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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 20:45:07 GMT
Aha, I thought someone somewhere would have done something along these lines. The art for Xaaron is great, is it based on anything or just drawn in the style of the originals? The bio fits the style too. That's exactly the sort of thing I was planning to have a go at. How many profiles do you have text/art for? In terms of files and sizes I was intending to go for 1988x3056 high res jpegs, because they'd then fit the existing digital versions of classics volume 8. I have art for about 10 or so, and text for maybe 20-30. I believe Ed has drawn them "in the style" of the originals and I've tried my best to sound like Bob Budiansky when writing them. I shall start digging through my archives for you to have a look at everything! Do you InDesign at all? I use that to put everything together and then generate "actual size" print resolution PDFs. Ever since 1991 I've always, always, ALWAYS wanted to see the rest of the (up to 1991) cast done in the "Universe" style. -- Graham |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 20:45:29 GMT
Here's a preview of Emirate Xaaron. Text by myself, with artwork by Ed Pirrie. But to file him under "E" or "X"? Can PDF files be uploaded to the forum? The font on the JPG here is a bit pixelated; the PDF is much sharper. -- Graham Yes as attachments if they are less than 1mb in size. Andy The Xaaron PDF weighs in at 1.2 Mb. SO CLOSE! -- Graham |
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 2, 2015 21:54:53 GMT
I have art for about 10 or so, and text for maybe 20-30. I believe Ed has drawn them "in the style" of the originals and I've tried my best to sound like Bob Budiansky when writing them. I shall start digging through my archives for you to have a look at everything! Do you InDesign at all? I use that to put everything together and then generate "actual size" print resolution PDFs. Ever since 1991 I've always, always, ALWAYS wanted to see the rest of the (up to 1991) cast done in the "Universe" style. -- Graham I'd love to see what you did, this is a project I'm quite excited about if it hasn't been done extensively before now. It being it can be done a page at a time and dropped into place it's almost like creating trading cards, so it could run as quickly or slowly as time allows. If filesize is a problem I could look at setting up a shared drive using google or something. Wouldn't be hard to create a central repository if this is going to be a going concern. I haven't used InDesign. I'm fairly experienced with Photoshop though, so I daresay to put the images with the text and keep some control over it I'd use Illustrator. It's been ages since I've drawn anything though, so it may take me a while to produce anything remotely useful. I do love the Xaaron. Great stuff. |
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 2, 2015 22:09:33 GMT
Hmm. The Generations book seems to be available for a reasonable price Really? Wow! Sure you've got the right book? The original big Japanese one? There have been various things called Transformers Generations. If it's the one we mean with all the toy photos up to G2, then snap it up! Still think Ark / Complete Ark would be a better source of model sheets due to the image size issues, mind you. Martin |
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 2, 2015 22:15:52 GMT
Reasonable is subjective I suppose, I was thinking it'd be megabucks like the Complete Ark, but I can see it on the net for £30ish plus postage. Economy postage though, wouldn't see it for a month or two.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 2, 2015 22:18:20 GMT
It might be the latest in the Generations series, or there are a few knock-off versions of the book out there as well.
The two Ark books would be a better reference and sadly are not available on comiXology.
Andy
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 2, 2015 22:22:03 GMT
This one? the deluxe version of the original? I checked it on tfwiki  |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 2, 2015 22:23:17 GMT
This one? the deluxe version of the original? I checked it on tfwiki View AttachmentYeah that's the one. Although I'd make sure it's from a decent seller, there are a few knock off versions of the book out there. Andy |
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 2, 2015 22:25:16 GMT
I'd hate for you to wait two months for it to arrive and then find it was the wrong edition, or that the pics were too low-res when you blew them up to the right size.
Hmmm, lots of Ark Volume 2's on eBay, shame that's just the Japanese model sheet scans.
Pity no-one's selling a knackered copy of Ark Volume 1 or Complete Ark cheap, which would be fine for tearing up for scanning purposes.
Martin
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 2, 2015 22:26:41 GMT
I'd hate for you to wait two months for it to arrive and then find it was the wrong edition, or that the pics were too low-res when you blew them up to the right size. Hmmm, lots of Ark Volume 2's on eBay, shame that's just the Japanese model sheet scans. Pity no-one's selling a knackered copy of Ark Volume 1 or Complete Ark cheap, which would be fine for tearing up for scanning purposes. Martin I shall keep my eye out at Auto Assembly for one... |
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 2, 2015 22:27:02 GMT
Hrrrm. Okay. I'll ponder. I've ordered Ark v2. As it's still available it's only £12 from the Book Depository. That should give me enough to experiment with.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 2, 2015 22:27:18 GMT
Yes, as Andy says that looks like the right version of Generations.
Martin
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 3, 2015 6:04:45 GMT
I think Ark Volume 2 contains much of what you need, actually, stuff that isn't in Volume 1 such as Doublecross and the robot modes of Apeface and Snapdragon. Volumes 1 and 2 contain different versions of some characters though (such as Scorponok and the Clones), and it is the ones in Volume 1 that are more in the Marvel / TF Universe style.
Martin
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2015 8:37:04 GMT
I'd love to see what you did, this is a project I'm quite excited about if it hasn't been done extensively before now. It being it can be done a page at a time and dropped into place it's almost like creating trading cards, so it could run as quickly or slowly as time allows. If filesize is a problem I could look at setting up a shared drive using google or something. Wouldn't be hard to create a central repository if this is going to be a going concern. I haven't used InDesign. I'm fairly experienced with Photoshop though, so I daresay to put the images with the text and keep some control over it I'd use Illustrator. It's been ages since I've drawn anything though, so it may take me a while to produce anything remotely useful. I do love the Xaaron. Great stuff. If you want to set up a shared drive, let me know and I can upload all the material that I have. I can put up an InDesign template as well. If you're good with Photoshop or Illustrator, it's very similar. Mind you, the layout for the Universe profiles is pretty straightforward anyway. I can also upload "finished" PDF pages and you could pop then into Photoshop to make them into JPGs at the size/resolution you want to fit in with the Comixology version. That's if you want to, of course! I like the trading card analogy!  -- Graham |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 3, 2015 12:35:01 GMT
I can do the same for the ones I did for Another Time and Place Part 1. (Optimus, Grimlock and Snarl - iirc Optimus is coloured, but the other two haven't been but that can be rectified)
Like Graham, I use InDesign, (it was he who guided me away from the darkness that was Microsoft Publisher or whatever it was called)
Andy
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 3, 2015 21:06:26 GMT
In addition there's a piece of Universe art that doesn't appear in a profile and that's of either Sinnertwin or Hun Grrr and appears in a US letters page in a 30s issue. I looked this out this evening. It's issue 41, Sinnertwin's beast form. But the picture is so small it's not really usable for anything. It's only an inch by an inch and a half at most and being on the letters page it isn't coloured either, just cross hatched in blue over the inks. |
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 3, 2015 21:10:53 GMT
If you want to set up a shared drive, let me know and I can upload all the material that I have. I can put up an InDesign template as well. If you're good with Photoshop or Illustrator, it's very similar. Mind you, the layout for the Universe profiles is pretty straightforward anyway. I can also upload "finished" PDF pages and you could pop then into Photoshop to make them into JPGs at the size/resolution you want to fit in with the Comixology version. That's if you want to, of course! I like the trading card analogy! -- Graham That sounds brilliant. I'm going to be occupied tomorrow night, but I'll do this at the weekend. Then we can have a shared Transmasters resource for compiling files. Exciting! |
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 3, 2015 21:16:05 GMT
I can do the same for the ones I did for Another Time and Place Part 1. (Optimus, Grimlock and Snarl - iirc Optimus is coloured, but the other two haven't been but that can be rectified) Like Graham, I use InDesign, (it was he who guided me away from the darkness that was Microsoft Publisher or whatever it was called) Andy Equally brilliant! Now all I need to do is contribute something myself. Yes, Publisher has been outclassed these days. I've used a variety of different DTP packages over the years, but InDesign is probably the one I should be using. But as said, with these pages, the DTP aspect is minimal. It's the art that needs doing. Putting a column of text on a page with a picture isn't too taxing. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 8:10:20 GMT
That sounds brilliant. I'm going to be occupied tomorrow night, but I'll do this at the weekend. Then we can have a shared Transmasters resource for compiling files. Exciting! Just, like, whenever! -- Graham |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2015 17:14:09 GMT
An entry for "D" and one for "J". Attachments:
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 6, 2015 18:39:13 GMT
These are just brilliant!
I've done some groundwork on this this afternoon but don't have anything to show yet. What I have just done, provided I got it all right, is source a brand new copy of Transformers Generations Deluxe for £22.70 shipped from Amazon Japan. £15 for the book and the rest Amazon Global Shipping. I didn't think Amazon JP shipped over here, but the order went through. Maybe they do for books.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 6, 2015 18:43:22 GMT
Hmmm, well if Generations is the book I think it is I fear you may find the pics too small for scanning, but I hope I'm wrong. But the Ark II that you've ordered certainly won't disappoint.
Martin
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 18:53:45 GMT
These are just brilliant! I've done some groundwork on this this afternoon but don't have anything to show yet. What I have just done, provided I got it all right, is source a brand new copy of Transformers Generations Deluxe for £22.70 shipped from Amazon Japan. £15 for the book and the rest Amazon Global Shipping. I didn't think Amazon JP shipped over here, but the order went through. Maybe they do for books. Link? I need a copy of the deluxe version. Hmmm, well if Generations is the book I think it is I fear you may find the pics too small for scanning, but I hope I'm wrong. But the Ark II that you've ordered certainly won't disappoint. Martin On the other hand it is the best Transformers toy reference book so you won't have wasted your money. |
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 6, 2015 19:45:45 GMT
Yip. Absolutely gorgeous tome.
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 6, 2015 20:10:25 GMT
Hmmm, well if Generations is the book I think it is I fear you may find the pics too small for scanning, but I hope I'm wrong. But the Ark II that you've ordered certainly won't disappoint. Martin I'm curious about the book now anyway. The only TF toy reference book I have is the cybertronian index and if this one does all the G1 Japanese toys I'd like to see it. I've heard of it before but assumed it would cost a fortune. If I can at least see the art I can maybe use it as a reference to have a go at drawing from. Link for Phil: www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4813010946In chrome on a desktop PC Google translate does an excellent job with the pages. Not working so well in chrome on my tablet. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2015 20:50:19 GMT
I'm curious about the book now anyway. The only TF toy reference book I have is the cybertronian index and if this one does all the G1 Japanese toys I'd like to see it. I've heard of it before but assumed it would cost a fortune. I am 99.99999999% sure you won't regret your purchase! -- Graham |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 7, 2015 9:43:38 GMT
Likewise, maybe the publishers went back to press at some point, because I remember the book going for funny money after the initial run.
It's a splendid book and mine is well thumbed over the years so is a touch battered in places.
Invaluable tome for me in the days before the likes of TFU.info and decent broadband for grabbing loads of image files.
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 7, 2015 11:24:51 GMT
Yes, I think I read while doing my researches that it was reprinted a few years ago. Amazon had nine in stock and the listing has the 'more on the way' bit, so presumably it's readily available in Japan at the moment. Odd though, the price has gone up since yesterday. It's 3024 yen now and I paid 2800.
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 7, 2015 17:38:11 GMT
I'm still working out some standards to most closely match the original pages.
I have the originals of Universe in comic form, and the old collected trade, and I can see these new digital pages are American comic dimensions at 300dpi. The old trade is slightly wider but the pages weren't rescaled to fit it. So basically what I'm saying is that Classics 8 hasn't changed anything about page layout or dimensions from the original comics. They're just recoloured. All I'm doing is working out what the default page size should be to fit the existing pages. Trouble is, it isn't absolutely precise, so I'm going with the pixel size 1988x3056 set to 300dpi. If that was printed it would to within a millimetre or two match the size of a US comic.
NB: I am very sure I'm the only person who cares about this, but when I'm trying to copy something I try to do it absolutely as accurately as possible. I can't draw, but I can copy, which is why this project excites me.
Working to those constraints then I'm pretty sure the font details are these:
Character Name - Helvetica 73 Bold Extended 14pt
Headings - Helvetica 65 Medium 8pt
Body Text - Helvetica 55 Roman 8pt
And text columns are 545 pixels wide.
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 7, 2015 17:47:54 GMT
I've explored Google Drive as a way to collaboratively work on a project and I think it'll do the job well. I have set up the basics and put the files in place, however if I post a public link to that drive here it'll mean anyone can access it and upload files to it. With the intelligence of webcrawlers and bots these days that could mean anything. It may not be a problem, but it would probably be better if I PM a link to anyone who wants to access it. Better still, if you PM me a gmail address I can share the folder with you, which means when you open Chrome on your computer the Transmasters Google Drive Folder will show up in your own one. That way it can be used for all forumites to share large files if you want to do that, as Google Drive gives you 15 gigs of space free.
If none of that makes sense and you want to upload files, PM me and I'll explain.
I put an inbox there if you want me to sort any files out.
Andy/Phil, is all this alright here? or do we need to move the relevant posts to a new Transmasters Universe thread in the creative department?
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