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Vsk5 Skins Tutorial for photoshop | What you will need.
A template or model of the boat skin to be modified in ".psd" format. These can be downloaded at any of the vsk sites and eventually here as well.
A program that will edit ".psd" files. I prefer Adobe Photoshop CS2 but Adobe Photoshop Elements, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, GIMP etc will all do the same job. Gimp can be downloaded free gimp Also required is are the ".dds" plug ins allowing your programme to convert the ".psd" format files to ".dds" format. Download N'vidia's DXT Tools and unzip the files in the folder of your choice then copy the "dds.8bi" file, located in file "DXT_TOOLS\Photoshop Plugins", in your "Photoshop\plugins\file formats" folder. These are available at NVIDIA dds utilities
A thumbnail viewer for ".dds" files is also useful available from Nvidia. To install the viewer copy the "msvcr70.dll" file, located in folder "DXT_TOOLS\ThumbNailViewer" and paste it into your folder "Windows/System32" (winXP). Get the DDS Thumbnail Viewer
| Getting started
Folder preperation
Go to the template file the boat model to be skinned.
Create a new folder “NEW BOAT” within the above folder. In this tutorial "NEW BOAT" will be the boat's name. Don't worry as the name may be changed later. Copy all the ".psd" files that are in the template file into the "NEW BOAT" folder. This leaves the original “.psd” files unmodified if we encounter a problem and makes saving the files to the right place easy.
You can place any images (flags logos etc.) that you intend to use into this folder "NEW BOAT"; this avoids opening multiple windows at the same time and facilitates the design process.
| Template Preparation Download these Vsk5 templates that have already been preprepared to skip this step! The “.psd” files have to be flattened in their normal form to create a “.dds” file. Flattening involves merging all the visible layers into one layer and discarding the invisible layers. To avoid this I suggest this method, which avoids hours of rework if you forget to un flatten the “.psd” image before saving it. The great advantage is that to modify the transparency of the sails is child’s play as we will also remove the alpha layer. (If you do wish to learn more about using alpha layers please visit Camsters excellent tutorial at Northspace, see links An added advantage is that the finished skin file is a lot lighter. Open one of the “.psd” files in "NEW BOAT" with Photoshop. This example is done with the "hull.psd". Make a note of the dimensions of "hull.psd" by clicking Ctrl+Alt+I.
Create a new file by clicking edit in the main window menu and in the drop down menu click new. A window will open showing the dimensions, resolution, etc. of the new file. Check that the dimensions are the same as for hull.psd, the colour is RGB 8bit and that the Background Contents are set to Transparent and click OK.
A new blank image called "Untitled-1.psd" will appear. Slide it to one side so that you can see both the images hull.psd and Untitled-1.psd in the photoshop screen. If you can only see one image on screen at a time it may be that the images are maximised this can be rectified by clicking on the box in the 3 size options in the top right of the work area (not dissimilar to a web page size options).
Select the hull.psd image again by clicking on the blue title bar of the image. In the main window toolbar click layer then select all. All the layer tabs should now be blue (pressing F7 will bring up the Layers window). In the Layers Window click and hold on a layer and drag all the layers into the window of the new image "Untitled-1.psd", and adjust their position so that the sides line up.
If on clicking on the layer of hull.psd only one layer is selected then, either go back to the step select then select all, or alternatively go to edit in the main window toolbar and in the drop down menu click step backwards. Step backwards, shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Z, undoes any action and may be used several times in succession to go back several steps. 
Once you are happy that the layers have been successfully transferred and aligned into "Untitled-1" then close the original "Hull.psd" without saving it.
Go to the "Untitled-1" image, click file in the main window toolbar and in the drop down menu click Save as, shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Z, and save the file in "NEW BOAT" as "Hull.psd" overwriting the original.
The file "hull.psd" in the parent folder templates may be overwritten eventually to avoid having to repeat this process for every new skin but I would advise saving the original file somewhere unaltered until you have tested the new files.
Repeat the process for all the files in "NEW BOAT", hull.psd, sails 1.psd, sails 2.psd, spi2.psd, teammate.psd and icon.psd.
| Hull design
In "NEW BOAT" open the "hull.psd" file that we modified in Template Preparation. This tutorial describes the operations for Adobe Photoshop CS2 but all the image editors are more less the same.
In the main Photoshop Screen there should be the hull image and 2 smaller windows, (tools and layers). If either of these 2 smaller windows do not appear select windows on the main Photoshop Screen and make sure that Tools is ticked on the drop down menu. Tip .. pressing F7 will bring up the Layers window.
Look at the layers window, there are 3 tabs at the top, make sure layers is selected. Below there are sections each with an "eye" icon. Pressing the eye will make the layer invisible, another press will restore it.
Spend a little time discovering which layer is which and renaming them if necessary..
Spend a little time discovering which layer is which and rename them if necessary.
Use your image editor's help menu to familiarise yourself with its tools.
Tip..The tool selection window will display the tool name as you hover the mouse above an icon.
To work on a specific layer it must be selected by clicking that layers Tab. See layer selection in the Photo above.
Each layer obscures the lower layers, for example, if you want your name on the hull make sure that the new text layer you create is positioned higher than the hull layer.
To colour a specific layer, for example the "hull layer" select the hull layer in the layers window then use the magic wand tool, Shortcut W, to select the area to be coloured by left clicking on the portion to colour. You will see that the hull outline is surrounded by a pulsing dotted line, this ensures that you do not colour outside the area of the hull.
If an area to be selected is multi coloured then left click on an empty portion of the layer, right click then select inverse.
Set the colour for the hull by left clicking on the foreground colour square and choosing the colour required in the colour window which opens.
Tip. if you require a specific colour identical to any artwork then open that image with Photoshop and select the colour with the eyedropper tool, shortcut I.
Select the brush tool, Shortcut B, and colour in the hull. The brush size may be altered in properties in the main windows toolbar. Shift + Backspace fills a selection.
Once the area has been coloured click select in the main window toolbar and in the drop down menu click deselect, Shortcut Ctrl+D, to remove the border created by the eyedropper tool.
The addition of more colours to the hull may be done at the same time as the first colour above but I prefer to do each on a separate layer. Select the hull layer tab and right click it and select duplicate layer. This creates a new layer which we will paint with the second hull colour using the same method as above. To let the original colour on the layer below be visible we must cut away the colour in the new layer. On the new layer select the Rectangular marquee tool, shortcut M, and draw a rectangle covering the area to be cut away. This can be drawn and redrawn until you are happy with it. Select the eraser tool, shortcut E, and erase the area within the rectangle. The first area you coloured in the layer below can now be seen. Once all the areas you require have been erased right click on the tab of the new layer in the layers window and select merge down. The 2 layers will then become one.
For the waterline select layer in the main windows toolbar and in the dropdown menu select new then layer. Shortcut Shift+Ctrl+N, to create a new layer. Alter the colour and brush size and draw the water lines with the brush tool. Tip.. you can left click at the start of a line and then holding down the shift key left click at the end of a line to draw a straight line. Remember you can undo mistakes with Alt+Ctrl+Z which is a step backwards.
If the transition between hull colours is not a straight line use the above method except do not use the rectangular marquee tool to delimit the rubbing out of the second colour.
Text may be added to the hull and boom. Left click the horizontal text tool, Shortcut T, and this will create a new layer. At the top of the main window select the text's colour style and size. Write the text required. Text may be resized, the character set changed, and the colour modified by dragging the mouse right to left with the left mouse button held down on the text you have already written and altering it's properties in the main windows toolbar.
Note that on the boom text may appear backwards, to rectify select the text layer with the move tool select edit in the main windows toolbar and in the dropdown menu select transform then flip horizontal. To change the direction of the text for the inverse of the hull select edit in the main windows toolbar and in the dropdown menu select transform then rotate 180.
After text has been finalised I suggest that you Rasterise the layer, right click on the layer tab then select rasterise layer. This allows you to modify and transform the text as an image.
Importing in an image, flag or logo into the Hull.psd is simple, open the image with Photoshop. In the image to be imported click select in the main window toolbar and in the drop down menu click all. Click edit in the main window toolbar and in the drop down menu click copy, Shortcut Ctrl+C. Go to the Hull.psd and click edit in the main window toolbar and in the drop down menu click paste, Shortcut Ctrl+V, this adds the imported image and a new layer into hull.psd. Make sure that the layer is visible by moving it's tab up or down in the layers window. To position the imported image select the move tool, left click anywhere in the hull.psd image and drag the imported image into the required position. To resize the imported image select the move tool, position the mouse on a corner left click whilst holding down the shift key. A straight double ended arrow will appear and the image can be resized. This will hold the proportions if the imported image. Once happy with the size click the move tool again and confirm the transformation. Confirmation is essential as we cannot work on anything else until this is done; typically a no entry sign is displayed when we attempt to select something else.
Now to transform our hull.psd image into the “hull.dds” file. Make sure that all the layers we do not want to be seen are hidden, for example the UV layer.
Click file in the main window toolbar and in the drop down menu click Save as, shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Z.
This opens a pop up window “Save as”. First if the destination file shown the "Save in" field is not NEW BOAT then search with the blue button at the end of the "Save in" field to locate the folder. In the “Save as” window the default for saving a file is “.psd”.
In the field beside “format:” is an arrow which when left clicked opens a drop down menu, select DDS in this menu. Left click save, after verifying that the program is not proposing to save as Hullcopy.dds. The naming of the files is ultra important, if it’s wrong the computer cannot understand it. It must be Hull.dds The same applies for all the files that will eventually make up the skin. (icon.dds spi2.dds sails2.dds sails2.dds hull.dds teammate.dds )
When we click on save a new popup window appears, NVIDIA .dds Format. Select the option Dxt5 (interpolated alpha) in the left hand “save format” list and click Save.
That’s it done!! To check go to "NEW BOAT" and open it. Select view in the main windows menu and thumbnails in the drop down menu and the Hull.dds should be visible.
Save the Hull file as a Hull.psd in case of mishaps so that it can be retrieved and modified if needs be and a new Hull.dds generated from it.
| Sails and Spinnaker  In"NEW BOAT" open the "Sails1.psd","Sails2.psd" or "Spi2.psd"file that we modified in Template. This removed the alpha layers which are hard to work with to accurately change sail transparency!
Spend a little time discovering which layer is which and rename or delete them if necessary.
On the various layers change the colour as described in Hull Design above. Import any images and resize them to suit. Write any text required and alter the size and style until you are happy with it. Add new layers with any details that you might require such as different batons or sail panel lines etc.. Note that tha top layer will appear above subsequent lavers, so a layers position in the ladder may change its appearence.
Vsk5 allows us to write on both sides of the Jibs and Mainsail, in fact each side may be seperate designs if you wish. Note the direction of the writing in the pictures above!
To rotate your text select the Move tool a box will appear around the text and if you move the mouse around the exterior of this box a curved double headed arrow will appear, left click and rotate the text to the desired position. Select the Move tool again and confirm the transformation. Text and images can be reversed. To do this select the text or image layer with the move tool, Shortcut V, select edit in the main windows toolbar and in the dropdown menu select transform then flip horizontal.
After text has been finalised I suggest that you Rasterise the layer, right click on the layer tab then select rasterise layer. This allows you to modify and transform the text as an image.
The sails transparency can now be regulated just by changing the degree of Opacity of the sails colour. Select the sail colour layer tab the layers window and at the top of the layers window are 3 small windows “normal”, “Opacity:100%” and “Fill:100%”.
Select the blue arrow to the right of “Opacity:100%” and a drop down slider will appear. Use this slider to alter the opacity of the main sail colour, try about 40%. This can be altered later to render the sails more or less transparent. Other layers may also alter the transparency of the sails such as sail shadow, sail texture etc so alter the opacity of these in the same manner or render them invisible by clicking on the layers eye. Make sure the UV layer is not visible and save the file as Sails.dds as described in hull design. Save the Sails.psd in the same “NEW BOAT”.
| The Icon
In "NEW BOAT" open the "Icon.psd" file that we modified in Template Preparation with the image editor of your choice. Make an appropriate image or just write the boat name. Save the file as Icon.dds as described in hull design. Save the Icon.psd in the same “NEW BOAT”
Many Icons feature an image of the boat, if this is what you require for the moment just write the boat name on the image and save it as described above.
When all the files required have been processed and a zip file created and installed into the game a screenshot of the boat may be made. To make a screenshot launch the game and select the boat that you have just created. Pick custom races then play a race. Choose a race and scroll the boat type to the desired craft and launch the race. If boat names are onscreen press tab to hide them, also press the del key to remove the head up display. Vary the angle of the boat and the camera until the desired shot is achieved and press F10. Take a few shots to be sure. Exit the game, and retrieve the image in My Documents>>32nd America's Cup . Open the image with the image editor of your choice. Select the Rectangular marquee tool, shortcut M, and draw a square over the area that you want for the icon. When you are happy with your selection click image in the main window toolbar and in the drop down menu click crop. Open your Icon.psd file again and drag the screenshot image into it, adjust the size of the imported layer to fit and save it as Icon.dds again. Zip again all the required .dds files and install the zip into the game replacing he old one.
| Team mate
The original boats in Virtual Skipper 5 all have crew that can also to be modified to fit in with your colour scheme. Open the "Teammate.psd" file and colour the layers as desired. Images may also be applied to the crew. | Creation of the zip file.
When all the .psd files have been transformed into .dds files they must then be incorporated into a zip file. In "NEW BOAT" select all the .dds files by left clicking on each holding down Ctrl. Right click on one of the highlighted files and in the drop down menu select "add to" or "zip" depending on your software. Zip the files together and the skin is complete!! Place the Zip file into the game as described in the help section on Downloads. Launch the game and admire your work! If modifications are required do not close the game but use the Alt+ enter command to reduce the screen. Modify your skin zip it and place it into the game replacing the older version. This new skin may not appear until you select an alternative skin then the new one. If you changed the Icon go to another boat type and return to see the updated icon.
| Good luck with your skins. If any part of this tutorial is unclear please ask me and I'll email you with further help and update this page accordingly.
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