UKTS Freeware Asset Packs (FAP's) - UKTrainSim

Freeware Packs
A Guide for Asset Contributors (version 6)
16 August 2011
1 Overview ............................................................................................................................... 2
2 Useful Contacts .................................................................................................................. 2
3 Donating an Asset ............................................................................................................ 2
4 Licensing / Terms of Use ................................................................................................ 2
4.1 Licensing Conditions for Donated Content .................................................... 2
4.2 Licensing Conditions for Hosting Packs ........................................................... 3
5 Asset Features .................................................................................................................... 3
6 Pack Structure .................................................................................................................... 3
6.1 Developer \ Product \ Unique ID Folder Names ........................................... 4
6.2 Asset File Names ....................................................................................................... 5
6.3 Blueprint Asset Names ........................................................................................... 5
6.4 Blueprint Description ............................................................................................... 5
7 How To Guides... ................................................................................................................ 6
7.1 How to Create a Folder Structure for UKTS Freeware Packs .................... 6
7.1.1 Creating the Asset Folder Structure .......................................................... 6
7.2 How to Re-Skin an Asset........................................................................................ 7
7.3 How to Take Pictures for use as Textures ........................................................ 7
7.3.1 Texture Resources ............................................................................................ 7
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1 Overview
The aim of the UKTS Freeware Packs is to build up a resources for the
community by combining our skills and working together. Initially the packs
will focus on providing assets for freeware route developers and so we will be
focussing on assets to begin with. If the asset packs are a success then we
could progress into scenario packs that included the required re-skins etc.
By combing the resources into packs we make it much easier for the end user
to take advantage of them and hopefully encourage users to get involved.
This guide is aimed at people who wish to contribute assets. Rolling stock is
covered by a different guide.
2 Useful Contacts
If you have questions, require assistance, wish to join the project or want any
additional information then please email me (Jim Nobbs)
FreewarePacks@rwdecal.co.uk or send a PM to Nobkins on UKTS
3 Donating an Asset
You will find detailed guidance below on how to structure your asset so that it
can be quickly added to a pack. Once you’re asset is ready simply make an
RWP or ZIP of the asset and send it to FreewarePacks@rwdecal.co.uk
4 Licensing / Terms of Use
4.1 Licensing Conditions for Donated Content
To ensure that assets remain permanently available to route builders once
donated contributors must agree to the following conditions:
Content may NOT be withdrawn from the pack after it has been
donated
All content may be used, distributed, re-skinned and re-packaged with
any freeware route.
The complete pack may be hosted on any website providing no profit is
made by offering the download
The content may be edited by a Freeware Pack administrator so that it
fits in with the standardised pack structure as detailed in section 6 of
this document
The content may be edited by a Freeware Pack administrator to
improve the realism of the item. This is primarily used for rolling stock
donations and their physics (braking, loading etc parameters).
You may opt out of this condition if you do not want any
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improvements to be made to your donations by informing a
Freeware Pack administrator
Freeware Packs may be distributed on UKTS CD's to provide an
alternative to those without broadband Internet access and so they
may be given away at UKTS Live events
These conditions will allow us to create a reliable, simple and completely free
resource for the community.
4.2 Licensing Conditions for Hosting Packs
The following conditions apply to anyone wishing to host the packs on a site
other than UKTS:
Permission must be granted by UKTS before packs may be hosted
on alternative sites
The download must be available for free
No profit may be made by offering the download
A link to the original UKTS download must be provided on the
download page
The date and version number of the pack must be clearly given on the
download page
You must email FreewarePacks@rwdecal.co.uk supplying a valid email
address and link to the download - This ensure we can contact you (the
host) when a new version is released making it easy for you to update
your download
You must remove the download at the request of a UKTS Freeware
Pack administrator
The following conditions ensure users obtain free and consistent packs/
5 Asset Features
Assets should have a minimum of summer and winter textures which ensures
they do not look out of place in winter scenarios. A small number of assets (eg
tunnels) may not require a winter texture. Night textures (where appropriate)
are an advantage but not a requirement.
6 Pack Structure
To simplify the pack for end users a standardised folder structure will be used.
New assets should be created with this structure in mind. Existing assets being
donated will need to be re-organised to fit in with this file structure. If you are
able / willing to re-organise an existing asset before donating it then please
do. Otherwise please grant permission for the asset to be re-organised by a
Freeware Pack administrator.
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6.1 Developer \ Product \ Unique ID Folder Names
When assets are created the author chooses a “Developer” name and a
“Product” name. This allows the author to keep asset separate from other
developers and different products they might be working on.
To allow end users to easily enable a Freeware Packs we will use the following
structure:
UKTS_FP\NameOfPack\FPUniqueID
The developer folder will always be “UKTS_FP” for every pack
The product folder will change for each pack. The first pack will have a
product folder of “Housing”
The FPUniqueID is a Freeware Pack short unique name. Your unique ID
should be 5 characters or less (3 recommended). This unique ID must be
checked against the UKTS Unique ID Register to ensure it is not already taken.
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=337&t=115902
Once you have chosen your ID you must email it to
FreewarePacks@rwdecal.co.uk or PM your request to Nobkins on UKTS so that
it can be added to the register to ensure others do not use it.
The complete structure for the first pack will be:
UKTS_FP\Housing\FPUniqueID
We also strongly advise that the standardised folder structure as specified on
the RailWorks wiki is followed for sub folders placed in the above:
http://www.railsimdownloads.com/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Addon+Folder+Structure
For the housing pack this will mean that the majority of assets will be
structured as follows:
UKTS_FP\Housing\FPUniqueID\Scenery\Buildings\
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6.2 Asset File Names
Please try to use a logical file naming strategy when naming files.
6.3 Blueprint Asset Names
When creating an asset you specify a name for the asset in the blueprint. This
name is shown to the user when they select the asset in World Editor. If more
than one asset exists with the same name then RailWorks DOES NOT show
both assets. We therefore need to ensure that all asset names in the
blueprints are unique.
In a similar way to how the files are named all assets should be named using
the following structure in the blueprint:
FP = Freeware Pack
JN = My Unique Short Name
House 01 = Name of Asset
FP JN House 01
It is also important that a name is specified (even if it is in English) for the
alternative language options. Without these names international users will not
see the asset in the selection panel
6.4 Blueprint Description
When you hold your mouse over an asset in the asset selection panel the
description of the asset is shown (if specified in the blueprint). It is strongly
recommended that a description is specified for each asset in the blueprint.
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7 How To Guides...
7.1 How to Create a Folder Structure for UKTS Freeware
Packs
Section 6 of this document provides details and reasoning behind why we use
a specific folder structure. This section will give you step by step instructions
on how to create the folder structure
7.1.1 Creating the Asset Folder Structure
1. Navigate to the RailWorks Assets Folder
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\railworks\Assets
2. Create a new folder called UKTS_FP
3. Inside the new UKTS_FP folder create a folder called “Housing” or the
relevant name for the pack you are contributing to. If you are unsure
contact FreewarePacks@rwdecal.co.uk
4. Inside the new Housing create a folder which is your UKTS Freeware
Pack Unique ID.
Instructions 5 to 7 are for those re-skinning assets rather than those making
new models
5. Locate the files for the original asset that you will be re-skinning. This is
usually a “bin” file, “GeoPcDx” file and a “TgPcDx” texture file.
6. Ensure that the asset you are skinning is either a default asset or one
you have permission to re-skin AND contribute to the pack
7. Mirror the subfolder structure for the original asset in you newly
created UKTS_FP\Housing folder
For example.
UKTS_FP\Housing\FPUniqueID\scenery\buildings and
Would be my folder structure if I was re-skinning a default Kuju house
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7.2 How to Re-Skin an Asset
By far the easiest way to re-skin an asset is to use RWTools to clone the asset.
RWTools can be downloaded from Mike Simpsons web site:
http://www.rstools.info/index.html
The program works in full for a limited time allowing you to trial it before you
purchase a license. I highly recommend a license which you can get just by
making a donation to Mike.
The following 3 part YouTube tutorial will help with creating reskins and
setting out the folder structure for the UKTS Freeware Packs
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB5GlhT1i00
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf26z9PJ2aI
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBsYYBOAeE0
Other than the license for RWTools everything else can be achieved using the
following freeware programs:
GIMP 2 (powerful open source image editor)
http://www.gimp.org/
DDS Plugin for gimp (allows you to work edit texture files)
http://registry.gimp.org/node/70
Instructions on Installing Plugins for GIMP
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/GIMP/Installing_Plugins
RSBinTool (convert texture Files to DDS format)
http://www.uktrainsim.com/filelib-info.php?form_fileid=17703 or
http://www.rwdecal.co.uk/free/RSBinTool.zip
7.3 How to Take Pictures for use as Textures
The following web site provides some excellent advice on how to take pictures
that can be converted to textures easily:
http://www.cgtextures.com/content.php?action=tutorial&name=shootingtext
ures
7.3.1 Texture Resources
Here is a selection of resources for Textures you might find useful:
http://www.cgtextures.com/
http://www.grungetextures.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46897232@N04/
http://www.mayang.com/textures/
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