Calling All Ship Graphic Designers!

[curtsibling]

An old sea dog will be able to tell them apart.

And the fact that they look similar will simulate the fact that naval warfare relied on line of sight and simple radios in those days.

Remember that a ship can still be indentified by the cursor.
And a stack will show the top ship, hide the true power of the stack-fleet!

PS
Fairline, I love the boats!

[fairline]

Originally posted by Case
While this may be asking the impossible, I think that you need to do something so that the different classes appear more distinct. My sugestion is to make each ships smoke plume appear different and/or have the turrets rotated at different angles on each ship class.

I've shifted a couple of the turrets as you suggested. The smoke is marginally different between units, but not enough to use as a distinguishing feature

What about squadron flags? This would require a single ship graphic for each squadron, obviously, rather than representing the full set of classes present.

Oh, and aren't battlecruisers 'BC's rather then 'CB's as you've labled them?

I'm probably wrong here, but i thought the US naval designations were BB, CB, CA, CL and DD?

[Justinianum]

Re: Feedback please

Originally posted by fairline
I want some honest criticism so that I can get the units right.

I like it very much Fairline. Here's some notes:

1) Cesar and Dora turret's barrels should be 1 pixel longer
2) Cesar and Dora turret's top should have a gradient instead of a plain black
3) Guns should be more sharpened
4) I'd add a thin medium grey border between the hull and the deck
5) The ship can be a little shorter, otherwise there will be no difference in lenght between a Lion or a New Jersey

[fairline]

Re: Re: Feedback please

Originally posted by Justinianum
1) Cesar and Dora turret's barrels should be 1 pixel longer

You may be right - I'll try this, although the after-turrets are pointing away from the viewer so their gun-barrels should be shorter than the front 2 which are viewed side-on.

2) Cesar and Dora turret's top should have a gradient instead of a plain black

Lion's turret tops were painted black, as were several of the German battlecruisers.

3) Guns should be more sharpened

Not sure about this - you have to view them in the context of the sea tiles used. Mine are a dark blue so the guns stand out very well.

4) I'd add a thin medium grey border between the hull and the deck

You're right if you are looking at the first version of the Lion graphic. This has been addresed with a darker deck colour now.

5) The ship can be a little shorter, otherwise there will be no difference in lenght between a Lion or a New Jersey

The British 'cat' battlecruisers (and SMS Derfflinger and Leutzow, I think) are the longest ships depicted in this scenario. I'm not making these gfx to be used with WW2 units and I have to distinguish between a range of WW1 ship types from DD to battlecruiser, so the length stays.

Thanks for the feedback, Justinianum

[Justinianum]

Re: Re: Re: Feedback please

Originally posted by fairline
You may be right - I'll try this, although the after-turrets are pointing away from the viewer so their gun-barrels should be shorter than the front 2 which are viewed side-on.

I know that is wrong, but I think it will look better

Lion's turret tops were painted black, as were several of the German battlecruisers.

You're right, I forgot it

Not sure about this - you have to view them in the context of the sea tiles used. Mine are a dark blue so the guns stand out very well.

I'm looking forward to see them in action (I will do the danish fisherman)

The British 'cat' battlecruisers (and SMS Derfflinger and Leutzow, I think) are the longest ships depicted in this scenario. I'm not making these gfx to be used with WW2 units and I have to distinguish between a range of WW1 ship types from DD to battlecruiser, so the length stays.

Actually you're right

[Boco]

@Exile,

I've finally scanned the S&T article. PM me your email address, and I'll send all 13mb your way.

[Case]

BTW, has there been any progress with this scenario?

[fairline]

I think I'm the hold-up at the moment. Making steady (but slow!) progress with the graphics. There are a hell of a lot of ships to draw....

[Exile]

[curtsibling]

I think all here know the wait will be worth it!