So you've seen all these amazing screenshots in the BC Screenshot thread and want to produce images of the same quality? Well this just may be the guide you need. First I will describe the 3 basic types of Screenshots. Next I will show you the tools that you will use to create your own environments. Last I will guide you through the process of taking a Acton screenshot.
First lets go through the requirements (other than BC)
-Access to Google Images
-Image manipulation software that can save to .TGA (I use GIMP)
-Highest quality mods you can use on your PC
PART ONE- TYPES OF SCREENSHOTS
In BC, screenshots can be divided into 3 basic groups.
Type 1- Beauty Shots
These are the most basic screenshots, yet can be some of the best. They normally contain only one ship, showing it at it's best angle(s), hence the name. They do not contain weapons fire and there is no major action taking place, other than the ship flying. Most of these contain a background.
Type 2- Historical Shots
Historical Shots show either a Canon event or an event that happened in the books (Or the source material if the ships depicted are not Star Trek). They do not have to be 100% accurate, but do need to resemble the event depicted. Backgrounds usually try to match what was in the source material. For instance, a TOS picture may just have a starfield, while as depicted below, an image depicting an event in DS9 may have a very complex background (The Die Is Cast).
Type 3- Action Shots
These are the hardest shots to create. They contain weapons fire or another sign of action (Opposing fleets facing off before a fight, Fighters escorting a ship etc.). In the example provided, the Enterprise is firing Quantum Torpedoes at a Jem'Hadar Battlecuriser.
PART TWO- TOOLS OF THE TRADE
To take a great screenshot you need to know how to import backgrounds into BC. This is a rather simple operation.
(If you are not adding a custom background skip step 1 and 2
Step 1- Removing the Starfield
1.1- Change the name of stars.tga in your DATA folder
1.2- Download this TGA-
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e350k313ad0hguz/stars.tga 1.3- Insert it into your DATA folder
Step 2- Porting a background image
2.1- Search Google for an image (Larger than 1024x1024) that you want in your background
2.2- Save said image
2.3- Open the image in an editing software and change it's dimensions to 1024x1024
2.4- Export as a TGA to your DATA folder
Step 3- Creating a TestMode Shortcut
3.1- Create a shortcut to STBC.exe
3.2- Right click on the shortcut and open the Properties tab
3.3- In the target box add a space after the last quotation and then type "-TestMode" (NO Quotes)
3.4- Click Ok
PART THREE- TAKING AN ARTISTIC SCREENSHOT
Load BC with your TestMode shortcut
Load Quickbattle with the ships you want in your screenshot. Make sure if you want a ship to be firing a weapon that you set that as your player ship. Make sure Manual Fire is off. Fire your weapons (Torps or Pulse) and open the console with ~key (The one under escape) quick. Type "Edit()" (NO Quoted) and hit enter. This opens Edit Mode.
Welcome to edit mode. First, either hit "Select Next" or click your ship to select it.
After that click "Chase Selected".
Next click "Move Object" and use the mouse and arrow keys to move the Player Ship into proper position.
NOTE: If you want to move the camera you have to click "Move Object" to turn off Move Mode
Click "Select Next" and move the next ship into approximate position (You can use the "Obj To Cam" button to send the ship directly to the camera)
Refine the Ship and Camera positions. Try to move the camera as little as possible from now on.
Click "Next Editor" to bring up the background editor
Click "Create Backdrop" In the window that appears type the path to the background you wish to add. Scale the image using the "+/- Vert/Horiz Span" buttonsUse the camera and the "Set Orintation" button to move the background around.
Use "Next Editor" to return to the Object Editor. Click "Create Light" then click "Ambient."
Another window and a large triangle should appear. Set this light to a color similar to the background.
Click "Create Light" and create a "Directional" light. Set this to compliment the enviroment. Then select it and use "Move Object" to rotate the direction the light travels.
Once you are satisfied with lighting click "Toggle Plcmnts" to make the light objects invisible. Make sure Move Mode is off and all windows except the main editor window are closed. Click "Next Editor" to return to the background editor, then click "Hide Menu"
Move the mouse to the bottom right corner of the screen so that you can't see it and capture your image.
ADDENDUM- Phaser fire by NPC ships will also not vanish in Edit- mode, but rather stay connected to the exact same spot of the hit ship's shields or hull --even after moving one or both ships involved.
Topic: Deadthunder's Guide To Taking Basic Screenshots. (Very Long Post!!!) (Read 1425 times)