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CatchUp's Backgrounds Projects
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:43 am
by CatchUp
I'm working on a new NHL background set for myself because I wanted something a little darker and classier...
I've got the first 6 teams done (alphabetically) and I've posted them to my gallery
HERE.
If anyone is interested in me posting these as a pack please let me know. They're fairly quick to hammer out so if anyone wants them I'll get them done ASAP....otherwise, I'll take my sweet time with 'em.
Cheers and thanks for all the comments on my facepack! Top 50 Prospects and Central Division coming soon!
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:45 am
by Stillblind
Those look pretty good. I really like the Atl one.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:30 am
by Minstrel
I dig 'em too... the problem with backgrounds though is that they have to not interfere with game text and the amount of white in the Carolina one for example makes me wonder if they'll be to distracting. Backgrounds can be really tricky, that's why my set didn't use the logos as is and instead dropped them on the chunky textured backround with a healthy blur to them:
Background Screenshot
Also you'll notice that my logos aren't centered with respect to the entire image either... I noticed that if you center them exactly to the screen they'll look out of balance with the sidebar and titlepanel areas laid on so I designed mine to be centered to the area that displays beneath the titlepanel and to the right of the sidebar.
We could certainly use the variety though, that's always a good thing

I mainly did mine because I found the picture backround too distracting during testing and wanted something at least with some team-related content for each team too.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:59 pm
by ElQuapo
I also think that the "blue blur" is the way to go. It seems as if it is the only colour that doesn't interfer i some way with the game tekst.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:49 pm
by Joe
Wow those look awesome
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:26 pm
by CatchUp
Minstrel wrote:I dig 'em too... the problem with backgrounds though is that they have to not interfere with game text and the amount of white in the Carolina one for example makes me wonder if they'll be to distracting. Backgrounds can be really tricky, that's why my set didn't use the logos as is and instead dropped them on the chunky textured backround with a healthy blur to them:
Background Screenshot
Also you'll notice that my logos aren't centered with respect to the entire image either... I noticed that if you center them exactly to the screen they'll look out of balance with the sidebar and titlepanel areas laid on so I designed mine to be centered to the area that displays beneath the titlepanel and to the right of the sidebar.
We could certainly use the variety though, that's always a good thing

I mainly did mine because I found the picture backround too distracting during testing and wanted something at least with some team-related content for each team too.
Quick update...I posted screenshots of the BG's in-game to my gallery....
HERE
I was a little concerned about the colours/readability issue as well. but I found that the game puts it's own bit of blur on the BG's. They certainly don't seem as bright in the in-game screenshots to me anyway.
I'm going to keep working on them for myself I think anyway. You guys can send me a PM if you want 'em.
Cheers.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:14 pm
by Minstrel
There is a semi transparent grey that overlays that section of the game screen... to set that area off, it also has for lack of a better technical description textured lines on it so that the statistics listings and your roster seem more on their own lines, setting them off from each other. Without that overlay you wouldn't see the vertical separation between lines. It's part of the skin.
If you want you could create a set of 'skin add-ons' for use with your backgrounds that could make the sidebar images semi transparent so your backround would show through. That way you could design them just without the top area that is covered by the titlepanels.

The easisest way without my writing out what files you need to change in depth here would be for you to download my 'StoneAge' skin elements set here and the install file will give you the file locations etc:
http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/dl ... ile_id=200
RETRO-EDIT: No prob Ryan, I like 'em better than mine too

And it's always good to have options.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:19 pm
by inSTAALed
Awesome.
I like them better than Minty's.
....
Sorry Minty....

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:15 pm
by auteurdecinema
those look great. can't wait till they're all done.
For anyone interested in alternate backfrounds I've been using these Jerseys style wallpapers I found here:
http://www.o98-designs.com/
I made an updated version of the Ducks's background with their new logo and it's in my galley here:
auteurdecinema's gallery
Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:07 pm
by CatchUp
auteurdecinema wrote:those look great. can't wait till they're all done.
For anyone interested in alternate backfrounds I've been using these Jerseys style wallpapers I found here:
http://www.o98-designs.com/
I made an updated version of the Ducks's background with their new logo and it's in my galley here:
auteurdecinema's gallery
Thanks very much! I like your work on the prospects pack you posted. I've got a prospects pack of my own on the way and of course I plan to finish those BG's as well.
http://www.o98-designs.com/ IS AWESOME! I was in heaven with all the Habs stuff they have! Thanks for posting that link.
Cheers!

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:08 pm
by falloutboy
hi catchup they look top notch, just wonderin if it was possible if u could do a manchester phoenix one from the english elite league ?
cheers
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:36 pm
by CatchUp
falloutboy wrote:hi catchup they look top notch, just wonderin if it was possible if u could do a manchester phoenix one from the english elite league ?
cheers
Sure man, no problem. I'll start on that this afternoon. check my gallery later tonight. Cheers mate.
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:49 pm
by falloutboy
thanks alot mate
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:14 pm
by CatchUp
falloutboy wrote:thanks alot mate
Anybody have a source for decent quality EIHL logos? I'm having a tough time tracking down a decent quality Manchester Phoenix logo. Ideally, it should be about 400x400 px, as I'm using it for a BG. Thanks in advance all.
Cheers.

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:29 pm
by gollum65
CatchUp wrote:falloutboy wrote:thanks alot mate
Anybody have a source for decent quality EIHL logos? I'm having a tough time tracking down a decent quality Manchester Phoenix logo. Ideally, it should be about 400x400 px, as I'm using it for a BG. Thanks in advance all.
Cheers.

Found this one on a forum. It's a bit small, but I can point you to some good software to resize it and still keep the detail and quality.....
http://65.214.37.88/ts?t=6904669931651994178
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:05 am
by CatchUp
gollum65 wrote:CatchUp wrote:falloutboy wrote:thanks alot mate
Anybody have a source for decent quality EIHL logos? I'm having a tough time tracking down a decent quality Manchester Phoenix logo. Ideally, it should be about 400x400 px, as I'm using it for a BG. Thanks in advance all.
Cheers.

Found this one on a forum. It's a bit small, but I can point you to some good software to resize it and still keep the detail and quality.....
http://65.214.37.88/ts?t=6904669931651994178
Posted it to my gallery. Grab it right
HERE
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:43 pm
by falloutboy
wow its ace thanks alot catchup mate
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:22 am
by Forsberg
1 of the Canes backgrounds remind me of a Blackhole somehow heh.
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:24 am
by CatchUp
The ADM Style Backgrounds are officially up in the downloads section!
They feature current logos for all 30 NHL teams.
I also have some other random backgrounds for those who are interested. You can find them in my gallery.
Thanks in advance for downloading!
Grab those Backgrounds!
Cheers all.
Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:53 pm
by Honnegger
Is there any chance to import every Background of your pack and the game chooses the right one for the right team?
Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:05 pm
by CatchUp
Honnegger wrote:Is there any chance to import every Background of your pack and the game chooses the right one for the right team?
You mean to use a different team background for whatever team you're playing in-game?
Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:32 pm
by B. Stinson
Honnegger wrote:Is there any chance to import every Background of your pack and the game chooses the right one for the right team?
Yes, that's possible. Make sure the pictures are all named for the team you want them to show up with, and put them in this path: Sports Interactive/EHM 2007/data/pictures/backgrounds/clubs. In the 'clubs' folder you'll have to create a folder with the name of a league, and then put the pictures in that new folder. For example, if you have a pack of pictures for all 30 NHL teams, you'd put them in: Sports Interactive/EHM 2007/data/pictures/backgrounds/clubs/National Hockey League/...
If done correctly, you should see team specific pictures coming up for each team-related screen that you go to in-game.
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:50 am
by rottamies
I was just looking around the galleries, and found catchup's pic, where Ovechkin scored those two shorthanded goals in 12 seconds. That's just amazing, but what really caught my eye was the nhl logo background in that pic. It was awesome, just like the other backgrounds you've made. Could you please upload it somewhere, so it would be downloadable?
And by the way, thanks for the backgrounds and i can't wait for the skin elements.

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:55 am
by CatchUp
I just uploaded my set of WHL backgrounds and they will be up as soon as they're approved by the admins.
rottamies, I'll put a JPG version of that BG in my gallery right now.
Cheers.
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:45 am
by crosby87
Do you still have those old time logos I asked about? And where's that Crosby avatar you promised me?
