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Hello, all!
Here’s a tutorial that should be a big help to anyone who is interested in dabbling with pinball table design but has struggled in getting shots to really flow well (or at least the entry part of them).
This tutorial lays out a method for positioning shots that should work on any sort of system that allows you to import/export blueprints to work from. The principles I’ve laid out here are using Microsoft Paint because it was what was handy but can be used in Photoshop, Gimp, or even within the software if you use objects to represent the marks I show you how to make. This tutorial presumes the user knows how to make shots using flippers, import/export blueprints from VP.
Step 1: Identify where you want your shot to be.
Step 2: Identify where on the flipper you would need to hit the ball to make the shot
Step 3: Draw a line from that spot to the shot you want to make and EXTEND that line through the target for at least 4 ball lengths
Step 4: Using a circle that is half of the total width of the shot, place 2 circles so that they both touch the target at the same point. (if you are doing this within VP, etc. Bumpers or kicker holes can help serve as markers. E.g. A lane that would be 110 units wide would have circles that are 55 units.
Step 5: draw a line across the fullest part of the 2 circles, this will be the angle that gives the most total space to make the shot.
http://vpforums.org/imghost/207/e.jpg]
Step 6: repeat this process to anticipate the shape of the rest of the channel. Please note that these typically taper, so you may need to change the size of your circles, etc. If you are doing this in vp, after you establish the rough shape of your ramp/channel, use an actual ramp, aligning with the entrance that you clarified in step 5. Make sure to have the ramp set to outline mode in the editor or it will be difficult to see your markings.
http://vpforums.org/imghost/207/f.jpg]
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update 2/14/16: for the final 2 pictures, click the links to increase their size. For some reason, the display on the page has been a bit wonky.
//////////////////////////////
Please let me know if you have any questions or have found this tutorial to be helpful. Thanks!
-Lodger
Here’s a tutorial that should be a big help to anyone who is interested in dabbling with pinball table design but has struggled in getting shots to really flow well (or at least the entry part of them).
This tutorial lays out a method for positioning shots that should work on any sort of system that allows you to import/export blueprints to work from. The principles I’ve laid out here are using Microsoft Paint because it was what was handy but can be used in Photoshop, Gimp, or even within the software if you use objects to represent the marks I show you how to make. This tutorial presumes the user knows how to make shots using flippers, import/export blueprints from VP.
Step 1: Identify where you want your shot to be.
Step 2: Identify where on the flipper you would need to hit the ball to make the shot
Step 3: Draw a line from that spot to the shot you want to make and EXTEND that line through the target for at least 4 ball lengths
Step 4: Using a circle that is half of the total width of the shot, place 2 circles so that they both touch the target at the same point. (if you are doing this within VP, etc. Bumpers or kicker holes can help serve as markers. E.g. A lane that would be 110 units wide would have circles that are 55 units.
Step 5: draw a line across the fullest part of the 2 circles, this will be the angle that gives the most total space to make the shot.
http://vpforums.org/imghost/207/e.jpg]
Step 6: repeat this process to anticipate the shape of the rest of the channel. Please note that these typically taper, so you may need to change the size of your circles, etc. If you are doing this in vp, after you establish the rough shape of your ramp/channel, use an actual ramp, aligning with the entrance that you clarified in step 5. Make sure to have the ramp set to outline mode in the editor or it will be difficult to see your markings.
http://vpforums.org/imghost/207/f.jpg]
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
update 2/14/16: for the final 2 pictures, click the links to increase their size. For some reason, the display on the page has been a bit wonky.
//////////////////////////////
Please let me know if you have any questions or have found this tutorial to be helpful. Thanks!
-Lodger
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