CrazyD

I'm using the Photoshop version 6.0. I've done the magic wand and inverse select part done. Now the wall I'm up against is this colour replacement brush deal - where is this? I don't see any reference to this on the tools viewer. when I use just a regular brush, it paints over everything so you don't see any of the rim detail, so I don't think that's the brush I'm supposed to use. Ok, I've got it - Next step is to select your brush, where the tool bar at top shows the brush size, next to it is "mode" - select "colour", opacity is at 100% and then I just apply the colour I want, and it keeps the rim detail, while changing the overall colour of the rim. awesome.

Man you sure respond quick, lol. Actually, I deleted the files and re-downloaded. Now I can print them out after I unzip them. Sorry.

Ok, good. I'll give that a go. One other thing, I downloaded your Templates in game pics, and tried to unzip, then print them out but every time I try my computer locks up (using the Windows viewer). I haven't tried yet but it just occured to me to try opening in Photoshop (which I do use), so I'll see if that works.

When you look at the layer list for the "wheels" - there shows only 4 layers. one is background ("Fon"), the other is the rims (layer 1), another for the tire face, another for the tire sidewalls. I can change the background layer colour, but the rims layer doesn't seem to want to change. Whether it makes a difference or not, I'm using the DCS supplied template. CRD

I tried using the colour replace option in Photoshop for the wheels - wasn't able to select the specific colour swatch I'm looking for. How do you do this? CRD

Had a look at your colour templates - I'm impressed that you are able to colour-define the individual components of the airframe - I take it you had to go back and forth between the template and the in-game view to refine the final boundaries of the components? Excellent work (wish I had that kind of time - seems the older I get, the more busy I get) CRD If you can - post or PM me a sample of your modman lma7(?) file with your idea of what unique bmp names would look like - I can't seem to get beyond that the name should be "KA-50-PAINT24-DEF-05.bmp", or could you call it "KA-50-PROTOTYPELEFTSIDEFRAME-05.bmp"? See where I'm getting at?

Hey Moose - I take it RCN = Royal Canadian Navy? At any rate - what you propose sounds really good. So to create a skin file, I should use the Modman to extract one of the standard skins, change the bmps as per your tutorial, make the changes as per Skypat and Bob's your Uncle? Good Luck in Halifax. How long there? By the way, I found an interesting sample chip for a kitchen countertop that I thought would make a very interesting skin, so I'm motivated to give this a go. No rush to get your tutorial done, this will likely take me awhile, given there's not enough time in the day, plus work, plus renos, plus standard house chores, plus working on the side (for two different people), plus did I mention there's not enough time in the day, plus gaming, plus.... CRD

I also tried to repaint the gear wheel rim, I figured using the "fill" tool would do it, but it only filled some of the wheel - are you supposed to use the "spray" tool and just cover the area? To allow detail through - do you need to allow some opacity, or is 100% still let you see the detail?

RCN Moose - ok, using your method 1 to get the skin in-game worked. Now your instructions said there were three methods to doing this, and based on other posts, I have a vague idea on how another methods works, but for arguement's sake, lets say I don't have a clue (which is close to the truth, lol). Now your guide didn't go beyond method 1, so were you going to get into the other two ways or no? To save time, I'll ask my questions ... 1- in the ka-50 skin folder, the line "value = 0.0; etc, I take is the identifier for each different skin. So I'd like to create a skin file that will enable me to name as "prototype", I would have to give this skin a value number of "1.5", or "4.9" - any number that does not match an existing file set in the skins folder? 2- The name "Prototype", would be placed in the obvious line of the skins list for Scripts\Database\Helicopters, along with its registry id number, but what are the numbers at the end of the line for? 3- Creating a new skin based on the value given to that file, and the id reg # given that name of skin, I trust that all other aspects to the 18 lines in the skin file will basically be typed out the same? The reason for this is that I don't want to overwrite any of the skins already in-game, even to quick load in to check progress of the paint-job. And based on the answers to these questions, I might be able to figure out how to package the skin for anyone else to use, installing with Modman. One final thing - what does the "lma7" mean, when referenced by Skypat for modman? I looked and couldn't find any file "skins.lma7" anywhere. CRD edit - while I was typing this out, I see you responded to my query about your other two methods - so yes, I'd like to see them written out. CRD Edit #2 - had a quick look at your thumbnail - do you have a full body version of your colour chart thingy (I once knew the name of it, but that was a long time ago) One of the difficult things is knowing where on the frame your colour ends up when modifying the template ...

Here's a screenshot of my first skin - just a rough attempt to see how the process goes ...

Just got the skin into the game and took 3 screenies. Now, how do I get the screens posted here in order to enable you all to click the icon and get the picture? And I do have questions for you, however I'll not be able to get them organized today (or for the next 3 days for that matter, lol - 11-hr work shifts, plus evenings non-restricted firearms course and ballroom dance lessons with the wife *compromise to let me get my rifle license, ha ha* So I'll be getting back to you on Thursday. CRD

Thank you Moose - I've read your instructions, and will give them a go. I've got a couple questions that I've come up with, but I'm gonna give it a go first to see how I get along with producing a skin. Thanks again for this. CRD

After doing a test repaint of the DCS supplied template: 1 - save as 24-bit .bmp file (I should end up with 10 .bmp files, right?) 2 - save all bmp files to the CDDS program - that part seems straight-forward. 3 - now to create the skin.lma7 file, does anything change from lines 1 to 18, from skin to skin? As I understand it, for [colour-scheme] "country" and "cnt_unit" id keys don't change, but the "colour_scheme" will be the new id key you generate, and the "colour_name" will be the name you give your skin. What do you use to "make" this file? Notepad/wordpad? Just cut and paste from "argument = 70 ..." down to "cnt_unit ...", change to your new colour..., add the "file = Scripts\Database..." line at the bottom and then hit "enter", "pack" or whatever? CRD Sorry - haven't learned how to do the "quote" thing

Just curious if there's a step by step of what to do once I've recoloured the skin. Seems like all the searching I've done pulls up bits and pieces here and there but nothing in an organized fashion.:helpsmilie: CRD

... so now I thought I'd try to do a repaint. Looked at the template and found that there are several files. I believe these be the different components of the whole thing. Ok, so having looked at each of them, I've determined that the Paint1,2,4,5,6 files are the ones that actually deal with the exterior, and that the layer labelled "colour scheme" would be the ones you would change. Is this correct? Now, how would you go about doing a consistent colour choice between the 5 files, making sure everything blended properly into one another? And how are you supposed to check your work? I've searched the threads, but seems no tutorials have popped up from the experienced among us :smilewink:. This sure is different than IL-2 skinning!

crazysundog - how'd your place fare with the flooding? Sounds like a mission for the Canadian SAR KA-50 to make like a rescue (blowing up the log jams in the river?:smilewink:). CRD

I'd like to sincerely thank those responsible for their efforts with the Modman series to make it easier for us as final users who do not have the skill to manual change, install, and/or create new content for this great simulator. Your efforts have enabled me to install and enjoy the great works created by others, instead of being forced to sit on the sideline and be envious of others being able to fly newly skinned models. I've tried to follow the complicated instructions from these creative people to be able to share in their efforts but to no avail. With Modman 7.1 - that effort is now painless, and for that I once again give my thanks.:thumbup: Now there's that one skin provided by Blitz-Hawk that I'd really like to be able to use. Instead of pestering him(her?) to re-post that skin in Modman 7.1 format, is it possible to plug those files into Modman somehow and get it to create the proper configuration to make it compatible - and will it work with the English download (the notes said it was created for the Russian version, and didn't know if it would work for the English)? Once again - thanks CRD

Thanks for your suggestion Kwill - I had a look at the help section in TrackIR - it says that you need to slave the mouse x/y movement to 2 of the 6DOF axis - one I would do would be "head roll", but the other 5 are needed in-game too much. So that kind of didn't work. I just wondered if there was a way to edit something in the config or whatever (beyond my ability - I have to rely on you younger members with your technical savvy, lol)

I too like more skins options to pick from, and every time I've tried to install the great works of art from the community, i get everything from glowing golden helos to invisible helos, to helos with missing parts. I thank God or someone here who recommended saving the original Config/Bazaar/Script folders, cause its been just great deleting those botched folders and copying the originals back in. So now I've given up on new skins until this problem getting them installed has been settled. (and I'm really looking forward to using Blitz-Hawk's Canadian skin - got it working for the English version yet?)

Just wondering if anyone has tried this or is it more of a detriment to playing the game. To be honest I haven't fired any weapons (other than the cannon) - just been tooling around with the flying practice. I've found though while using the TrackIR to look around the cockpit, and moving the mouse to click a switch - its pretty hard to keep my head still long enough sometimes to keep the mouse where I want it. If its possible to slave the mouse pointer to TrackIR, then use the mouse buttons as normal would simplify matters (as in real-life you tend to look directly at whatever you're focussed on - so whenever you are looking inside the cockpit, pointer automatically shows itself, etc etc. Anyone?

We need to see the preview of skin selection in Loadout Title says it all - I'd like to be able to see the skin when I select it on the loadout screen so that I know its the one I want, instead of having to load up the mission in order to verify its the one I want. Its also handy to be able to see any newly installed skins, whether they've overwritten or added on to the list. Speaking of which, there's got to be a better way to get customer-created skins into the game - this ordeal of re-writing lua this and that is way out of my league, even trying to follow Mitch's instructions, no success. Of course the only real successful install was using the 4 Canadian skin pack using Modman 7 (awesome btw).

Hey VV - did you overwrite an existing paint scheme, or were you able to install that one in addition to the originals?

Yep, I watched that happen too - I guess the virtual world is as imperfect as the real one, lol.

I've put together a map for new players who want to practice their flying skills online. There's an aircraft carrier and frigate patrolling the shoreline and nearby harbour and another frigate anchored in the harbour, to land on. There's also a couple FARPs set up near the airfield. Plus the usual fly to the nearby town and buzz the buildings, land on the beach, docks, roads, harrass the vehicles driving down the road, hide in the trees, etc. Its set up with no weapons, other than the main cannon, but hopefully no-one will make use of it. I can set up a teamspeak server, the IP address details will be noted on the description of the server (CRD2.0 Flight Practice Center). I've set the limit to 16 people, as I'm only running a DSL line, and my CPU is dual-core E6300/GPU 8800GTS, so I'm not sure what load it can handle. When to set this up? I'm thinking Friday, 8:00pm Pacific time, which would make it late for those on the east coast, or Saturday around 2:00pm, where more people could join in. Who's interested? CRD