Custom Graphics and Photos in Forza 2

Published June 6, 2007

Forza Motorsport 2 continues to introduce gamers by the thousands to simulation racing, but beyond the duels on the asphalt and precision tuning, there's a more important concept. One has to look good when one wins a race. And so we take a look at the world of custom paint jobs, detailed decal work and photography.

You can paint that in no time.

Introduction to Decals
After an exhausting multi-hour session of harrowing speed and tense finishes in Career mode, I took a deep breath, poured a cup of coffee (I live in Seattle after all), and settled down to the much more relaxing but equally interesting task of designing a car.

Fast forward an hour later and the Seattle Supersonics-inspired VW Beetle I was painting for my friend Unpro, was in shambles. While my design was in tatters, I learned several valuable lessons along the way. If you're a graphics artist, you can read the following, enjoy a chuckle or two, and head on your merry way, but for us mere mortals, I suggest keeping the following in mind:

• The base layer: Don't concern yourself too much with the Paint section of your design work. Just use it to apply your base color, select the style (metallic, manufacturer, special, etc.) and move on to the Decal menu, where the real magic happens.
• Think layers ahead: It's crucial to think ahead in terms of layers when deciding on your design. It's difficult and laborious to fix a problem when you're ten layers ahead of where the decal should be, so outline the order of your layers before you begin actively laying them down. Just remember, every layer you set down will go atop the one just before.
• Left side, right side: When designing the left or right-hand side of your car, make sure to focus only on one side. When you're absolutely sure you're finished, bring up the menu and select Insert All from Right/Left Side. If you don't, and end up changing a few things and using the option again, you'll reapply all the same textures a second time. This can get very messy.

Now that might take a little longer.

• Oh, beautiful symmetry: Whether you're looking to create a mirror image of a design, center a decal on the hood, or set a logo at a ninety-degree angle, the numbers guide the way. For example:
  • If you want to perfectly invert a flame that has been laid down, take a look at the Y axis and rotate down to its negative equivalent (for example, 1.16 to -1.16).
  • If you want to flip an object upside down and you've started at 0.00, simply rotate to 180.00.
  • If you want to center a decal, just make sure the appropriate axis (X for horizontal, Y for vertical from the default camera position) is set to 0.00.
• Primitive artistry: G radient shapes, flames, and logos are all well and good. But the truly out-of-this-world designs all come courtesy of the Primitive Vinyl Shapes. Whether it's a photo-realistic rendering of Master Chief or an ode to your favorite anime, it's these basic shapes that will make up the entirety of your complex design. Get used to spinning, twisting, contorting and melding them together to create the shapes you require.
• A large canvas: When deciding to design something complex, pick the biggest, flattest part of the car (usually the roof) and start work there. Then, when you're finished, select all the layers en masse and move them where you want them.
• Save the complex: After putting in hours of work on a logo, picture, or painting, make sure to save your effort for other vehicles. By clicking down on the left stick and tapping A, the layers will be saved into a master decal for future use.
• Gifted designs: B orrowing designs from friends of yours can be a fast way to a masterful design. Let's say a buddy put together a fantastic flame-job that would really complement your current design. Ask them to apply the flame-work to a cheap car and then gift the car to you. Then, you can head into the Decal menu to select and save the design for later use.

Let me get my airbrush.

Photo Sessions
Once your masterpiece of design is finished, photograph it in all its unique custom glory. Forza Motorsport 2 provides numerous custom photo options.

• Set the height, angle and distance from your car for a photo at any time (even stop mid-race in Career mode, if you like).
• Designate the exact focus point desired to better separate your car from the pack.
• Adjust the shutter speed to call out motion lines and accentuate the feeling of speed.
• Toy around with the aperture to adjust depth-of-field and exposure to achieve different effects.
• Apply sepia tones to give your photo an old-world, classical feel.

Classic settings like contrast, color, and brightness (familiar to anyone who has ever adjusted a TV set) are here as well. In short, you can take exactly the photo you want with the precision settings of a professional photographer.

Send those photos to the forzamotorsport.net Web site to view them, and to send as e-mail to family, friends, and competitors. After uploading the photos (you can save five photos at a time on the site), go to the Web site, sign in with your Gamertag, and look for them under My Stats and Photos.

Forza Motorsport 2 offers all manner of ways to enjoy the often hardcore but always accessible world of racing. Whether you're eager to take the wheel and leave would-be competitors behind in a cloud of burnt rubber, or you just want to make your ride look sweet and stylish, Forza Motorsport 2 gives you the tools to win races, and look good while doing so.

Article by Ryan Treit