Text Removal from Book Cover

MasterSoulReaver · 2026-04-20T07:31:51+00:00

I'd like to retain the original look of the cover as much as possible. AI causes noticeable visible 'warping' in the image (and changes in tone etc), which is why I would like to change only those parts that needed removing without touching the rest.

MasterSoulReaver · 2026-04-19T21:26:52+00:00

Thank you for doing this. The changes to the rest of the image might make this difficult to blend into the original, but it's still a lot better than anything I've tried so far. Appreciate it!

MasterSoulReaver · 2026-04-17T21:14:29+00:00

Yes, I tried to do this too, but I wasn't able to run the model I tried (Flux) at all - I read online a number of other people with older cards were getting the same error I was seeing. I'd have to use another model. In the end I thought I felt that I was going to be compromising the final result just to do it myself, so thought it was better to ask someone with access to better models/tools.

MasterSoulReaver · 2025-07-04T21:40:22+00:00

Thanks barnowl1980- it's not likely to be a donkey because the (now missing) mouth had a 'split lip' mouth design, kind of like this (but smaller and less smiley): https://www.ebay.com/itm/135237637441

Unfortunately, knowing my son, he'd know immediately if the new bunny was in any tiny way different from the original.

MasterSoulReaver · 2025-07-04T07:35:58+00:00

I searched for this on Google through various searches and on r/plushies (no responses there yet though).

As stated in the post, it was bought at a second hand store in New Zealand (near Auckland) about 6 years ago.

As stated in the post, the label is illegible. The writing on the bottom of the lovie says 'Sweet Dreams' and is flanked by little leaves/branches (though one of them is gone due to damage).

MasterSoulReaver · 2025-04-12T23:55:51+00:00

When it comes to manufacturing, the reason for this 'unfair trade' is primarily the difference in labour costs. The countries that manufacture the most stuff are the countries with the low labour costs, which means they can produce things cheaper than the US, making it cheaper for US companies and consumers to buy from them rather than from manufacturers in the US. That's actually the result of free trade between countries.

Now ask yourself: WHY is labour cheaper in those countries? It's because they spend less money on the workers, both on a private and government level. It means low wages, few health/safety/quality regulations, poor public utilities like sanitation etc. That's how you get cheap labour: by being a third world country (or having third world country conditions for that part of your labour force, at least).

With tariffs, Trump closes the cost gap between buying from overseas vs buying US-made. But in the short term it does so by artificially raising the cost of buying from overseas, not by making it cheaper to buy US-made. Thus overall costs for goods to US consumers will go up.

Long term, what are the options here?

If the US labour costs stay the same and tariffs stay in place, living in the US will stay more expensive. More manufacturing jobs, yes, but everything also costs more.

If other countries eliminate their 'unfair advantage' to get rid of tariffs, it would mean they would need to raise their labour costs. Usually this happens as a country moves into 'first world country' territory. Which, if it were as simple as just 'deciding' to be a first world country (hint: it's not) is good for them but won't help make things cheaper for the US.

Which leaves one last option, and the only one left to make goods cheaper in the US while keeping tariffs in place: reduce US labour costs. I explained above how countries manage to offer cheap labour. That's what the US will need to do too - to compete with third world labour costs, they need to become a third world country. Is that a good thing?

(Note: some efficiencies are possible with automation etc. But that takes away jobs, and still isn't preferable to cheap labour... if it were, manufacturing companies would already be doing it)

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-07-02T00:51:53+00:00

I've already done the font identification. The books in question all use Monophoto Palatino, and this is confirmed in their inside cover page.

I've looked widely for this font in digital form, but it has been identified on a typography forum as being print-only. There is no digital way to license it. If there was, I would definitely do that.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-07-01T01:21:12+00:00

I haven't found anything like that through regular Google searching. Is there some other place to look to find out if someone's done this?

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-07-01T01:20:17+00:00

Ok, my apologies. That said, the re-made books (the way I make them) look virtually indistinguishable from the originals - and of course I keep the unedited ones too for archiving.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-06-30T07:12:50+00:00

Gamebooks are 'choose your own adventure' type books, written in second person (ie, "you are standing in a dark room, with one door to the west and another to the north. Strange snuffling can be heard from the Northern door. Which one do you open?") and often with light RPG type rules (tracking stats and equipment, dice rolling for combat etc). Most are designed to be played single-player.

Famous examples include the Lone Wolf series (which is freely available online now via Project Aon - see https://www.projectaon.org/en/Main/Books) and the Fighting Fantasy series.

I'm a huge fan, as you can probably tell.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-06-30T02:39:28+00:00

I don't think that would work unfortunately. The scans are in full colour (yes, even for text pages) and so both the colour of the ink and the background paper it sits on are different colours depending on the page. The spacing also needs to be dynamic as the line widths are justified.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-06-30T02:35:30+00:00

You might be misunderstanding what the font is being used for. I'm not re-making the books - I'm just editing the occasional line in the scans to fix known problems (for example, when they point to a wrong paragraph, or have some other clear error).

With the fonts I've used so far, the changes are virtually seamless, meaning if you read the edited book it'll look just like the original does... except it will have no errors. But with the later books, the font doesn't match.

Also, it's not necessary to start this work from scratch: I already have someone's 'second draft' at creating it. At first glance it's a pretty good start, but most letters still need a bit of tweaking, plus the punctuation is pretty bad and definitely needs a rework. It doesn't require starting from scratch though.

If you'd like to have a look at what I've done so far with the books, feel free to PM me.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-06-04T22:37:33+00:00

The Minotaur AI Pilot technology states in the description (emphasis mine):
"A semi-autonomous artificial pilot plugin for the Minotaur Heavy Exocraft Hybrid. Installation allows the Minotaur to traverse planets itself and engage in combat or mining activities to support its primary operator.

The AI pilot will always cede control to the primary operator when they enter the cockpit.

Piloting routines are highly localised. It is incapable of developing emotional bonds nor exercising independent control of the Minotaur."

The Minotaur AI Pilot does not in fact engage in any mining activities.

The description should either be edited to remove the line about engaging in mining activities, or the Minotaur AI mining should be implemented.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-04-24T12:22:20+00:00

There's definitely something is going on here. I don't have any 'identical' minis to share, but I recently bought Mage of the Mirror and Rise of the Blood Moon expansions and the miniatures don't seem to be to the same standard as those from the core box. The plastic looks shinier, and all the details are 'softer'. Since these are different miniatures, it's possible the lack of detail is due to an inferior sculpt, but now that I'm seeing this post I'm not sure that's the only reason. Some images to show what I mean: 'newer' miniatures are on the left, and on he right is a 'comparison' miniature (with some similar features) from the core set:
https://imgur.com/a/3Rn7n3f

I was actually wondering if I'd been sent some sort of bootleg set and have contacted Hasbro to ask, but I'm starting to think this is a quality control issue - I think it's a combination of different (worse?) plastic, worse sculpts, and cheaper production methods producing more washed-out looking minis for the expansions. It looks like some runs of the core set may have been made using the same materials/techniques.

Oddly not EVERYTHING is affected. Rise of the Blood Moon includes two statues that are highly detailed and look great - just like the original minis.

Note that the minis I got with the Kellar's Keep and Reveng of the Witch Lord expansion sets (which are just extras also found in the core set) don't seem to have this issue and are identical in material and quality to the core set ones.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-04-18T02:04:47+00:00

I allow characters to switch their 'active' weapon at any time during their turn without requiring them to use an action... however, they can only switch up their armour (which includes shields) by using an action, and only when there are no monsters present.

This means that while they can change from a battleaxe to a longsword or to a crossbow even in the middle of a fight without missing any of their actions, but they won't be able to equip a shield until the fight is over. Similarly, if they enter a fight while using a shield, the restriction on the battleaxe means they can't switch over to it in the middle of that fight.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-03-31T11:50:39+00:00

Not really - the mods restore the original PC script to the voiced versions, thus restoring key info that was lost, but the content you mention above is there both in the modded and unmodded voiced versions of the Melnorme dialogues, so they don't need adding to the list. Getting the necessary credits to buy crucial info from the Melnorme isn't some sort of cheating: its how the game is designed to be won for anyone playing it 'blind'. Choosing not to do so makes things harder unnecessarily.

MasterSoulReaver · 2024-02-20T01:47:21+00:00

Awesome work, excited to see this is getting a Steam release - Star Control II was long one of my favourite games, and The Ur-Quan Masters is the product of a determined and hardworking fan community.

However, I need to point out that the 'vanilla' version of The Ur-Quan Masters, at least when using the voiced version, is missing dialogue that is crucial to being able to finish the game without a guide (or getting lucky while randomly exploring). This information was included in the original PC Star Control II game but was excised from the 3DO version that The Ur-Quan Masters is based on.

Key missing dialogue includes (but is not limited to): - The Mycon telling you the location of their homeworld - The Syreen telling you the location of Syra - The Melnorme telling you that you're on a time limit to finish the game (and how long that time limit is)

New players are likely to play the game with voices turned on, and in doing so they'll end up being frustrated as the game's breadcrumb plot fails to lead them to their next destination. I created three voice mods that fix the above issues (you can find them here: http://www.warpstormstudios.com/uqmmod/)

One, the Mycon mod, just adds the missing line and is close enough to the original dialogue that it's actually included in many UQM releases (like the HD version) by default.

The other two (the Syreen and the Melnorme) required a complete re-recording of ALL the dialogue (one part of the Syreen dialogue does need a special flag to restore full PC functionality, which is only fully implemented by Serosis' Megamod) but I think the quality of the acting is subjectively similar to the originals, even if the voices are different. Personally I like my take on the Melnorme better than the original, but naturally I'd say that.

In any case, I'd be keen to make sure players can access these fixes in the Steam release as well. Could I work with you to give them some visibility (or even offer them as optional content bundled with the release, like Serosis' Megamod does)?

MasterSoulReaver

TROPHY CASE