Changing Pilot Names and Aircraft Numbers Using On The Tomcat

[Chopper A-10]

Can someone help with directions/instructions on how using the newly release paint kit (HB-F-14_Paintkit-v1.0) for the Tomcat on how to change pilot/co-pilot names and also aircraft numbers (401, 402 etc.)??

 

Any help would be appreciated. Also if anyone is interested in teaching me . . perhaps on TeamViewer??

 

Thanks,

 

Chopper

[Miasma]

yeah you need photoshop.

[Chopper A-10]

Got PS and Paint.net

[mkosmo]

Got PS and Paint.net

 

Go open the textures in the paintkit, find the canopy, and edit the names. Also, find the board numbers you want to change and change them. It's not rocket surgery.

 

You can then either export as a TGA or DDS (I use the Intel DDS plugin), create a livery folder with it, define a description file, and you're off to the races. Lots of examples to go by already in the structure of the game and the paint kit. You may also want to browse the F14 skinners thread.

[Chopper A-10]

I haven't found one piece of documentation or YouTube video that shows how to access the layers. Sure it's easy if you done it before or maybe 100 times before, but mkosmo you are about as helpful as my wife with that answer. I have Photoshop and Paint.net . . I didn't say I knew how to use them. I'm just a dumb old pilot trying to change a name and number.

 

I thought I might find some help here at DCS/HB, because I've exhausted all of the others with no success.

 

When you are 70 and they have a software issues over your head, ask a question and sit back and wait for someone like mkosmo to give you feedback.

 

As I stated in the beginning of this post . . "any help would be appreciated"

[Buschwick]

Chopper it's just a little more involved than simply replacing the name under the canopy. You're brushing shoulders with advanced photoshopping to do it.

 

I relate your request for help doing this to showing up to a nirvana cover band at the local bar and asking one of them how to play the intro to Sweet Child 'O Mine on your new and first guitar.

 

Just offer to paypal somebody $ to do it. I promise...if this is your first and probably only photoshop-a-game-skin project....just ask for somebody else to do it.

[SCPGrinder66]

If you have the paintkit, open EXT_01 (right side) and EXT_02 (left side) in photoshop. On the right of the image window you should see a vertical list of all the layers in that file...all the HB liveries are in the folders. click the eyeball to turn off whatever default livery it opens with. it should be a blank template...find the livery you want to put your names on (ex. VF-102 2002) and click the eyeball thing to make it visible. click the arrows > until all the layers are expanded...you should see a layer in there for the HB cockpit names. right click and copy that layer... turn off the eyeball for the HB cockpit names so they disappear, then go back to your copied layer and rename it something else...like 'my cockpit names'....make sure the eyeball is turned on for your layer. click in the text box and type over the HB names, or delete them and type in your own. you should be able to see them on the canopy rail...you might have to move them around a little to get them to be in the same place (like if your name is longer etc) just use the move tool to slide them. if you need to reference where yours are in comparison to HB's, just click the eyeball on HB's layer...

Once you are good with placement etc., go through the layers within that livery folder and make sure the eyeballs are clicked 'on' for everything you want and those you don't want are turned off (like HB's names layer)...save the .psd now but don't close it. Once saving is complete, go back to the right side layers list, select all the layers top to bottom (remember, only the ones where the eyeball is 'on' will be visible), then right-click on them and select flatten image (not merge layers). everything will be compressed into one layer - usually it's called 'background' - Now you will select 'Save As' from the file menu... when the window opens, pick where you want to save it to and make sure you select file type as DDS (hopefully you have the Intel Plug-In for PS - if not search for it and install into PS before you start this whole thing!). when the plug-in window opens, select BC7 Fine, Linear then save. Once you've done this for both right and left sides (EXT_01 and EXT_02), go into your DCS directory >Core Mods>aircraft>F14>Liveries>f-14b>VF-XXX and rename the original HB EXT_01 and _02 dds textures to something like HB_F14_EXT_01_bk.dds then copy your .dds textures into that same folder with the same name as it was originally from HB (i.e without '_bk')... that should do it.

There is definitely more than one way to do it, this is just what works for me. you can check it in model viewer or just go into the game and look at it. You might need to make adjustments - but all you do is go back to the paintkit .psd where your 'name layer' will be saved, adjust, and repeat the whole process....

[SCPGrinder66]

Chopper I just re-read above where you said you're not a PS user with all the layers etc... Sorry I may have not been much help with the above info. If you definitely want to do this yourself, there are some really good tutorials on youtube, but not for DCS. You should look for 'creating liveries for FSX' - there are thousands out there and it really is the same concept as far as working with layers. There's a guy called Mr Turbine77 that has a series that takes you from newb to PS expert if you are REALLY interested (and have a lot of time). If you just want names on your canopy and that's it I think several on here can help you out.

[Wavehopper]

People are making this more complicated than it needs to be.

 

First off, if you're not making a skin from scratch edit the livery you want to use and just rename it.

 

1. Go to the liveries directory and copy the livery you want to use. Paste it on to your desktop.

2. Open the relevant file in Photoshop (you might need a DDS plugin which are easy to find and install).

3. Use the clone tool to cover up the old name/number. Match the font and write in your new name/number. You can use the RIO text to help match the colour and font. Save it when done. Repeat the process for the other side.

4. Rename the folder to something unique. There is also a text file in the folder that lists the file names. Go into the file with wordpad and rename the livery in the text file so it matches your renamed folder.

5. Copy it into the liveries folder.

 

If you're just editing an existing livery it's actually very straightforward, and I wouldn't faff around with the templates at all.

 

If you get really stuck ping me a PM with the details and I'll knock it up for you over the weekend. It doesn't take more than 10 minutes to do an edit like this but I would recommend you try and learn it yourself so you an do it with any aircraft. Plus you can constantly amend them when you know how.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Wavehopper

[Chopper A-10]

Thanks guys, I do appreciate the advice and feedback . . I do want to do this myself, so I am going to learn how changing names/aircraft #'s and full repaints are done.

 

I've posted missions on this forum and I want to continue to build them and change aircraft as needed.

 

Exactly the assistance I was looking for . . I now have a LOT more information to go forward with, thanks again!

[Chopper A-10]

Thanks again guys for the input . . watched a lot of PS videos and with the input from above I was able to do exactly what I wanted for both the Tomcat and Hornet.

Thanks,

Chopper

 

[SCPGrinder66]

Looks good man!

[Trubshaw]

Well done....The power of the forums and our community.

[IronMike]

We are planning on making the modex numbers exchangeable as in other aircraft in DCS, but it takes longer as the modex sizes and shapes differ mostly with all skins, so it is not such a straight forward task. We will see if we can include also pilot names in the future.

[Chopper A-10]

Thanks IronMike!

[Vettefan]

Hi! Kindly asking, if this already solved, as I currently seem not to be able to change my plane number in ME...

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[Viper33]

On 5/15/2019 at 10:14 PM, IronMike said:

We are planning on making the modex numbers exchangeable as in other aircraft in DCS, but it takes longer as the modex sizes and shapes differ mostly with all skins, so it is not such a straight forward task. We will see if we can include also pilot names in the future.

Panned out well it seems.

[RustBelt]

It’s because DCS does them as an “animation” strip tied to the airplane model not an image on the livery. So if the number is slanted that needs a different shaped object on the physical 3D model that is “animated” to a given position.

It doesn’t just semi-bake a decal layer on the texture like one would think you would.

Works for russian bort numbers that are all fixed block fonts. And dull ass airforce sencils. Less so with stylish Navy art.

Edited November 27, 2024 by RustBelt

[Nealius]

Works for the MiG-21 that includes Arabic numbers as possible combinations. Placement and format (3-digit vs. 2-digit on the flaps, for example) is most likely the major issue, as the indidival fonts and styles (e.g. italics) can be placed in the livery file like they already are for other modules.

[LanceCriminal86]

They also don't play well with normal maps and roughmets in some situations, which makes them look like absolute crap when you have things like slime lights and panel lines running around those areas. The F-4E would definitely be impacted by that as the usual tail locations for base codes and serials are all around the slime lights.