EHM The Blue Line

I know it's only been about a week or so, but is there any chance we'll see the template for the new cards be released soon?

I'll do my best to get it done t'morra If you don't need the details instructions I can send you a copy of it but it includes many layers and layer sets etc. or I'd have released already. Don't want to confuse people as it can be a bit overwhelming without knowing what to do with what layers etc and I hope to have an online version of the template instructions complete with screenshots and examples too.

I've just been crazy busy recently

any progress on the template? or still busy with the draft? can I get a copy of the template w/o the instructions? I think I can figure it out. I've been using photoshop for a while now. thanks a bunch. BTW, this is my first post. just anxious to update some new pics for players on my team so I can play the game happily. take care.

-Ken

If you don't mind, could you drop me a copy of it without instructions? I'm usually pretty good at picking things up just by going through them and testing things. Afterall, that's the reason I even know how to use Photoshop in the first place

We've finished the draft so I definately will be able to get the template tutorial up by tommorow I promise, probably late night tonight or early morning tommorow depending on how you look at it Sorry for the delay but yesterday was the first time in weeks I've even had time to open Photoshop

And welcome to TBL

Okay, the template and Guide Image are now available for download.

Even those of you who had early versions of the template should probably grab the new one as I've tried to make it clearer and easier to use.

All instructions for use of the template are in the Guide image which comes with the template download. The following image is intentionally very low quality (and small in k so I won't post it as a link) as it's just a screenshot but here is an example of all the styles the 2007 Template can create:



Read more information about the template in the file description and of course download your own copy here:

http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dl ... ile_id=244

Please read the Guide information before asking any questions; I'll be glad to help anyone out but I'm not going to re-answer things covered in the Guide; it's there so I won't have to answer the same questions over and over again.

I love the template - everything is working well except for some reason I can't remove Dan Ellis' name from the template - it says the layer is locked. Any help?

Ahh... I should fix that I set it up that way because the level needs to stay at the same place in the layer order to display correctly, meant to set it to a different kind of lock actually...

All you need to do though is select the layer and click on the lock icon atop the the layers list panel and you'll be fine.

I also forgot to let people know that the font used is available for free here and is called SF Collegiate Solid:

http://www.dafont.com/sf-collegiate.font

Cool - I figured out how to get at the name, thanks for the font as well. What are the sizes needed for the small image? I've been using about 145-155 pixels wide for the large one. I've been using about 50 pixels wide and it seems not bad. How high a resolution setting are you saving at with the .jpg from Photoshop?

Made my first one Mikhail Grabovsky - nice

Excellent; glad to see you've been able to get it to go; I replaced the version I had up with one with the text layer unlocked last night.

Since I do things more by 'feel' than formula I usually just use the transform fuction (control-T) and drag the 'bounding box' of the pic to fit within the frame(s) actually; if you hold the shift key down it 'contrains' the image so it scales vertical and horizontal equally maintaining the perspective of the original.

However, allowing for a four pixel border the small pix would be 58x72.
The action pic I have in there is 160x200; the layer is set to be 'behind' the blue EHM border on the bottom.
The 'large' pic frame allowing for a five pixel border would use an image of 138x162.
The 'medium' pic frame allowing for a four pixel border would use an image of 105x122.

Now that I look at them, those dimensions show what I mean... I was 'eyeing' the borders not setting them to specific sizes

Oh, and I think D88 used 60-65 for his cards as far as jpg compression goes; that tends to be the range you can "get away with" saving as much size while losing as little noticable detail as possible but it will also depend on the source image. My intentionally roughed up screenshot was a 25 I think

I have just downloaded this, I will take a look and see how it goes.

I assume I would have to email teams to get permission first?? Or do I use the ones in the game??

Sorry for the questions. Never done out like this before but I want to start doing for games etc.

If you are using a specific photographers pictures you should ask their permission, but if you are using pictures from the Web since these are for private and non commercial use they should be okay. The worst they could do is ask us to remove the pictures from our server, but we've never had anything even go that far.

The real problems are only when you are using picture sources in a project that will generate revenue or if you are using pictures from the site of a photgrapher that has galleries for people to purchase their pictures.

Argh ok. I will take a look around and see what I can find.

If you're using the pictures that came with the game then you won't have anything to worry about, either.

Thanks for the feedback. i will probably give this a try tomorrow or Friday.

I was just wondering if the templates for the TBL 2007 cards were available in any format other than the .psd that is currently on the web site. The reason I ask is because I have Paint Shop Pro 7 (I know it's no PhotoShop, but PSP 5 and 7 have been good enough for my add-ons for EA games), and I'd really prefer to NOT shell out the money for PhotoShop just to be able to have my own "cards" for EHM. Yet at the same time, I'd also prefer to not rely on other people to make the cards for me.

I've added ones like Yanic Perreault to my game, but every time I load up is profile it just feels weird because his picture is one of the few in my game that do not have the typical TBL-style image.

Anyways, any help at all would be appreciated. Whether it's telling me how I can get it to work in PSP 7 or just telling me I'm out of luck, I'll take whatever.

The real problem is the complexity of this year's template; for example the top banners are in two sets that use different backgrounds (one light, one dark) and then each country int he game has it's own flag image... then there is the set up for the dual photo look which the template has for both right and left sided inset photos among other things. So without the layers/organization to keep it all straight we'd have to output several 'blanks' for players of each country.

I know nothing of PSP but maybe CatchUp would be able to help you out more, I just can't think of a way to do it that wouldn't involve like a hundred+ files with your having to open the right country and format each time to make a card. Maybe he'll have a better solution.

Well, thanks for the quick reply! I guess I'll just have to go with whatever files get posted here instead of making my own.

Have you looked into using GIMP? I haven't tried it myself, but I did read someone on here saying that they use it.

Minstrel wrote:I know nothing of PSP but maybe CatchUp would be able to help you out more, I just can't think of a way to do it that wouldn't involve like a hundred+ files with your having to open the right country and format each time to make a card. Maybe he'll have a better solution.

Unfortunetly, I don't have much to add here.

PSP is something I worked with briefly when I was in my desktop publishing days - a long time ago! From what I remember it's not going to come close to the task of creating cards en masse. The reason for working with Photoshop is exactly what Minty mentioned - organization. With layers, you can work with one file and turn on and off visibility of flags, banners, photos, etc. In PSP, you'd be assembling EVERY card from scratch. So, theoretically, it is do-able - but I anticipate it would be more of a headache then it's worth.

What cards are you looking for that you're not finding here on the server? D88's facepacks are pretty comprehensive and yours truly is working on a full NHL pack as well - it's just a matter of when it gets done. Maybe if you're only looking to add a few players that aren't in the facepacks I could help you out - drop me a PM.

Cheers.

Hutch:
Thanks for the GIMP suggestion. I'm currently trying to navigate my way through that, and I think I may be able to do something with it. It was kind of confusing at first but I'm beginning to understand it a little better. The only problem I'm having is trying to figure out the text thing. ie. "Yanic Perreault" instead of "Dan Ellis" on top of the flag thing.

CatchUp:
I may just wait for more updates, considering I'm actually looking to update A LOT of photos with the game. So I'll either figure out this GIMP thing or find something else.

Apparently PSP 8 supports the "layering" thing, so I may try the trial version of that (or whatever the newest version available is) and see if it helps me out.

Thanks for the replies everybody.

Could someone please give me a brief tutorial on how to make a quality TBL card for EHM 2007? Well actually main thing I would like help with is creating the nameplate. What font should be used? I can't get anything to appear similar to what is on most cards, primarily the way they kinda look white with a blue outline. I can only get solid colored font.

I do not have Photoshop, but I do use GIMP 2.2 which pretty much a freeware photoshop. Please help.

Oh and my goal is focus on the AHL, ECHL, CHL, UHL, SPHL, and LNAH

Thanks

Hi and welcome to the blueline. Im looking forward to seeing your cards!
Creating then is actually quite easy. Devils88 taught me, and Ive already created more than 2000 cards.

The font you need can be downloaded HERE.

Devils88 sent me a word document from which I learned how to create the cards. If you give me your e-mail, Ill send it to you too. Its for photoshop though, I have never used GIMP, but Im sure you will find it helpful anyway!

The more card-smiths, the merrier

Thanks, I'll try that font out! Any more tips or guides would be greatly appreciated as well. My email is Owenay@hotmail.com