sagebrush Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 You can open them with the Intel DDS photoshop plugin linked earlier in the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zayets Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Used photoshop online to convert all dds from the Maverick&Goose helmets skin (basically the 201 livery default) into png and from there on I created my own templates. They are primitive and in no way good to be used generally but for the moment they do their job. There's one LOD file which needs a bit of fiddling but I am not too woried about. It only affects the livery when you see the plane from far away. In any case, I ended with almost 800Mb in size. Probably the official paint kit will be even bigger, who knows. [sIGPIC]OK[/sIGPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaser Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 A few custom helmets - pm me if you want one [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaser Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 some more [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoNidle Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Anyone able to help an old, set in his ways skinner? Having used the Nvidia DDS method for so long I don't mind admitting I am a bit lost with this new way (at least to me) of creating a skin. I have "Frankensteined" a PSD template of sorts but there is now one thing that is baffling me: The "LOD1 3 in 1"!! I understand that the BC3 format is essentially equivalant to the DXT5 format (I think) but the "LOD1 3 in 1" has me stumped. I assume it is a mipmap but how do you create it? Any assistance gratefully appreciated. Signed: Confused of Staffordshire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zayets Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Lod file is used when you see the aircraft from distance. I assume the reason would be so that game engine won’t have to load the whole gig of dds file at such distance. Because you won’t see much anyway, that is. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [sIGPIC]OK[/sIGPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zayets Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 One more thing, don’t bother too much eith it. Pick the default dds, smudge a bit around decals , give it a general look to resemble your skin and be on your way up in the air Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [sIGPIC]OK[/sIGPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoNidle Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 That's what I thought Zayets, but how is the "LOD 1...." created? With the Nvidia DDS plug in the mip maps are created when the DDS file is saved as a DXT5 with mipmaps. The "LOD1..." comprises of ALL the files which is what is confusing me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra847 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 That's what I thought Zayets, but how is the "LOD 1...." created? With the Nvidia DDS plug in the mip maps are created when the DDS file is saved as a DXT5 with mipmaps. The "LOD1..." comprises of ALL the files which is what is confusing me. Manually. You scale the texture by the appropriate percentage and place it appropriately in the texture. Nicholas Dackard Founder & Lead Artist Heatblur Simulations https://www.facebook.com/heatblur/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishermanivan Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 You can open them with the Intel DDS photoshop plugin linked earlier in the thread. Perfect thanks, that helps! What are the appropriate save settings for the files. I'm coming from X-Plane and I assume it's quite different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoNidle Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Manually. You scale the texture by the appropriate percentage and place it appropriately in the texture. Thanks Cobra, I'll try that. But out of curiosity would using the Nvidia "DXT5 with mipmaps" method I use on the F-86/F-5E/F-18C cause any issues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raz_Specter Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 The intel plugin gives better image quality with colours IMPO. plus the fact it saves the files 10 x faster. When doing the textures for the Mig19, that was the bane of my life lol Custom built W10 Pro 64Bit, Intel Core i9 9900k, Asus ROG Maximus Code XI Z390, 64GB DDR4 3200 RGB, Samsung 1TB NVme M.2 Drive, Gigabyte AORUS 2080TI, 40" Iiyama Display. Wacom Cintiq Pro 24, HOTAS Virpil T50 Stick / FA-18C TM Stick and Virpil T50 Throttle, MFG Crosswind Graphite Pedals. HP Reverb SPECTER [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Lead Terrain Developer / Texture Artist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishermanivan Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 The intel plugin gives better image quality with colours IMPO. plus the fact it saves the files 10 x faster. When doing the textures for the Mig19, that was the bane of my life lol Lol, it sure does. The Nvidia one takes forever. Does anyone have a clean set of tails, no markings, they'd be willing to send me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra847 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 (edited) Thanks Cobra, I'll try that. But out of curiosity would using the Nvidia "DXT5 with mipmaps" method I use on the F-86/F-5E/F-18C cause any issues? Quality will be worse using DXT5. But generally no significant issues beyond that. (except slow as heck export times, as noted by mithandra) :) Edited March 22, 2019 by Cobra847 Nicholas Dackard Founder & Lead Artist Heatblur Simulations https://www.facebook.com/heatblur/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra847 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Perfect thanks, that helps! What are the appropriate save settings for the files. I'm coming from X-Plane and I assume it's quite different. BC7 Fine, no alpha. Nicholas Dackard Founder & Lead Artist Heatblur Simulations https://www.facebook.com/heatblur/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaser Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 @bedrat2 [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishermanivan Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 BC7 Fine, no alpha. Thanks! Any idea why the tails aren't the same size? I'm doing overlays on the rudder, cut and paste the layer, paste to the opposite rudder, and it doesn't fit lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burtnutz Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 All the rest of the top gun boys are on page (... just added these two boys Cougar and Merlin https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vfmm7vjyf63kccw/AACoHdkzJthSmNtuJnF0mqaVa?dl=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebabil Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 I see some liveres on mods section. has paint kit been released already? FC3 | UH-1 | Mi-8 | A-10C II | F/A-18 | Ka-50 III | F-14 | F-16 | AH-64 | Mi-24 | F-5 | F-15E| F-4| Tornado Persian Gulf | Nevada | Syria | NS-430 | Supercarrier // Wishlist: CH-53 | UH-60 Youtube MS FFB2 - TM Warthog - CH Pro Pedals - Trackir 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishermanivan Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 No not yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blinde Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Collect them all. i did these the first day they came out :thumbup::thumbup: Mav and Goose https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l8q1244mm25063z/AAAO67t4IVamsulMzOLNUWyka?dl=0 ] Btw. Mavericks helmet isn't black, it's dark blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarraceno Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 An Starscream skin.... Just saying... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant977 Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 What did you use for template to make those? They just have a simple white helmet file? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uri_ba Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 An Starscream skin.... Just saying... IIRC, StarScream was an F-15, but I'm totally on board... I'm mocking up a fictonal Israeli Airforce skin based on the 1994 Peace Marble IV F-16s. And eagerly waiting the painkit :) while at it, any tips for a novice? it will be my first proper skin. Creator of Hound ELINT script My pit building blog Few DIY projects on Github: DIY Cougar throttle Standalone USB controller | DIY FCC3 Standalone USB Controller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarraceno Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 IIRC, StarScream was an F-15, but I'm totally on board... I'm mocking up a fictonal Israeli Airforce skin based on the 1994 Peace Marble IV F-16s. And eagerly waiting the painkit :) while at it, any tips for a novice? it will be my first proper skin. Dammit, you're right! Just checked it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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