Question: Could you possibly release the shoulder pad/gloves/belt/boots separately, and if you did do that, would it be possible to combine it with other Cloud outfit color changing mods? I ask because I tried out every single black SOLDIER outfit mod on the nexus and (no offense) the only one I really feel truly gets the black right is "Original Black Cloud V2" by Gantz79, but his version ONLY edits the color of the clothing and nothing else. This mod here makes the shoulder pad much much nicer and also edits the leather on the gloves/belt/boots/etc. I would love to combine this with Gantz79's mod if possible, the shoulder pad at least. Would installing both and putting yours first in the load order work, or do they overwrite eachother? Idk if the shoulder pad and clothes are part of the same file or separate.
I'm sorry to say yes especially because you have removed the wonderful shoulder pad of option 1. I was looking forward to a version of option 1 with damaged shoes as in image 2. in fact it is from January 13th that I check this one hoping that it is updated, but it does nothing ahaha
The shoulder pad remains the same as on OPTION 1, I just subtly modified the large marking on the metal. It may look a little different from the lighting, but it's still the same shoulder pad. Still, I'm not entirely happy with the shoulder pad, so it's something I'm looking forward to, but it's not easy to find a suitable whole that works properly under all possible lighting. Keep in mind that the graphics change quite a bit from InGame to CGI, and the lighting is too artificial, in fact it doesn't make sense countless times, so when you apply a color to an interactive video game where the player decides which point of light to move to Finding a balance that always works well is very complicated; at least for me it is.
Regarding the boots, yes, it is one of the things that I am currently testing. The last thing I changed was the type of material of the clothes, since now it looks like a kind of "velvet" that looks really good in all types of lighting, and allows me to put a color that you never really know if it's black , purple or blue, and that's precisely what the SOLDIER 1st Class clothing color should do (although I don't know if I'll keep changing it because I'm never quite happy with anything I do XD). That said, the boots, among other things with the color of the leather of the belts and suspenders (which I'm still not entirely happy with), are my next goals; although the truth is that the shoulder pad is what is giving me the most headaches.
Thank you for your comment, because everything you tell me is always taken into account, as long as it makes sense with the purpose of the mod, and in this case it certainly does.
I understand but I think it is perfect so the shoulder pad (personal taste) ok I will wait to see what options you will release for the boots in the future. and why did you split the mod?
I made a comparison of the 2 versions and for now I stay with the OPTION 1 version - Cloud FFVIIR CGI Cinematics Outfit which I find better. for example the fabric is better than that of the dress that of the New Version - SOLDIER 1st Class version is dirty has bul squares and other colors and I liked the purer and cleaner version of the first mentioned. also the color of the shoulder pad I preferred the one before and the belts in the OPTION 1 mod - Cloud FFVIIR CGI Cinematics Outfit the small ones had to be fixed so ... but the new version seems to me a little too black the brown part of the belts in the shade ps. I use this reshade anyway: Advent ReShade - HDR FX version 19 Dec 2021 Advent ReShade
Let me explain my criteria when making this mod, maybe then you better understand my goal with it.
The first thing to understand is that these colors are saved in a .dds DX1 file, but they are edited in .png, so when you pick a color and put it in the .png but save the file as .dds DX1, that color that you put in, change to another tone that the .dds DX1 file accepts. This is a headache because it is very difficult to choose a color that is both realistic and accepted by the .dds DX1 file. And even if you directly edit the .dds DX1 file, saving it will still change the tone, so it's the same problem. In addition to this you have another layer where you choose the "depth" of the materials, and this affects how the colors look due to the lighting directly affecting them. And finally a layer where you choose the type of "gloss/reflection" that the materials have, and this also directly affects how those materials look Then they have to think that both the color tone (remember, it must be realistic and at the same time accepted by .dds DX1), the depth of the material, and the brightness/illumination of the material, must work correctly in all possible situations. Is not easy; not for me at least XD
The first thing is that neither Cloud nor the others are people with many resources, in reality they are poor people who live their day to day with the little they earn doing, in most cases, different errands and errands to be able to eat that day. In the remake this has not been well reflected, but that is the reality of their lives. Poor people, living in a poor sector under the yoke of Shinra. Also, they wear the same clothes every day and are always fighting. If I add all this, I must assume that his clothes are dirty and worn. The game tries to seem kawaii (although for my personal taste this game should have been much more mature, cold, decadent, bloody and REALISTIC, but it has not been like that... it has been a kawaii remake, without blood, they have removed all the gore scenes, even when they escape from the cells after Sephiroth, and in short the game is very light and for children, so I try to be within that logic), therefore I think that the clothes should be worn but not excessive, hence that the new version has colored "spots" and "patches". Also, the color is less intense than in previous versions because the clothes must appear worn, not new; and all this is appreciated in the CGI cinematics. Also, Cloud's clothes in the CGI are almost always black, and only in some moments you can appreciate those purple and blue reflections that the SOLDIER 1st Class clothes have. But the CGI is too orchestrated, the lighting is very unnatural, and a lot of things about the color of things, the reflections of things, the material of things, etc, don't make any sense; neither in CGI nor InGame, so I have to find colors that work correctly in most cases, or in all cases if I can.
Maybe you like the color of option one better because it is more purple and that nostalgically reminds you of FFVIIOG PSX, but that is not the goal of this mod, the goal here is to try to make it as realistic as possible taking the CGI cinematics as a reference; and the SOLDIER 1st Class clothing is black with purple and blue highlights, but definitely not purple. It must also not have such an intent color, nor be completely clean, because it is a poor person's clothing with much use in combat.
The shoulder pad is one thing that is killing me. I can't find a color shade that most closely resembles and is accepted by .dds DX1, so every day I try a few shades and buy. I also constantly change the depth and brightness/lighting to make it look as close to the CGI footage as possible (which looks like a metal plate with rubbery paint on it).
The boots will be an easy thing to fix, at least I think so; It's on the to-do list.
And regarding the belts, many do not realize it, but the suspenders, gloves and belts of the pants are the same color, but the "SOLDIER belt" (the large belt that covers the abdomen), is of a different color. . This also brings a complication because it must be a color different enough to notice if you look closely, but similar enough to go unnoticed if you don't think too much about it. In the "New Version - SOLDIER 1st Class", the big belt already has a different tone than the rest, and it is not very noticeable so I am happy, but on the other hand the general color of all the leather parts does not end with me. to convince. The only thing I am happy with regarding the leather is the darker leather protector that they wear on the left arm, above the glove.
I am aware of many things that I do not like, but my life does not revolve around this mod either, so I do little by little what I can when I have free time and I keep looking for the result that I have in my mind. My obsession to make it as similar as possible is such that I haven't even edited other characters yet... I'm only with Cloud XD
Regarding the reshade they use, it is true that it changes a lot how the colors of things look. I actually use it too, but I turn it off when doing benchmarks, because I have to base it on how it looks in the base game, not how it looks with a specific reshade graphical setting.
??I understand and I guess it is difficult if I were able I would like to change the shape of the hair haha. anyway for the dress maybe not seen in image 2 but in game it seemed more a mistake the stains on the chest like the textures of the old games (seen the blue purple green spots etc.) also under the belt the blue spots but if you wanted to I think is ok. however I prefer option 1 but if it were without these points of different colors this would also be very nice as a color.example image
ok now I'll stop and leave you alone LULone last very nice thing the shadow parts on the dress have you darkened the teture of the dress of the piege for those parts or is it an effect you were talking about above??
since you corrected the belt could you correct the shoes and lighten the gloves slightly? why the model in the picture does not have the same shoes as in picture 3 or is it my reshade? however it is my favorite cloud version for now using your eye and hair texture as well. keep it up EDIT: I also add the 2 small belts would have to be combined
Yes, in fact I used that one before, until I decided to make my own. I guess we are both looking for more or less the same thing, to find our perfect Cloud.
42 comments
The shoulder pad remains the same as on OPTION 1, I just subtly modified the large marking on the metal. It may look a little different from the lighting, but it's still the same shoulder pad.
Still, I'm not entirely happy with the shoulder pad, so it's something I'm looking forward to, but it's not easy to find a suitable whole that works properly under all possible lighting. Keep in mind that the graphics change quite a bit from InGame to CGI, and the lighting is too artificial, in fact it doesn't make sense countless times, so when you apply a color to an interactive video game where the player decides which point of light to move to Finding a balance that always works well is very complicated; at least for me it is.
Regarding the boots, yes, it is one of the things that I am currently testing. The last thing I changed was the type of material of the clothes, since now it looks like a kind of "velvet" that looks really good in all types of lighting, and allows me to put a color that you never really know if it's black , purple or blue, and that's precisely what the SOLDIER 1st Class clothing color should do (although I don't know if I'll keep changing it because I'm never quite happy with anything I do XD).
That said, the boots, among other things with the color of the leather of the belts and suspenders (which I'm still not entirely happy with), are my next goals; although the truth is that the shoulder pad is what is giving me the most headaches.
Thank you for your comment, because everything you tell me is always taken into account, as long as it makes sense with the purpose of the mod, and in this case it certainly does.
also the color of the shoulder pad I preferred the one before and the belts in the OPTION 1 mod - Cloud FFVIIR CGI Cinematics Outfit
the small ones had to be fixed so ...
but the new version seems to me a little too black the brown part of the belts in the shade
ps. I use this reshade anyway:
Advent ReShade - HDR FX version
19 Dec 2021
Advent ReShade
1) OPTION 1 - Cloud FFVIIR CGI Cinematics Outfit
2)New Version - SOLDIER 1st Class
The first thing to understand is that these colors are saved in a .dds DX1 file, but they are edited in .png, so when you pick a color and put it in the .png but save the file as .dds DX1, that color that you put in, change to another tone that the .dds DX1 file accepts. This is a headache because it is very difficult to choose a color that is both realistic and accepted by the .dds DX1 file. And even if you directly edit the .dds DX1 file, saving it will still change the tone, so it's the same problem.
In addition to this you have another layer where you choose the "depth" of the materials, and this affects how the colors look due to the lighting directly affecting them.
And finally a layer where you choose the type of "gloss/reflection" that the materials have, and this also directly affects how those materials look
Then they have to think that both the color tone (remember, it must be realistic and at the same time accepted by .dds DX1), the depth of the material, and the brightness/illumination of the material, must work correctly in all possible situations. Is not easy; not for me at least XD
The first thing is that neither Cloud nor the others are people with many resources, in reality they are poor people who live their day to day with the little they earn doing, in most cases, different errands and errands to be able to eat that day.
In the remake this has not been well reflected, but that is the reality of their lives. Poor people, living in a poor sector under the yoke of Shinra. Also, they wear the same clothes every day and are always fighting.
If I add all this, I must assume that his clothes are dirty and worn. The game tries to seem kawaii (although for my personal taste this game should have been much more mature, cold, decadent, bloody and REALISTIC, but it has not been like that... it has been a kawaii remake, without blood, they have removed all the gore scenes, even when they escape from the cells after Sephiroth, and in short the game is very light and for children, so I try to be within that logic), therefore I think that the clothes should be worn but not excessive, hence that the new version has colored "spots" and "patches". Also, the color is less intense than in previous versions because the clothes must appear worn, not new; and all this is appreciated in the CGI cinematics.
Also, Cloud's clothes in the CGI are almost always black, and only in some moments you can appreciate those purple and blue reflections that the SOLDIER 1st Class clothes have. But the CGI is too orchestrated, the lighting is very unnatural, and a lot of things about the color of things, the reflections of things, the material of things, etc, don't make any sense; neither in CGI nor InGame, so I have to find colors that work correctly in most cases, or in all cases if I can.
Maybe you like the color of option one better because it is more purple and that nostalgically reminds you of FFVIIOG PSX, but that is not the goal of this mod, the goal here is to try to make it as realistic as possible taking the CGI cinematics as a reference; and the SOLDIER 1st Class clothing is black with purple and blue highlights, but definitely not purple. It must also not have such an intent color, nor be completely clean, because it is a poor person's clothing with much use in combat.
The shoulder pad is one thing that is killing me. I can't find a color shade that most closely resembles and is accepted by .dds DX1, so every day I try a few shades and buy. I also constantly change the depth and brightness/lighting to make it look as close to the CGI footage as possible (which looks like a metal plate with rubbery paint on it).
The boots will be an easy thing to fix, at least I think so; It's on the to-do list.
And regarding the belts, many do not realize it, but the suspenders, gloves and belts of the pants are the same color, but the "SOLDIER belt" (the large belt that covers the abdomen), is of a different color. . This also brings a complication because it must be a color different enough to notice if you look closely, but similar enough to go unnoticed if you don't think too much about it.
In the "New Version - SOLDIER 1st Class", the big belt already has a different tone than the rest, and it is not very noticeable so I am happy, but on the other hand the general color of all the leather parts does not end with me. to convince. The only thing I am happy with regarding the leather is the darker leather protector that they wear on the left arm, above the glove.
I am aware of many things that I do not like, but my life does not revolve around this mod either, so I do little by little what I can when I have free time and I keep looking for the result that I have in my mind.
My obsession to make it as similar as possible is such that I haven't even edited other characters yet... I'm only with Cloud XD
Regarding the reshade they use, it is true that it changes a lot how the colors of things look. I actually use it too, but I turn it off when doing benchmarks, because I have to base it on how it looks in the base game, not how it looks with a specific reshade graphical setting.
I have other color options on my profile that you might like better; I encourage you to take a look:
LoboNecrodes: Final Fantasy VII Remake Mods
Once again, I thank you for your comments because they give me more points of view and perhaps things that I went through for something, so thank you.
I always appreciate your efforts.
I have a small suggestion.
Black scratches appeared on both arms.
can you fix this?
Just download the "New Version - SOLDIER 1st Class" again.
why the model in the picture does not have the same shoes as in picture 3 or is it my reshade?
however it is my favorite cloud version for now using your eye and hair texture as well. keep it up
EDIT: I also add the 2 small belts would have to be combined
I guess we are both looking for more or less the same thing, to find our perfect Cloud.