That's OK mate, I envy those that make the models that I get a chance to paint up. To me that is all black magic
Like anything in life - learning to repaint just takes time - lots of time - been tinkering with graphics for simming since the late 90's - The hardest thing is to pick you perferred painting tool - for me it was Paint Shop Pro (way back at first version) - and then checked out everything it can do - some things are useful to the tasks you want to achieve and other things are way out to the left of field - after a while you get to master the good tools and ignore the tools/options that at the time are not useful.
I migrated with Paint Shop Pro through many versions but found that PSP 7 had everything that I needed and I then drew the line and stopped upgrading there - then settled into mastering as much of the paint program as I could - lots more time wasted on fruitless paths but lots learned as well.
Well now in the 2014, with tens of thousands of repaints under my belt - tons of work for the major FS companies as well as the plethora of FREE stuff I create I think I have got to a level that I am comfortable with. But the very most important things are that I enjoy graphics work and I see every livery I do as a challenge and I enjoy challenges and winning - but some I still loose
Edward Moore sets the challenges and I strive to complete something that will be enjoyable for the simming community. Since starting the Ford Project with Edward I have even expanded my graphics base to encompass 3D scenery model building and the releated artwork plus the creation of scenery - but I still see that only as an interesting sideline to the graphics work for aircraft liveries.
As for sitting beside me and watching me work - that would be very boring - sometimes I can scream through a repaint in less than an hour - all happens very fast - and other times I can be experimental and throw away a lot more than I keep and can spend hours just tweaking one aspect of one livery - tinkering as I call it.
After all of the years I have been doing repaints I think I have mastered about 25% of the tools available to me (mostly the ones, in my perspective, that are of useful to my repainting needs) - still a lot to learn and I enjoy that learning curve still - even after 16 years of "tinkering"
Regards mate
<-- Just givin' Props!.. No pun intended!
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