS. The DDS format you want to save it as is BC3/DXT5 and with mipmaps generated. This will ensure the car will not appear overly glossy, as the DXT5 format allows for transparencies and alpha channel information.
• Paint.NET Advice (GIMP to Paint.NET workflow)
Though GIMP is a great tool for editing, I recommend you get Paint.NET, because it handles DDS files better. Just make sure you download a plugin to allow for Paint.NET to load and save DDS files. I could not get GIMP to save transparency information for some reason. At least Paint.NET allows you to save transparency information properly for DDS files. Unless you have parts of your DDS skins that you want to make highly reflective, it is best you save your GIMP work under PNG, then use Paint.NET to make a DDS image from that PNG. Saving the alpha transparency somewhere between 25% and 50% are acceptable for most cars. Now if you want to be mostly matte, surely go with about 10% alpha transparency.
Happy skinning! :)
• GIMP Advice
If you are using GIMP like I am, there is a way to ensure your car isn't overly shiny. Flatten the image of your skin (make sure to have the wireframe (if available) turned off if you don't want your vehicle to look funky!) and add a Layer Mask. You can add a Layer Mask by clicking on the "Layer" menu followed by going to "Mask" and selecting "Add Layer Mask." Or, you can right click on the layer tab and choose "Add Layer Mask." In the Add Layer Mask, set the option to its Alpha Channel. You can either save the resulting image as a DDS, or you may Apply the Layer Mask followed by saving to DDS. The DDS format you want to save it as is BC3/DXT5 and with mipmaps generated. This will ensure the car will not appear overly glossy, as the DXT5 format allows for transparencies and alpha channel information.
• Paint.NET Advice (GIMP to Paint.NET workflow)
Though GIMP is a great tool for editing, I recommend you get Paint.NET, because it handles DDS files better. Just make sure you download a plugin to allow for Paint.NET to load and save DDS files. I could not get GIMP to save transparency information for some reason. At least Paint.NET allows you to save transparency information properly for DDS files. Unless you have parts of your DDS skins that you want to make highly reflective, it is best you save your GIMP work under PNG, then use Paint.NET to make a DDS image from that PNG. Saving the alpha transparency somewhere between 25% and 50% are acceptable for most cars. Now if you want to be mostly matte, surely go with about 10% alpha transparency.
Happy skinning! :)
Automobilista - Team Appeal
Before I show you my Automobilista skinning work, let me share with you something I got into recently.
I was planning on releasing my first ever skinning work online until I learned of how to style driver outfits. Along with various skins are a handful of textures for the driver suit, the driver gloves, and the driver helmet. I was working on one of my skins and took a notice of the driver. Let me share with you this Design Study:
I was planning on releasing my first ever skinning work online until I learned of how to style driver outfits. Along with various skins are a handful of textures for the driver suit, the driver gloves, and the driver helmet. I was working on one of my skins and took a notice of the driver. Let me share with you this Design Study:
As you can see, the driver is visible with his/her racing gear on. The driver normally isn't visible for the most part, but for some vehicles (such as open-body go-karts or especially motorcycles), you get a full-on view of the driver. Simply designing a skin for a car is one thing. What adds some more personality is if you can come together with some fine driver textures for the racing suit, the racing gloves, and the racing helmet. I am basically in the process of re-working some of my Automobilista material to take advantage of these individual features.
Here are recommendations if you are skinning for drivers:
• Save the driver suit as a BC1/DXT1 DDS file and generate mipmaps.
• Save the driver gloves as a BC1/DXT1 DDS file and generate mipmaps.
• Save the driver helmet as a BC3/DXT5 DDS file and generate mipmaps.
PLEASE be sure to flatten the image before exporting to DDS.
For now, though, I invite you to stay on this page and take a look at my skins for AMS machines.
Here are recommendations if you are skinning for drivers:
• Save the driver suit as a BC1/DXT1 DDS file and generate mipmaps.
• Save the driver gloves as a BC1/DXT1 DDS file and generate mipmaps.
• Save the driver helmet as a BC3/DXT5 DDS file and generate mipmaps.
PLEASE be sure to flatten the image before exporting to DDS.
For now, though, I invite you to stay on this page and take a look at my skins for AMS machines.
My Automobilista Skins
From here, this is my portfolio of designs for Automobilista vehicles. Like what you see? I am considering offering my designs for download on various popular sim racing game resource outlets (like RaceDepartment and NoGripRacing). So you may see my work here offered in the future!
NOTE: All vehicles appear in the order of whichever different vehicle I skinned first. Each vehicle skinned features my oldest works first. So the least recent vehicles I skinned will be featured first. If I created multiple liveries for a vehicle, the most recent work for that vehicle will appear later for that featured vehicle.
EXTRA NOTE: I don't drink or smoke; and so with the liveries I present, I choose not to feature liveries of alcoholic beverages or tobacco.
DISCLAIMER: All vehicles and sponsors are all registered trademarks of each respective manufacturer and company.
Now let's take a look at my Automobilista skinning efforts:
EXTRA NOTE: I don't drink or smoke; and so with the liveries I present, I choose not to feature liveries of alcoholic beverages or tobacco.
DISCLAIMER: All vehicles and sponsors are all registered trademarks of each respective manufacturer and company.
Now let's take a look at my Automobilista skinning efforts:
Automobilista: Chevrolet Camaro SS
I needed a car to start with in trying to design skins for Automobilista. So rather than try a race car, I went with the Chevrolet Camaro SS in AMS. Strange enough, it is in a folder where the Pace/Safety Cars are, I went easy with the livery design because I had no way to properly view the skin without having to load the game. An advantage to GTR2 and rFactor was that I had ways to actually sample the skin before putting it into the game. I don't have that luxury with AMS. Whatever I create in some paint program is almost trial and error based on certain skins. In a test run, here is what I came up with for my first AMS skin:
Automobilista: Formula Dirt (F-Dirt)
The Formula Dirt (or F-Dirt) cars in Automobilista are meant to be beginner cars for those looking to do off-road racing. It is essentially a Formula Vee car meant to race off-road and with an open differential. It is powered by a 1.6-liter Volkswagen engine making about 120hp and runs on road tires. With the challenges of not having something as helpful in skin making for Automobilista like using Content Manager for Assetto Corsa, and since I had no luck uploading AMS models to 3DSimEd, I basically had to open the Automobilista game (which involves opening Steam as well) to keep previewing my car's livery before really being done with it.
To achieve the dirty look, the car's template has a layer of mud and dirt to provide the dirty look. My best efforts skinning this car can be seen below:
To achieve the dirty look, the car's template has a layer of mud and dirt to provide the dirty look. My best efforts skinning this car can be seen below:
Automobilista: Stadium Super Truck
A concept shared by off-road racing veteran and NASCAR veteran Robby Gordon, Stadium Super Trucks are essentially trophy trucks designed to run mostly on tarmac courses. Almost as if to say these trucks are too good for yet another proper off-road series featuring trophy trucks. They may appear like real-life and full size remote control trucks, but these trucks are 100% real. They are also incredibly difficult to control. If anything, Stadium Super Trucks teach you about weight shifting and proper control accelerating and braking. The races are even more nuts than trying to pilot one of these trucks.
Here are my attempts at skinning one of these insane Stadium Super Trucks:
Here are my attempts at skinning one of these insane Stadium Super Trucks:
Automobilista: Formula Truck - IVECO Stralis Hi-Way
Before Automobilista, there were "Stock Car Extreme" and "Formula Truck 2013" from Reiza Studios. The latter is the origin of the next vehicle I am about to share in my AMS portfolio. I had a lot of trouble trying to make the windshield transparent. I had to basically learn to make a certain alpha mask to try to get things to look right. Even still, I mostly focused on the exterior of this truck. By the way, this is the IVECO Stralis Hi-Way. This vehicle I skinned is one of many different manufacturers that race in this popular Brazilian racing series. I learned IVECO is an Italian commercial vehicles manufacturer whose name means "Industrial Vehicles Corporation.
One important note... The windshield is not supposed to be transparent. I realized this as I was uploading my images. So think of this as a glorified work-in-progress:
One important note... The windshield is not supposed to be transparent. I realized this as I was uploading my images. So think of this as a glorified work-in-progress:
Automobilista: Formula Trainer
The Formula Trainer cars are low-level pure racing machines. If its body style seems similar to you, that is because Formula Traineris basically Formula Ford. The cars are offered in two trims- Novice (104hp with grooved road tires) and Advanced (141hp with racing slick tires). I have two different projects lined up for both trims of Formula Trainer.
When you look at the caption for each picture, you will see whether the car is a Novice Formula Trainer or an Advanced Formula Trainer.
When you look at the caption for each picture, you will see whether the car is a Novice Formula Trainer or an Advanced Formula Trainer.
Automobilista: Kart (Open Body)
For many people, grooming racing talent often starts with go-karts. Many do go-kart racing for fun. Many others try to enhance their racing skill. Because of the popularity of kart racing games, many people often think of racing with weapons and items. This, however, is REAL kart racing. Automobilista has offered a variety of kart styles along with many different kart racing tracks. AMS offers two classes of kart- regular karts and superkarts. The former will be expressed in this section.
Automobilista has different styles of karts but three main chassis types. For this section, it is about the open karts. These are the most common of racing karts. There are about four different styles of kart among the open body karts. Of these: Kart GX390 Rental, Kart GX390 Race, 125cc Direct, and Kart 125 Shifter. The Kart GX390 Rental is the weakest of the karts, and trying to make your own rental kart isn't really encouraged. The other three open kart types are surely fair game, though. So I tried to skin some of the open karts. You can see my work in this section here:
Automobilista has different styles of karts but three main chassis types. For this section, it is about the open karts. These are the most common of racing karts. There are about four different styles of kart among the open body karts. Of these: Kart GX390 Rental, Kart GX390 Race, 125cc Direct, and Kart 125 Shifter. The Kart GX390 Rental is the weakest of the karts, and trying to make your own rental kart isn't really encouraged. The other three open kart types are surely fair game, though. So I tried to skin some of the open karts. You can see my work in this section here:
Automobilista: Kart (Closed Body)
The closed body karts in Automobilista offer up the same karting goodness but with bodywork over the tires. Therefore, you can imagine the kart will be a bit heavier, and the tires won't be able to warm up so quickly. The closed body karts are powered by a 125cc engine just like the open body karts. My skinning work with the closed body karts can be seen in this section:
Automobilista: Kart (Superkart)
Superkarts are the most insane karts you will ever see being raced. Unlike the previous two karts I have featured, superkarts are powered by 250cc engines. These machines could reach top speeds in excess of 160 mph. Imagine 160 mph in racing machines with no suspensions and some serious downforce. You will be gripping corners like a boss in these things!
I kind of have a project lined up for superkarts, but I want to show you some of my superkart skin work for Automobilista. So here you go:
I kind of have a project lined up for superkarts, but I want to show you some of my superkart skin work for Automobilista. So here you go:
Automobilista: Mitsubishi Lancer R
Automobilista features four varieties of Mitsubishi Lancer. This one pertains to one of the Lancer Cup machines raced primarily in Brazil. The car featured in this section is the Mitsubishi Lancer R. While it may look like a road-going Lancer Evolution X, it is a properly gutted out race car with a handful of racing gadgets and a full roll cage. And while Mitsubishi has had its success in rally racing, this car is a road racing car. Take advantage of its 4WD drivetrain to conquer any course in Automobilista.
FUN FACT: The Mitsubishi Lancer R is officially the 10th different vehicle in Automobilista I skinned!
Automobilista: Mitsubishi Lancer RS
The Lancer RS is an upgraded version of the Mitsubishi Lancer R. Whereas the Lancer R has about 236 horsepower, the RS features about 280 horsepower and some extra body work. This car makes great power and handles brilliantly. So imagine my excitement trying to design my own skins for this fabulous car. The Lancer Cup is a great Brazilian racing series. Here is my work:
Automobilista: Mitsubishi Lancer Rallycross
One of the four series featuring the Mitsubishi Lancer is the Lancer Rallycross in Automobilista's Dirt Series. This Lancer XTR is the Lancer in its purest element- rallying. The powerful and capable Lancer rallycross car has over 385 turbocharged horsepower and weighs 2867 lbs. The Lancer Rallycross car competes along with the Formula Dirt cars. However, the Lancer is much more overwhelming than the F-Dirt cars. You can see my work with the Lancer Rallycross here:
Automobilista: ARC (Aussie Racing Cars) Camaro
"Honey, I shrunk the Camaro!" Meet the ARC, or Aussie Racing Cars. One update of Automobilista brought the fabulous nation of Australia to AMS. In the update were the likes of the Adelaide Street Circuit and the ARC cars. Mustang fans would be disappointed since this package doesn't feature ARC Mustangs. ARC cars are kind of like the Legends Cars here in the United States, in that these are miniature-scale race cars powered by motorcycle engines. Each ARC Camaro packs about 107 horsepower. These cars can be fun to drive and with some frenzied races.
Initially, I planned on coming up with a themed skin pack based on a planned skin pack for GTR2. What I eventually did was take my vision to Automobilista. All of my skinning work for the ARC Camaro can be seen in this section of my AMS portfolio:
Initially, I planned on coming up with a themed skin pack based on a planned skin pack for GTR2. What I eventually did was take my vision to Automobilista. All of my skinning work for the ARC Camaro can be seen in this section of my AMS portfolio:
Automobilista: Super V8
For all intents and purposes, the SuperV8 cars in Automobilista are essentially the Australian V8 Supercar Series (or nowadays the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship). These are mean Australian racing machines with 5.0-liter V8 engines producing 588hp and weighing 3111 lbs. The car essentially looks like the Holden Commodore VF V8 Supercar. These cars make amazing engine noise! However, controlling these beasts can be a bit tricky, though nowhere near as impossible as the Stadium Super Trucks. You'll have some fun with these machines regardless. Here are my skinning attempts with Automobilista's SuperV8 car:
And here below are other angles of my #BreakTheStigma livery, developed for May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month:
Automobilista: Formula 3 (F309 Chassis)
Automobilista features two Formula 3 chasses, both by Dallara. This part focuses on the more recent model- the Dallara F309. Prior to AMS, I played ToCA Race Driver 3 and rFactor for Formula 3 racing. Formula 3 racing is one of the most competitive categories of motorsport among open wheel racing. F3 is one of the first steps before going on to GP2 and eventually Formula 1. As a bit of practice, I tried to come up with my own F3 race car. You can see all of my F3 work here:
Automobilista: Stock Car V8 2015 - Chevrolet Sonic
The premier category of racing in Automobilista is the Stock Car V8 series. In fact, it is the premier series of Automobilista and the former Game Stock Car Extreme. It is Brazil's premier racing series. The 2015 season of Stock Car V8 features the Chevrolet Sonic and the Peugeot 406. These cars are powered by V8 normally-aspirated engines pushing about 488 horsepower. While stock car suggests oval racing, these stock cars turn left AND right. In fact, they are more in line with Germany's DTM than the stock cars we are used to in the United States.
My biggest challenge skinning these stock cars is with the windows. The template for the windows goes not have a proper Alpha Channel to it. And so I had to do loads of work to try to make the windows be styled the way I want them to be. Despite my best efforts, here is what I did with the Chevrolet Sonic:
My biggest challenge skinning these stock cars is with the windows. The template for the windows goes not have a proper Alpha Channel to it. And so I had to do loads of work to try to make the windows be styled the way I want them to be. Despite my best efforts, here is what I did with the Chevrolet Sonic:
Automobilista: Formula Ultimate
For the first time, I introduce you a skin for a Formula 1-type car. This one is of the Formula Ultimate cars. They are powered by turbo V6 engines packing about 936 horsepower and weigh just over 1600 lbs. They also are equipped with DRS and without the shark fin. For the 2018 spec Formula Ultimate, the controversial halo is equipped on the cars. Formula Ultimate exemplifies the latest and greatest in F1 racing technology and performance. Here is my skinning work with the Formula Ultimate:
I will have more material to share in future edits. So make sure to Bookmark this site or something to keep up with the latest material.
Last call! Remember your participation for this brief section is voluntary, so you can skip this section if you choose. Your involvement is very much appreciated should you take part in this brief offer.
All of the material here is provided for free and for educational purposes. When I am not blogging, I am trying to make content to my creative works studio, JMDesigns (you are here). Donations can help me to provide more content and even finance getting certain programs and licenses. Would you like to donate to support my creative work on ? Donations to JMDesigns are voluntary, but would be appreciated:
Having said that, thank you for viewing this page! Thanks for your involvement (if you did so here)!
All of the material here is provided for free and for educational purposes. When I am not blogging, I am trying to make content to my creative works studio, JMDesigns (you are here). Donations can help me to provide more content and even finance getting certain programs and licenses. Would you like to donate to support my creative work on ? Donations to JMDesigns are voluntary, but would be appreciated:
Having said that, thank you for viewing this page! Thanks for your involvement (if you did so here)!