Often people will ask about "How to create a race livery or design?". Below I have detailed a little guide of some rules and ideas about creating your own liveries for those who want to try. This is not a 'How to' more of a few hints and tips.
Planning your livery.Some of the most fundamental rules of a race livery is sponsor usage. Most race teams/cars will have 1-2 primary sponsors, 2-6 secondary sponsors and many other tertiary sponsors. You will also have series sponsors, tyre series sponsors and fuel sponsors that will also be used.
Below is a few well known cars broken down into their groups.



Think about how you want your car to be represented in what series it will race in. It is unlikely you will see Japanese tuner sponsors plastered all over a F1 car or Blue chip companies all over the side of some D1 Drift car.
Replicas
Paint by ABGraphics - Super Taikyu Fiat 500 AbarthIf you are creating a replica do as much research as possible. The internet is a powerful thing and even cars going back 50 years can be found with little effort. If you cannot find a logo ASK someone here. There are so many painters here that have gone through so many designs in the past that someone is likely to know of the logo you are looking for if you are having trouble. If it is a modern car try social media sites, look for the team and if desperate contact the team (whilst they are often pleased to help the last thing they want is hassle).
The most important thing about replicas is making them as close to the original. Try not to compromise and think "oh, it looks like this logo" as it won't look right and there will be someone, somewhere who will pull you up on it.
Research the series too. The Nurburgring 24hr for example uses several main sponsors on EVERY car in the race. Ensure you use the right ones for the right cars.
Logo recreation is something which is paramount to any top notch livery. Getting a logo looking perfect makes the whole recreation come to life. Have a go at making your own fonts for the logos (coming in pt.2) and you will find logo generation can be quite fun and rewarding.
Original Designs
Paint by Duffman D - Super Autobacs Toyota GT86
This is where you can get really creative! Make up your own series or even make up your own sponsor/team. By using the tips above you can create really realistic cars that would fool anyone into thinking the cars are REAL. Main key to a good original livery is the case design. Drift cars and time attack will be wild and crazy graphics whereas something racing at the ALMS will be simple and quite corporate looking using the colours of said sponsors. Try to plan what you are going to do with each car and work towards that goal. If you want a Nissan Silvia drift car than you are going to have to think about something thats going to pop and stand out, if it's a WRC car you will have to think where to place logos because in real life the car will be dirty and sponsors will want their brand to not be covered in gravel and dirt.
PART 2 - Fonts and logo creation coming soon...
Edited by user Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:11:18 AM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified