Overview
This guide was created to help you create recolors of my boulders using my models, normal maps and texturing methods.
Getting started
Looking at the many awesome map themes the workshop offers I figured I’d share the basic bits of my boulders, so anyone can create recolors fitting different themes. All you’ll need is an image editing program, that works with layers (Photoshop, Gimp or Paintdotnet[www.getpaint.net] should do fine).
If you have no experience with creating custom assets in Cities: Skylines this might be a bit overwhelming, but I’ll try to guide you though it as best I can.
First off you want to grab the files here: [link]
- LOD and main model .fxb files
- Normal map for both main model and LOD
- Specular map for both main model and LOD
- Ambient occlusion texture
- Curvature map
Creating the diffuse texture
For the diffuse texture you’ll need the ambient occlusion (Rock 01_ao.png) and the curvature map (Rock 01_curvature.bmp) as well as a texture of your choosing. You can find many textures on www.textures.com – I suggest you use a smooth rock texture without too many shadows as that works best with this method.
Now open up your image editing program of choice and create a new image 1024 pixel wide and 512 pixel high. Insert the texture you picked and copy or cut it so it fits.
Next you’ll add the ambient occlusion image as a new layer and set the layer properties to “Multiply” – This adds some subtle shadows to your texture.
Then you add the curvature map as a new layer on top as well. Depending on the program you use you might want to use different properties or values than I use. In photoshop I set it to “Luminosity” with an opacity of 15%. If you’re not using photoshop you might be looking for the “Additive” property and 15% might be too low. Experiment with the settings until you get lighter edges like this
The diffuse texture is almost done. Before it’s ready you’ll most likely want to darken and desaturate it a bit as the game’s lighting changes the look of the texture. For this example I’ll go with -10 saturation and -45 lightness.
Saving your texture
When you’re happy with your texture it’s time to save it. Naming is very important here as the game uses the names to identify the different textures. I suggest naming it like the files I’ve provided, which in this example would be “Rock 01_d.png” If you go with another name, make sure you change it for all the files, so you have something like this:
- Name.fbx
- Name_LOD.fbx
- Name_d.png
- Name_n.png
- Name_s.png
- Name_lod_d.png
- Name_lod_n.png
- Name_lod_s.png
(Note that the “Rock 01_ao.png” and “Rock 01_curvature.bmp” isn’t on the list, as we only needed them for creating the diffuse texture)
To create the LOD texture (Rock 01_lod_d.png) all you need to do is create a scaled down version of the texture we just made. Resize it to 128 pixel wide and 64 pixel high and save it. Following this example the name would be “Rock 01_lod_d.png”
Loading the files in the asset editor
Time to see the result of your work! You’ll want to place all the files (except the ambient occlusion and curvature map) in the Import folder, which is usually found here: C:Users”your user name”AppDataLocalColossal OrderCities_SkylinesAddonsImport
Open up Cities: Skylines. Before you go into the asset editor I suggest turning off all/most of your mods and assets as this both makes it load faster and avoid crashes. If you use Daylight Classic by BloodyPenguin I suggest keeping that on, as it creates a much nicer icon, but it isn’t needed.
Then select “New” in the asset editor and when it’s done loading up select “building” In the park category you’ll find the default boulders – select any of the default boulders as your template and continue.
Your rock should then appear on the list, select it and you’ll see a little preview of it. Hit continue and if all the files are named correctly and in the import folder, then you should see your rock. If you want, you can change the color variations under “Materials” – I’ve just kept the default ones on mine, which creates a few slightly darker variations of the stone.
Lastly you just have to save it and it will then appear in the rock menu in game.
End notes
If you upload your rocks to the workshop please leave a comment/link so I can check it out 😀 I’d also very much appreciate it if you post a link to either my rock collection or this guide in the describtion.
This guide was inspired by GCVos’s Customizable Billboard and stmSantana’s Paintable Truck
I hope you found this helpful and enjoy your new rocks. 🙂