[GUIDE] How to create facepacks (cut-out and normal)

[FG]

Hi all,

I'm a bit bored, and with nothing else to do I've decided to create a guide on how to create facepacks, cut-out and normal style in hope that it will allow people to create the facepacks they want without hassle.

I WILL USE PAINT.NET TO SHOW THIS TUTORIAL.

Right okay, where to start.

CUT-OUT STYLE

Step 1: creating the folder
First of all, we need to make sure that we have the correct graphics folders in place:

C:/User/mydocuments/sportinteractive/footballmanager2010/graphics

It is not always the C drive, just usually is. It will be where ever your FM10 documents are. Also, the graphics folder won't be there, you will need to create it. To do this, right click, new and then folder, name it graphics and then press enter.

I'm not sure where they go on macs, so if anyone could tell me I'll edit it in here.
I like to organise my files, to make sure I know what is what. I have a players, club logos, competition logos and kits files. It is not needed, but I find it helps.

Step 2: Getting the right programs
Photo editing programs are vital in this process. I use Paint.NET as I find it easy to use, but stuff like photoshop etc is fine. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think it's possible to do them or normal paint.

You can download Paint.NET here
You have to pay for photoshop, but you can get a 30-day trial here

As I said I will be using paint.NET for this tutorial, but it is pretty much the same process on photoshop.

Step 3: starting the facepack
After opening the program you downloaded, you need to select the canvas size. Select new from the file dropdown list, and then this box should appear.


Change the size to 180, like shown and select okay. After that you should get a screen like this:


Step 4: Finding the right image
Search for the image you would like to turn into your facepack. Google is pretty good for them, but anyother sites will do. Find the image and copy and paste it into the program. You may get this message:


Click keep canvas size, and then re-size the image yourself until it is a good size. The best pictures are the straight on shots, as they are easier to cut-out. Like this one:


Step 5: Cutting out the image
Right so far you should have something like this:


If not, then read back and make sure you've done everything correctly. Click the button I have highlighted with the red box. This is the magic Wand, shortcut key is S.
You should see this toolbar towards the top:


If so then, change the tollerence so it's around 30-35. This will get the best cut out image possible. If the image is of poor quality, then change it to 10 and you will have to cut-out very small chunks.

Click the background, and it should highlight with dotted lines like so:


You now need to press delete. It should cut-out the image like this:


Step 6: Saving the image

Click FILE, save as and then locate the file that you created at the start, your graphics file. Create a file in there, and call it what you want the facepack to be called. For Example, I would create a Torres file, as that is the only image I am creating, where as if you were doing the whole Liverpool team you would create a Liverpool file.

Chage the image type to PNG, this is very important.
Make sure you call the file name the players unique ID. You can locate this in game through going to your preferences and then display and sound. You should then tick show unique ID. Go to the players profile and it will be there. Torres' Unique ID is 821112 eg.

It should then look this this:

You're now done creating the image.

Step 7: Creating the XML file.

To get the image to work it needs to be accompanied in it's file by an XML file. You can create this yourself, but it is much easier to use a XML creator.

I got mine from here, but there are other places and a quick google search will throw a couple of them up.

Once downloaded, open it up and it should look like this:


Click browse and then locate the file but don't open it, just click on it. Press okay, and the file location should fill up that space.
You need to now make sure that these boxes are ticked.


The ALL FILE NAMES ARE IDs needs to be clicked for this to work.
Press go, and this should come up:


The number of files added will depend on the number of pictures you have in the file.
Click okay and then close. Your folder should now look like this:


If it does then you're good to move onto the next step.

Step 8: Opening the game
Open up the game, and then go to preferences and click the display and should tab. Make sure that these boxes look like so, it won't work if they are not:


Then click confirm, and wait for the skin to reload.
YOU ARE NOW DONE!! Your player should now look like this:


NON-CUT OUT STYLE FACEPACK

Follow up to step 4 on the cut-out style facepack guide, but your picture doesn't need to be straight on like the others, but it does look better IMO.

Step 5: Putting the image into the program
Select a canvas size of about 140width/180height and select okay.
Paste the image into onto the canvas, and adjust it appropately. It should look like this:


You can leave it like that if you want, and continue from STEP 6 if you like, or you can add a border/text.

Adding a border (optional)
If you would like to add a border to your image select the rectangle (shortcut key: O x2) and change it to Draw Shape Outline mode. Click the colour you want, I recommend white and draw the square around the image. I recommed increasing the brush width also. It should look like so:


You can finish now, and pick up from STEP 6 if you would like, our you could add text. I personally don't use this put some people like it.
Click the rectangle (shortcut key: O x2) and change it to Draw Filled Shape. Then draw the shape anywhere you would like, I prefer bottom. This could be any colour, but I like changing it to a transparrent grey. You can then add text using the Text button (shortcut key: T) Write what you would like, most likely the players name and click off it. It should look like this:


You're now complete, and return to step 6 to get the image in to the game.

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I hope I've been of some help, and this will encourage more people to reate their own facepacks.

Forrest Gump

[Dantastic]

Good stuff FG, I may give it a try somewhen. In the meantime, I'll just pos rep you...

[FG]

Cheers Dan. It's pretty easy to do, especially one you get the hang of it. Should be useful for people that want say one player's facepack made so they can now do it quick and easily.

[Meoconcarne]

Great guide.

I didn't know it was THIS easy. Might just play around with it myself to get the pics I want for my Juve team.

[FG]

Originally Posted by Meoconcarne

Great guide.

I didn't know it was THIS easy. Might just play around with it myself to get the pics I want for my Juve team.

Cheers. It's amazing how easy it is, I think people don't realise it's THIS easy.

[Meoconcarne]

I sure as hell didn't know it was that easy.

Added to your rep as well.

[JoseFelipe]

Thanks for the guide. very easy to follow, considering that I cant see any of the screenshots you provided.
I've been looking so long for a guide like this (all the others just detail how to display facepacks in the game).
Thanks again.

[FG]

No problem Jose, glad I could help.

[gallzy111]

Firstly, thanks this is brilliant been doing it myself. I followed your steps to do this for club pictures and competition logo's too but have run into a problem I was hoping you could help with?
Well, I am making club pictures for the premierleague and so far so good, the badge shows up in the top right hand corner when selected ect. but the problem is the badge when it's in the league table doesn't show as the 'real' badge but shows as the fake on that was originally there despite me putting the badge on it and it appearing in the top right of the screen.
Hope you can help with this, thanks

gallzy111