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How to draw graphics with MagicaVoxel and Gimp

Started by SusieNoia, June 03, 2025, 02:25:50 AM

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SusieNoia

Hello,

Do you find it difficult to create graphics?
But actually, it is as easy to draw as building a house with Lego bricks 8)

I use MagicaVoxel and Gimp to create add-ons. Both are free!
(However, Gimp is not the latest version, but version 2.10.)

First, create a 3D model in MagicaVoxel.
The important thing is NOT to make it TOO DETAILED. You will be exhausted before it is completed ::'(
You don't have to make parts of the body that can't be seen from an oblique angle.
modeling.png
I make models twice the size of the finished pixel.
If I want to make a train, I make it at 92 squares when it is length=8. In order to match the size of other vehicles, the 2800m is scaled to 22 squares.
(It is only a guide. How it looks is more important than the scale.)

Paint the area to be player-coloured in advance in a different hue to the rest. With medium brightness.
player-colour.png

Once the model is ready, render it.
rendering.png
For the previous scale, the zoom to 256.0 and the output image to 128x128 pixels.
Don't forget to change the angle of the sun!

When making a formation, aligning the xyz(in the image: 0.0, 0.0, 20.0) of the camera makes it easier to align the cars :thumbsup:

Selecting isometric in MagicaVoxel will set the pitch to -35.3, but in our Simutrans you need to select Orth and set the pitch to -30.0.
images.png
Once you have rendered the eight directions, you are almost there ;)

Ulysses

Creating add-ons using Voxel, I do it myself.
It's very easy and intuitive to create compared to normal 3D modelling.Voxel is used and is an add-on of my own.
It runs a Simutrans fanserver to 'simutrans-interact-meeting' in Japan.
Simutrans interact meeting Twitter▶ https://twitter.com/simutrans_IM

SusieNoia

#2
Now, from here, use Gimp.

First, create a palette in advance with the player colours :lightbulb:
gimp1.png
It is useful to create a separate blue palette for blues only and a yellow one for yellows only.

Process the rendered data.
gimp2.png
Trim it to the required size.

Paste the S and E, N and W pairs of images next to each other.
gimp3.png
Add a layer of a prominent colour below.

Erase unwanted areas along the contour.
gimp4.png
Have you noticed? Anti-aliasing can be a problem for you.
The anti-aliasing included in the MagicaVoxel render function smoothes out the roughness of the 3d model, though, also the contours get blurred ???
Beh, trust your sensibilities.

Once you have managed to crop the image, the next step is to select a player colour area.
gimp5.png
Areas that are too bright, very dark or insanely desaturated need not be selected :thumbsup:

Paste the selection into a new one.
gimp6.png
Change the image mode from RGB to the palette you have created.

Paste the colour-changed parts onto the original image.
gimp7.png
(In practice, it is less tiring to crop the images in all eight directions and then colour change it to the player colour at once.)

Thanks for your hard work ;)
Now place the vehicle on the rails.
rail1.png
Position it so that the wheel in the foreground rests on the red line.
rail2.png

Flemmbrav