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Teflon Skies · 04-18-2003, 07:51 PM

You will need image editing software that lets you work in layers, create transparencies, skew perspectives, adjust hues, midtones, mirror, etc. I use an older version of Paint Shop Pro by Jasc. ($99) You will also need a large catalog of good images such as cityscapes, advertisements, buildings, trees, skies, and, of course stadium parts. There is no quick way to get them. You just have to browse through lots of web pages and keep your eyes open. Hint: the collectibles section on e-bay is a good source for old-time ads. Web Shots is a good source of cityscapes and skies. The stadium parts are mostly screen captures from PC games I have owned over the years including Old Time Baseball, Tony LaRussa 3 Baseball, and the High Heat titles. Having a good screen capture program that lets you save multiple screen captures automatically is nice to have. I use Hyper-Snap ($35) It works on just about every type of game including 3dfx, glide, and video accelerated games unless the game runs completely as an overlay, like this year's High Heat.

There is also some skill required. You have to be able to edit your clips to the correct perspectives and understand how to apply shadows and adjust contrast lighting to make close things look close and backgrounds look not so close. You also want all the parts to look like they're lit from the same direction. If the buldings in the background appear lit from the right side, the field and stadium should appear this way, too. I also draw some things free-hand. Stadium lights I typically do from scratch because it's easier than trying to edit images to work.

Making these parks isn't quick or easy. I've described it before as being similar to putting a model car kit together. It can take hours -sometimes days. There is a lot of trimming unwanted bits of image away which is about the most tedious thing imagineable. I do this as a hobby. I typically tune in a ballgame at MLB.com and do this while I listen.

To summarize, first steps would be getting the software and becoming familiar with it and then going image hunting. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have once you start.

04-18-2003, 07:51 PM	#2
Teflon Skies Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 122	You will need image editing software that lets you work in layers, create transparencies, skew perspectives, adjust hues, midtones, mirror, etc. I use an older version of Paint Shop Pro by Jasc. ($99) You will also need a large catalog of good images such as cityscapes, advertisements, buildings, trees, skies, and, of course stadium parts. There is no quick way to get them. You just have to browse through lots of web pages and keep your eyes open. Hint: the collectibles section on e-bay is a good source for old-time ads. Web Shots is a good source of cityscapes and skies. The stadium parts are mostly screen captures from PC games I have owned over the years including Old Time Baseball, Tony LaRussa 3 Baseball, and the High Heat titles. Having a good screen capture program that lets you save multiple screen captures automatically is nice to have. I use Hyper-Snap ($35) It works on just about every type of game including 3dfx, glide, and video accelerated games unless the game runs completely as an overlay, like this year's High Heat. There is also some skill required. You have to be able to edit your clips to the correct perspectives and understand how to apply shadows and adjust contrast lighting to make close things look close and backgrounds look not so close. You also want all the parts to look like they're lit from the same direction. If the buldings in the background appear lit from the right side, the field and stadium should appear this way, too. I also draw some things free-hand. Stadium lights I typically do from scratch because it's easier than trying to edit images to work. Making these parks isn't quick or easy. I've described it before as being similar to putting a model car kit together. It can take hours -sometimes days. There is a lot of trimming unwanted bits of image away which is about the most tedious thing imagineable. I do this as a hobby. I typically tune in a ballgame at MLB.com and do this while I listen. To summarize, first steps would be getting the software and becoming familiar with it and then going image hunting. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have once you start.