Repaints

[DaveB]

Hello Nige

I think the truth is.. we all learn by trial and error. Changing a reg was the first thing I did.. sounds simple but even that can be fraught with pitfalls as I've found out When I've hit a snag, I've asked for help then moved onto other, more complicated jobs until I've hit a snag and I've asked for help again. It can make you unpopular with certain folk for sure FSX native complicates things even more by requiring the texture map be flipped.. a comparatively simple thing but another complication the beginner can do without

Find a paint prog you're comfortable with (though this is easier said than done.. you won't know how comfortable you are until you use it for the job you need it for).. grab the latest version of DXTBMP and perhaps, to get you into the 'big picture'.. find a model with a paintkit then learn how the kit works.. add, remove (hide/deselect), modify layers.

You'll learn a lot doing it this way. Thing is to remember it all!

ATB
DaveB

[Airspeed]

Hi Nigel,
Not a bad idea to copy your subject aircraft to another holding directory, so that if you completely wreck the paint, just copy it all back to FSX/Sim Objects/etc.

[Garry Russell]

I always work with the paint in a folder in the project folder and copy across when I want to view. That way I can save frequently as I'm working but still have it at the previous stage. Also make the BMP a 'Save As' so you are not overwriting the layered doc you are actually working with and also save that doc often.

[NigelC]

Well, followed Garry's suggestion for just a registration first.

Always liked this paint, but no reg on it, so obvious candidate.....


This is what it should be like.....


So..... It's a bit too big and a bit too high and I have some more work to do as I added an alpha channel and it looks like the rest of the paint doesn't have one.



I'm happy for a first step....


Nigel

[Garry Russell]

Hi Nigel.

Well, a good start as you have it in the Sim...the rest is mere detail and practice.

There does not have to have an alpha...only if it's necessary.

Most of mine don't have them unless there is metal

On FS.X native, shine is not done the same way as FS.9 which uses alpha and model materials to achieve that.

Specular map is the additional thing for FS.X