Tutorial: Create Your Own Number Plate

[Iced_Bullet]

In this series of threads, I'm listing and giving tutorials on how to improve your game-play. These are not instructions, or officially related to Atari in any way. They are tutorials created by me, for the sole purpose of giving you the chance to improve your gameplay.

 

I take no responsibility in your game going corupt or damaged. I cannot be help responsible for damages to game files or profiles.However this is highly unlikely to happen ;)

 

Anyway, on with the tutorial of Rim-Swapping ...

 

Make sure you back up everything, unless you want to have to reinstall TDU when you decide the plate doesn't look as good.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Creating Your Own TDU Number Plate:

This is a very simple process, where most of the time is spent actually creating the image within Photoshop or Gimp.

 

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thf430_better_plate.jpg

 

The first few stages of this tutorial are for Photoshop only. If you don't own Photoshop, please create the 256x128 image in another software package and we'll create it for you asap :) If you can't do that, give us fairly detailed explanation for what you want and we'll get round to it asap.

 

Tools and Programs NEEDED!

- 'BNK Editor' - [Download]

- 'TDU-Modding Tool' - [Download]

- Photoshop - Has to be bought.

[/url]

Step 1

Install this .dds plugin for photoshop [Download]. When downloaded, just install and it will do all the work.

Step 2

Create an image of anything you wont within Photoshop or Gimp, but the dimensions must be 256x128. This is the image I created:

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/plate_tut_1.jpg

 

Step 3

When finished, go to 'File' --> 'Save as' and select the file type DDS in the drop down box. Click Save and then the following window will appear. Save it with the file name 'plate.DDS'

 

- 1 - Select 'DXT1 ARGB 4bpp | 1 bit Alpha'

- 2 - Select 'Generate MIP maps'

- 3 - Select '2D Texture'

- 4 - Click 'Save'

 

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thplate_tut_1.jpg

 

Step 4

Now, Save this image as a .jpg, then re-open this file and the use the image go to 'filter --> Nvidia Tools --> NormalMapFilter' and use the default settings. See lower image to check these settings. You have to save it as otherwise it does not complete the next step properly.

 

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thplate_tut_2.jpg

 

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thplate_tut_3.jpg

 

It should look like this style.

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/ws_plate_tutorial_2.jpg

 

Step 5

Now 'Save as' .dds again. Now use this image as a guideline of what settings to save as. Save it with the file name 'ws_plate.DDS'

 

- 1 - Select '8.8.8.8 ARGB 32bpp | unsigned'

- 2 - Select 'Generate MIP maps'

- 3 - Select '2D Texture'

- 4 - Click 'Save'

 

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thplate_tut_5.jpg

 

Step 6

Open the BNK Editor program. Select 'Open BNK'

 

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thplate_tut_6.jpg

 

Step 7

Open the Common_car.bnk located in 'C:\Program Files\Atari\Test Drive Unlimited\Euro\Bnk\Vehicules'

 

Step 8

Extract the 'Plate.2db' and 'ws_plate.2db' files.

 

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thplate_tut_7.jpg

Step 9

Open the 'TDU-Modding Tools' program.

 

- 1 - Select 'DDS->2DB'

- 2 - Locate the Original plate.2DB file you extracted using the BNK Editor here 'C:\Program Files\Atari\Test Drive Unlimited\Euro\Bnk\Vehicules\Common_Car'

- 3 - Locate the new plate.dds file you saved from Photoshop

- 4 - Find a location for your new plate.2db file to be. i.e. the Desktop.

- 5 - Click Yes

- 6 - Click 'Go'

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thplate_tut_8.jpg

 

 

Step 10

Now, redo step 9, but with the 'ws_plate.2db' and ws_plate.DDS'

 

- 1 - Select 'DDS->2DB'

- 2 - Locate the Original ws_plate.2DB file you extracted using the BNK Editor here 'C:\Program Files\Atari\Test Drive Unlimited\Euro\Bnk\Vehicules\Common_Car'

- 3 - Locate the new ws_plate.dds file you saved from Photoshop/GIMP

- 4 - Find a location for your new ws_plate.2db file to be. i.e. the Desktop.

- 5 - Click Yes

- 6 - Click 'Go'

 

Step 11

- 1 - Back in the BNK Editor program, select the 'plate.2db'. Now click on 'Replace File' and locate the plate.2db file you created in step 9.

- 2 - Select the 'ws_plate.2db'. Now click on 'Replace File' and locate the ws_plate.2db file you also created in step 10.

- 3 - Select 'Save BNK' and then you're away! Go into TDU and hopefully it will work! :D

 

Click to Enlarge

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/thplate_tut_9.jpg

[Iced_Bullet]

Put your requests in for your own plates :D

 

Myself, Little_ghost, and various others have been making plates for TDU:C Members :) Thanks all for your help - lightening my load!

I'll get round to doing them asap. No rude words or profanity to be asked for on here. But a PM may be sent to me if you desperatly want a rude one. However they will not be posted on here for others to see.

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

TDU Central Plate v1.0

[Download] - Removed

 

7DU:C3N7R4L Plate v1.1

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/plate_tut_1.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

EAT MY DUST v1.0

[Download] - Removed

 

EAT MY DUST v2.0

Remember to rename to 'Common_car.bnk'

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/platejpg.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

JU57 1337 v1.0

Remember to rename to 'Common_car.bnk'

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/Untitled-4.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

M4SER4T1 v1.0

Remember to rename to 'Common_car.bnk'

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/M4SER4T1.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

T3h Reaper - Eat My Dust v1.0

Remember to rename to 'Common_car.bnk'

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/plate.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

1 CR4SH v1.0

Remember to rename to 'Common_car.bnk'

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/plate-1.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

VENOMOUS v1.0

Remember to rename to 'Common_car.bnk'

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/VENEMOUS_plate.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

A19 LDP v1.0

Remember to rename to 'Common_car.bnk'

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/2.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

DUB v2.0

[Download]

 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/DUB_Plate.jpg

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

R 2 5EXY v1.0

[Download]

 

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

M4D - 1337

[Download]

 

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

GLBL WRMR

[Download]

 

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

CU560M PL8

[Download]

 

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

W8 N SEE

[Download]

 

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

C3N50R3D

[Download]

 

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

ADV1S3D

[Download]

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

4NDR34

[Download]

 

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

TDU Image Plate

[Download]

 

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn183/ZeRoX_AlphA/matricula.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

666-POD

[Download]

 

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

Umbrella Image

[Download]

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn7/captain_clutch_kick/umbrellaplate.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

1 SCR3AM

[Download]

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/IcedBullet/Test%20Drive%20Unlimited/Mods/1_SCR3AM_Plate.jpg

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

Chequered Flag Image

[Download]

 

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn7/captain_clutch_kick/racingplate.jpg

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

 

M1E LI3

[Download]

 

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

[ShadowGT]

But a PM may be sent to me if you desperatly want a rude one.

 

ROFL!:rofl: I wonder how many people will want rude ones?

[Baltoman]

sick sick ppl

[MCiN7]

Great work, thanks :)

 

URGENT!

the size should be 256x128 not 256x182 :)

it just didnt look right at first LOL

[hesonly5]

Cool looks easy enough... Might have a go with this at some point.. If I ever get time ¬¬

[Redokee]

http://kepfeltoltes.pirateclub.hu/pics/DUBAI+T_NCSICS.jpg

 

whats your opinion? How can we delete TDU-505 sign? :|

[Andreas¹]

GREAT! +rep if I could! The image you create first is the one that later become your plate, right?

[Leadfoot[YT]]

whats your opinion? How can we delete TDU-505 sign? :|

 

It's 3D. We can't modify the meshes themselves, but we can modify the colors and stuff. Other wise, I'd have an E92 M3 on the CLS, with M3 sounds (that would be possible if we could modify the meshes).

 

-Leadfoot

[Andreas¹]

Too bad, but it works! :D

 

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii239/Spitfire_RT/334c4a68.jpg

[The Queen]

What happened to the rule of not posting pictures larger than 800X600?

 

Nice plates though!

[Iced_Bullet]

GREAT! +rep if I could! The image you create first is the one that later become your plate, right?

Yes Indeed it is.

;53590']It's 3D. We can't modify the meshes themselves, but we can modify the colors and stuff. Other wise, I'd have an E92 M3 on the CLS, with M3 sounds (that would be possible if we could modify the meshes).

 

-Leadfoot

Yes you actually can :p there is some help on Official gemran forum but I've yet to desiper it's bad tranlation from google.

Too bad, but it works! :D

Ahh, what the heck, this thread is already so strectched, I won't bother resizing :D

No, please resize.

[-Lr-SpeedraceR]

Great ! I'll make my own plate tomorow :)

[Speed]

How much of the TDU 505 plate you get just depends on the angle you're looking I think :)

 

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll237/SpeedFreakLightning/20080330172559.jpg

 

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll237/SpeedFreakLightning/20080330172421.jpg

[Mb]

Iced now fixed this, now it looks good! :D

[Iced_Bullet]

How much of the TDU 505 plate you get just depends on the angle you're looking I think :)

In that link I gave you on MSN, it tells you how to get rid of the TDU 505 :p

[Andreas¹]

And you didn't give us that because...? :p

[Iced_Bullet]

It's in German and not in a good layout :p I will make the tutorial for that tomorrow or now if I feel like it :p I might do it now actually. It may be up in 20-30 minutes.

[Mb]

Then you still have 14-24 minutes to post it :D Can't wait lol.

[Aquila DK]

I can help with some of the German translation, if needed.. Feel free to add me on MSN,

 

[email protected] (NOTE: THIS E-MAIL IS FOR MSN ONLY, IT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE, ONLY FOR MSN!)

[Iced_Bullet]

OK Thank you. I have made the tutorial now, I'm currently uploading the images now and writing it out.

 

It only took 16 minutes :p

[Iced_Bullet]

It's up :) For all people who downloaded the .dds plugin, there is a new one which you will need to complete the tutorial.

[Speed]

No 'TDU 505' anymore, so here's some more photos :D

 

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll237/SpeedFreakLightning/20080331013357.jpg

 

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll237/SpeedFreakLightning/20080331013804copy.jpg

 

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll237/SpeedFreakLightning/20080331013959.jpg

[The Queen]

Heres the numberplate I made tonight. It's ok, could probably do better. Only posting one picture as i'm going to bed soon :(

 

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t270/TheScottishSpotter/20080331024955edit11.jpg

[Iced_Bullet]

You know I wouldn't mind some rep for all my trouble making your TDU experience better :p