Dunnaz:

No, no, no.... everyone's getting the wrong idea (from my point of view anyway) using Illustrator externally would basically be the same as using the editor, both use vector data, designs would still be designed in the same way from scratch using shapes, lines, gradients etc. it would just make the whole process more fluent and user friendly (when I say user friendly, I don't mean anyone could do it, I mean the work flow would be more 'logical' if you get me?)

The editor in Forza is basically a very basic Vector design program, if you can produce great looking designs in 24hrs in that, then you could create amazing ones in just a few hours in Illustrator....yet someone who struggles in the Forza mode isn't going to find it any easier in something like Illustrator, probably the opposite infact.

Most of the work I do is magazine layout (Quark) and Flyer & Web Design (Photoshop - Raster not Vector) so I'm not really a big user of Illustrator but I do use it and it is the industry standard Vector softaware so I reckon it would be great for custom painters if they could use it for there Forza designs.

There must be designers/users of vector software like Illustrator or CorelDraw that know where I'm coming from here??

You could have thousands of fonts to import/choose from, colour pellets for creating your own colours, full screen mode, the ability to design and save your own font families etc, outlining techniques, 3D effects ect ect......this wouldn't make the process any easier, it would just open up a door to loads more possibilities, which for any designer is always a good thing!

Illustrator will almost deffinately be used in real life custom vinyls for race cars etc, all the fancy stuff will obviously be airbrushed by paint sprayers (which is where the gradient tools come in I guess). Also, I bet the guys at Turn 10 have a few machines running Illustrator somewhere in there offices, all this isn't because its easy to use, its because its a good, powerful tool.

Not a quick fix

Cerra:

Why does everyone want a quick-fix solution to making designs? Im not trying to tread on anyones toes here but when i make a design and show my friends it, and what i had to work with (the shapes in the editor) they are massivly impressed. I dont know about anyone else here, but because we all know whats required to be used to make the designs, everyone has a "respect" for the person & his design because we know what they had to use to make it. By importing a premade design to my xbox and sticking it on a car would feel like cheating, IMO.

Actually, I'm one of those people who make real race car decals/vinyls and I do not use Illustrator to do my design work.  I paid over $10,000 for just the software that I use that comes with a dongle key that allows the software to be run.

Think about this logically here...

The game most likely uses pre-defined shapes/pieces, along with that they are vector/wire frame outlines.  Each pre-defined shape/piece is most likely assigned a number/value within the game.  On top of that each shape/piece is given a set of subvalues that determine the placement, size, transparency, etc.  Every piece therefore has its own code for placement, which in essence, the game will then combine all the shapes/pieces information and then "render" into a rastered image once it is loaded onto a car within the game.  Hence, the not so great pics...but why they look so good in the garage.

Now, I am sure that someone could possibly hack the system...if they had all the values/varibles...and were willing to sit down and try to crack the coding behind the livery and every single piece and subvalue assigned to it.  There are so many other variables here to mention...and I frankly don't have the time to go into every step...

Question:  Why on earth would anyone want to?  The livery was set this way to be a challenge...and I know that is why I love this game so much....it is just as hard as it is for me to do real race decals/vinyls in real life as it is in the editor....I don't buy pre-designed layouts....everything I make is custom.  I use a ton of math in my work day, everyday....I'm handy with a measuring tape and calculating the slope, angle and size of everything I work with just to get it right.  At least in the game that is one less step I have to worry about! lol

No one has to be a master designer in order to use the livery, as a matter of fact, anyone can use it if they have enough patience to learn the basic pieces and the basic functions. 

And by the way, its the satisfaction of sitting down and spending time working on a design that makes it a joy to view later...not how quickly it was pumped out.

There's my 2 cents,

KAT

^^^^^^^^^^^^

What the hell did you just say??????

Seriously, drop all the tech talk and go back to talking like a girl.

lol

No offense, I just feel a little dumber now.

FatboyShane:

^^^^^^^^^^^^

What the hell did you just say??????

Seriously, drop all the tech talk and go back to talking like a girl.

lol

No offense, I just feel a little dumber now.

Shane!!! Sorry!!!  LOL

Guess I should have told you guys I'm a bit of a tomboy...love computers/electronics/programming....I'm a geek! lol

Ok, I'll go back to being a girly girl...let me go put on my pink fuzzy slippers...

KAT

Re: Razored21

All valid points mate, and dont get me wrong I love spending time on my Illustrator & Photoshop designs (mag layout can be pretty tedious though, lol).

Believe it or not I do actually like using the Forza design mode aswell

I use Illustrator for decals for commercial cars, vans and trucks and also company/product logos, what software you using? $10000 seems a bit steep for doing decals or do you do other stuff aswell?

Anyway, I was just wondering if it would work, I suppose if  Turn 10 produced there own version as an add on to the game that would be pretty cool, they would obviously have all the coding etc. for the functionality of Forza's design mode so they could make a kind of expanded design studio or something......

I think the answer to my original question is: In theory, yes it could work

Dunnaz:

Re: Razored21

All valid points mate, and dont get me wrong I love spending time on my Illustrator & Photoshop designs (mag layout can be pretty tedious though, lol).

Believe it or not I do actually like using the Forza design mode aswell

I use Illustrator for decals for commercial cars, vans and trucks and also company/product logos, what software you using? $10000 seems a bit steep for doing decals or do you do other stuff aswell?

Anyway, I was just wondering if it would work, I suppose if  Turn 10 produced there own version as an add on to the game that would be pretty cool, they would obviously have all the coding etc. for the functionality of Forza's design mode so they could make a kind of expanded design studio or something......

I think the answer to my original question is: In theory, yes it could work

BTW:  I'm not a mate...I'm a girl/woman....lol

I actually went to Creighton University for graphic art design and used Quark and Illustrator for basic design class.  Yes, they both work really well in the print medium and in some cases for art that is used in tv ads...etc.   I'm well versed in Mac and in PC formats...can even explain why and how each variant of file extensions should be used to save an image...quality...size...printing...cutting...web...lol

However, Illustrator would not work on the large scale format that I have to use when I make large signs...and when I mean large...I'm talking about over 40 feet long.  Illustrator would choke on that sizing and reprinting/cutting something that size would be a nightmare.  The easiest part of my job is reproducing decals/vinyls...

I make all sorts of things...routered/hand carved signs, banners, interstate signage, engraving, tshirts and a whole host of other things...so I need powerful software to do all the things that a lesser program can't do...there are also instances where I need to pre-print a 20'x10' design and have it laid out so I can verify things look good and I challenge anyone to do that from photoshop/illustrator and be done with it in about 1 minute.  lol

I've worked with Disney (when they released ads for the Omaha Radio station - some of the most amazing artwork and people I've ever worked with), ESPN Radio in Omaha and a host of other big companies...too many to name....designed logos...and flyers, newspaper ads, restaurant menus...anything that can be designed...

Edited to add:  I also work with screen printing which is a whole other ballgame...line screens with dots per inch counts...the hardest thing I ever did was try to figure out how to do a gradient photo...how to set up the screen to allow the ink to flow at the right size/spacing to make an actual gradient photo realistic pic...

Sounds like you have done quite a bit of work on somethings too...so hopefully you understand the joy and happiness the livery editor can have if you learn to work it well...

KAT

Just because you're a 'lady' Kat doesn't mean I can't call you mate does it?, I call some of my girl friends (not girlfriend) mate

Anyway, your record is much more impressive than mine and as for the price tag of the software you're running.... sounds like you need it! lol

 I just do small scale stuff really, most enjoyable for me is Flyers and web stuff like logos and page headers, banners etc.

Thanks for the interesting read(s) MATE!!!

Dunnaz:

Just because you're a 'lady' Kat doesn't mean I can't call you mate does it?, I call some of my girl friends (not girlfriend) mate

Anyway, your record is much more impressive than mine and as for the price tag of the software you're running.... sounds like you need it! lol

 I just do small scale stuff really, most enjoyable for me is Flyers and web stuff like logos and page headers, banners etc.

Thanks for the interesting read(s) MATE!!!

 

I am just so used to guys calling me a dude and honestly it gets old in a hurry...but yes you can call me mate if that is what you call your friends...sounds fine to me.

Phooey on the record...I love my forza cars more than anything I've done in real life...because its so much more fun!  LOL

There is a place in this world for every single designer...no matter what the scale...just keep designing!

KAT

I've just had some spare time at work so thought I'd try the first stage of Keira Knightley's head...

This was done in Quark and was a far more 'fluent' process than the Forza editor, no zooming in and out all the time etc. just a much smoother process. It only took about 15mins and thats including the rough sketching on the original. This will be put to good use as I'll just copy it when in the Forza editor tonight..... and I bet it'll still take longer even when copying it!! all that fiddling with the sticks, zooming in and out when you dont want it to!!! lol 

Original Image

I guess I just like a smoother 'ride' and am used to what I'm used to, its all good fun though

Dunnaz:

Just had a quick read of this and was just wondering....what if you created your own specific vector files (shapes) in Illustrator or InDesign (Vector programs not raster ala P/Shop), would the gadget/method mentioned above work doing it this way?

If so, I guess anyone using Illustarator could do there designs in there and either save each file sepeartely (jigsaw method) or save the whole design in Vector format and then use the above gadget/method to get it from pc to the correct Forza data folder on the 360??

Obviously it'll be harder than it sounds above, but could that work in theory?

 

Come on, if someone had have started a new thread some people would have moaned that there was already a thread about this, so you can't win!

I posted a reply as it was already towards the top of the boards I think.....

Anyway, who cares....

Dunnaz:

Come on, if someone had have started a new thread some people would have moaned that there was already a thread about this, so you can't win!

I posted a reply as it was already towards the top of the boards I think.....

Anyway, who cares....

fair enough to me, you had a decent response, and its provided me with an interesting read while i'm at work

its all good

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do you all think that T10 uses the livery to make designs?! they have a program that alows them to make art work and load it to forza 3. I have seen the program they use to make the videos and trailers, it is far more advanced than the ingame movie maker. Not to mention you can only make a 30 second movie ingame.