Cockpit retexturing Mi-8 (specular/norm)

[DirtyFret]

Hello

 

I was wondering if anyone could help me on sorting out how to add spec and norm textures to the Mi-8 cockpit.

 

The diffuse DDS retexturing is pretty straightforward and I have no problems with that but I would like to add a bit of extra eye candy with spec and possibly norm maps.

 

I have created several test specular DDS maps but seem to be unable to add them to cockpit.

 

- I have tried spec maps in DXT1, DXT3 and DXT 5 format and with or without mipmaps.

 

- I have added into the description.lua file the following

{"Dashboards", 0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dash1", false};

{"Dashboards", 2, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dash1_spec", false};

As per this instruction the number "2" after the material name should indicate it for spec mapping. However I am unable to get the spec map working.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[joey45]

I can't find a file name called 'Dashboards' so that might be it.

[DirtyFret]

Hey Joey, thanks for replying.

 

The "Dashboards" is the 3DSMAX Material name which never changes , the "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dash1" is the .dds file

 

see here

Correct Syntax is:

{"3DS MAX MATERIALNAME", MaterialChannelNumber, "BitmapName", true/false}

 

-3DS MAX MATERIALNAME = The name given to the Material in Max.

 

-Material Channel Number = 0-Diffuse, 1-Normals, 2-Specular, Etc

 

-Bitmap Name = Name of the Bitmap file you want mapped to the material slot.

 

-True/False = Whether or not the engine has to scan outside Current ZIP.

 

 

 

So, The MAX MATERIALNAME should never change, if your making BMPs to replace a Stock Texture. you simply change the Bitmap Name and Change the True/False Depending on where you're putting the Textures.

quote source

 

Is this perhaps a module specific issue? The huey apparently has similar woes,

[uboats]

no material name as 'dashboard'

 

below is complete material names:

 

    {"Add_Blocks",                    0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_add_block", false};
   {"BCKWALL-01",                    0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_cab", false};
   --{"BREAK",                         0, "mi8mtv-cpt-stick-break_01", false};
   {"CL-APP-BTN-ALTOFF",             0, "mi8mtv-cpt-cl", false};
   {"CL-APP-BTN-ALTON",              0, "mi8mtv-cpt-cl", false};
   {"CL-APP-BTN-DIROFF",             0, "mi8mtv-cpt-cl", false};
   {"CL-APP-BTN-DIRON",              0, "mi8mtv-cpt-cl", false};
   {"CL-APP-BTN-KTON",               0, "mi8mtv-cpt-cl", false};
   {"Dashboards",                    0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dash1", false};
   {"INSTR-AGB-SCALE_LIGHT_CENTER",  0, "mi8mtv-cpt-pnl-base", false};
   --{"INSTR-AGB-SCALE_LIGHT_LEFT",    0, "mi8mtv-cpt-instr-agb-02", false};
   --{"INSTR-AGB-SCALE_LIGHT_RIGHT",   0, "mi8mtv-cpt-instr-agb-02", false};
   {"LIGHT_LEFT_ record",            0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels2", false};
   --{"MB-03x",                        0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_int1", false};
   --{"MI8-CPT-FLOOR-01",              0, "mi8mtv-cpt-floor-01", false};
   --{"MI8-CPT-ROOF-01",               0, "mi8mtv-cpt-roof-01", false};
   --{"MI8-cpt_glass_dm",              0, "mi8mtv-cpt-glass", false};
   --{"MI8-cpt_glass_dm_def",          0, "mi8_glass_dam_cpt", false};
   --{"MI8MTV-BLISTER",                0, "mi8mtv-cpt-blister", false};
   --{"MI8MTV-GLASS",                  0, "mi8mtv-cpt-glass", false};
   --{"MI8MTV-SHELL",                  0, "mi8mtv-cpt-shell", false};
   {"MI8MTV-lamp",                   0, "mi8mtv-cpt-cl", false};
   {"Material #14",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev2", false};
   --{"Material #27",                  0, "tables", false};
   {"Material #28",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dash1", false};
   {"Material #29",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev2", false};
   {"Material #31",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev3", false};
   {"Material #32",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_central_inscr", false};
   {"Material #33",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev3", false};
   {"Material #34",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_central_inscr", false};
   {"Material #35",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_central_inscr", false};
  -- {"PEDALS-01",                     0, "mi8mtv-cpt-pdls-01", false};
   {"PKV",                           0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_pkv", false};
   {"PNL-01_LIGHT_CENTER",           0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels1", false};
   {"PNL-01_LIGHT_LEFT",             0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels1", false};
   {"PNL-01_LIGHT_RIGHT",            0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels1", false};
   {"PNL-01_LIGHT_RIGHT_GRP2",       0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels1", false};
   {"PNL-020_LIGHT_CENTER",          0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels2", false};
   {"PNL-020_LIGHT_LEFT",            0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels2", false};
   {"PNL-020_LIGHT_LEFT_GRP2",       0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels2", false};
   {"PNL-020_LIGHT_RIGHT",           0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_panels2", false};
   {"PNL-BASE",                      0, "mi8mtv-cpt-pnl-base", false};
   {"PNL-BASE5",                     0, "mi8mtv-cpt-pnl-base", false};
   {"PNL-BASE_LIGHT_LEFT",           0, "mi8mtv-cpt-pnl-base", false};
   {"PitThr",                        0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_pitthr", false};
   --{"REZINA blister",                0, "mi8mtv-cpt-stick-break_01", false};
   {"STICK-01",                      0, "mi8mtv-cpt-stick-01", false};
   {"Weapon Lamp",                   0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev2", false};
   --{"ZSH-7",                         0, "zsh7", false};
   {"central inscr",                 0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_central_inscr", false};
   {"dev3_ move namber R800",        0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev3", false};
   {"dev_01_LIGHT_5_5",              0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev1", false};
   {"dev_01_LIGHT_CENTER",           0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev1", false};
   {"dev_01_LIGHT_LEFT",             0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev1", false};
   {"dev_01_LIGHT_RIGHT",            0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev1", false};
   {"dev_01_LIGHT_RIGHT_5_5",        0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev1", false};
   {"dev_02_LIGHT_5_5",              0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev2", false};
   {"dev_02_LIGHT_CENTER",           0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev2", false};
   {"dev_02_LIGHT_LEFT",             0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev2", false};
   {"dev_02_LIGHT_RIGHT",            0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev2", false};
   {"dev_03_LIGHT_LEFT",             0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev3", false};
   {"dev_03_NO_LIGHT_LEFT",          0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dev3", false};
   --{"mi8mtv2int2",                   0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_int2", false};
   {"mirror_mi8",                    0, "mirror", true};--mirrors texture replacement with runtime rendered one
   --{"pilot_MI8_body",                0, "pilot_mi8", false};
   --{"pilot_MI8_head_",               0, "pilot_mi8_head_c", false};
   --{"pilot_MI8_head_B",              0, "pilot_mi8_head_a", false};
   --{"pilot_MI8_patch",               0, "pilot_mi8_patch", false};
   --{"seats",                         0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_seat", false};
   {"top_elements",                  0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_top_elem", false};

[DirtyFret]

Thank you UBoats for that list. That is golden.

 

I must admit that I am confused. I am just learning the ropes so please bear with me but that list shows a line (line9) :

{"Dashboards", 0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dash1", false};

. Is that not a material or are materials marked with capital letters only?

 

But still just tested.

 

I have the following lines in the description.lua

...{"BCKWALL-01", 0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_cab", false};

{"BCKWALL-01", 2, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_cab_spec", false};

....

{"Material #28", 0, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dash1", false};

{"Material #28", 2, "cockpit_mi-8mtv3_dash1_spec", false};

 

I think if the spec map were working it would show up clearly on those test images as reflections, would it not?

 

p.s. on the top left image (spec map) the little darker box on the top corner is the RADAR ALT box, just so that one can get a bearing where the reflections should be visible on the top right image

[uboats]

Sorry I missed line 9.

I didn't try spec, so not quite sure how the effect appears in game.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DirtyFret]

Politely bumping this. Anyone with any insight on the spec / norm map system with cockpit textures?

[gospadin]

You've done the correct things with your .lua changes I believe, and with your spec map.

 

I see you have a non-default cockpit installed, is there any chance it's pulling the modified cockpit's spec map instead of your own modified spec map?

 

I'd try using a very different filename "MY_CAB_SPEC.dds" or whatever, to ensure no conflict.

[DirtyFret]

You've done the correct things with your .lua changes I believe, and with your spec map.

 

I see you have a non-default cockpit installed, is there any chance it's pulling the modified cockpit's spec map instead of your own modified spec map?

 

I'd try using a very different filename "MY_CAB_SPEC.dds" or whatever, to ensure no conflict.

 

Thank you gospad' for the reply. I tested your idea but unfortunately it did not work.

 

I also tested this with the F-15C module and the spec map works fine there. I'll test a couple other modules and if I cant get it to work on the Mi-8 I might have to consider this as some sort of a possible bug.

 

Does the M2000C cockpit mod you made use spec maps and if so , do they work properly?

[gospadin]

Yes, spec maps work in my cockpit. I had to alter the alpha channel explicitly to get the text to glow properly when enabling instrument backlighting. However, in your case, you're looking at reflection, not pass-through lighting, so it *shouldn't* be an alpha channel issue, it should be constrained to the RGB map.

 

Can you share your modified file with me so I can try?

[DirtyFret]

Yes, spec maps work in my cockpit. I had to alter the alpha channel explicitly to get the text to glow properly when enabling instrument backlighting. However, in your case, you're looking at reflection, not pass-through lighting, so it *shouldn't* be an alpha channel issue, it should be constrained to the RGB map.

 

Can you share your modified file with me so I can try?

 

Thanks. Absolutely I'll share it.

 

I justed started my on-call 24h shift so I wont be able to send it until tomorrow but there's no hurry I guess :pilotfly:

[gospadin]

So dirtyfret sent me his files, and I was unable to get the spec map to affect the image.

 

Seems like a bug to me.

 

In the above post, when I said spec maps worked in my cockpit, I meant my M-2000C cockpit, not an Mi-8 one.