FSX Repaint Problem

[Deleted]

I haven't got time to search round the forums so I'm after some quick advice if I can get it.

Just took someone else's dds texture (they'd used the wrong font which really gets me...), corrected it and saved the bmp back as a dds.

When I started the sim the aircraft was a shiny black.

OK, quick someone...... what do I need to do

[sgtmajor]

Rollerball,

1.) Are you using Image Tool? (Microsoft SDK I think) In FS9 I used DXTBmp however, I never could get it to save to the .dds format properly. It sounds as though you are having the same problems I did. Image Tool fixed that for me.

2. Over at Flight1 forum's (SimForum) there is a link for the PC-12 Paintkit. Within that paintkit there is a GREAT Adobe Doc. that explains FSX painting. It sure answered a lot of my question..... however, I still can't paint worth a darn. (smile)

Good luck!

Edit: Here you go... here's the link to the paintkit that has the doc. Keep in mind, they use Photoshop as the paint program and I just got the doc. last evening but it looks like everything is explained really well.

www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=24349&PID=137317#137317

[Deleted]

Thanks for that Steve. My guess was that DXTBmp was not saving the file correctly so your reply pointed me in the direction where I could download a free dds plug in for Photoshop.

I grabbed that last night after I'd returned from my New Year revelries and I'll give it a go later this morning after I've had a shower and breakfast.

I'll post how I get on.

Happy New Year to one and all!

[Deleted]

Ahhh... thanks a lot Steve - worked like a charm. The problem was DXTBmp obviously has a problem saving dds files ie it doesn't!

Downloaded the dds plugin for Photoshop that was mentioned in your link and not only did it save the 'bad' DXTBmp dds file correctly so FSX read it properly, but I was also able to make a new texture with alpha channel in Photoshop (yup, Photoshop!) and save it using the method it described.

I was looking around for BA liveries for the FSX defaults and the only ones I could find were, by my reckoning anyway, rather poor quality. So I guess I can see a project coming up as I still have all of the World Tail Coreldraw files for the 767 POSKY series I did a few years ago which could well transfer over very nicely.

Watch this space

[sgtmajor]

You're quite welcome rollerball.... glad that all worked out for you. Photoshop.... hmmm.. I have PS6, however, always used paint shop pro 8. Guess I have something new to learn in 2008 also. (smile)

I'll keep an eye peeled and looking forward to some cool paint jobs. (smile)

Cheers,

[Admin]

The photoshop plugin will work with Paint Shop Pro

[sgtmajor]

admin said:

The photoshop plugin will work with Paint Shop Pro

Thanks Tom... I didn't know that. That sure saves a lot of stress not having to learn another paint program. ;D

[lifejogger]

admin said:

The photoshop plugin will work with Paint Shop Pro

How does one get it to work with Paint Shop Pro. I put into my plugin folder but didn't seem to do anything.

[Admin]

I just installed it as if I were installing into Photoshop. I got it to open some but not all DDS files.

[windrunner]

That's very good information for the FSX users; it seems we'll have an FSX dedicated thread here in a few weeks time for those who will want to paint native FSX planes; so, I'll need a bit of help with that valuable info you all can offer. Thanks!

[Deleted]

I've got Paint Shop Pro 5 and Photoshop 6. Worked fine in the latter - can create new layered files (with alpha) from normal bmps and save them, can open dds files as native within Photoshop, modify the rgb and save, can even swap alphas between dds files (that's about as far as I've had time to go so far) so I can't see too many problems now with repainting FSX aircraft and even (bit longer) if you read the tute that is in the link that Steve (sgtmajor) gave, creating new sets from scratch.

However, I have to say that I've not been able to do anything with this plug-in with Paint Shop Pro. Maybe a newer version than mine is needed, that's the most likely explanation

PS I have to say that because of the brilliance of the 'shine' in FSX and the general overall better sharpness and quality of the textures you can create, I think painting in FSX will be a very satisfying experience.

[Admin]

rollerball said:

I've got Paint Shop Pro 5 <snip>
However, I have to say that I've not been able to do anything with this plug-in with Paint Shop Pro. Maybe a newer version than mine is needed, that's the most likely explanation

Yeah, I have PSP9

[lifejogger]

admin said:

rollerball said:

I've got Paint Shop Pro 5 <snip>
However, I have to say that I've not been able to do anything with this plug-in with Paint Shop Pro. Maybe a newer version than mine is needed, that's the most likely explanation

Yeah, I have PSP9

I have Paint Shop Pro 7, that might be why I can't get it to work.
I bought a used PhotoShop program and I'm going to install it and pay around a bit with it.

[sgtmajor]

I haven't actually had time yet to work with any of it. I've been using PSP 8 and then then using image tool but that technique is very limited.

I do have PSP 9 however, never really used it much. I did purchase Photoshop 6 a couple of years ago off e-bay but never used it much.... just seemed too complicated to figure out. (smile) Maybe I'll give it another go as it seems that is what many a folks are using now a days.

[MoCat]

Lifejogger,

I have PSP7, I open the .dds in BMPDXT then move to PSP...save as norm.bmp paint as you would. Then, Open with Image which came with deluxe and save to the filename.dds. you may have to change to 32 bit or DXT1, DXT5 which ever you want to use!

MoCat