BlackRook Posted February 20, 2022 Posted February 20, 2022 Are there recommendations for the latest process for making custom Liveries, maybe in a guide somewhere? Do the guides around from 2014/2015 still apply? As a newcomer to DCS skinning, I know that there are Templates for several aircraft in the game, but there are a lot still missing. Do you just find the skin in the install dirs and modify to make a new one? I am curious, since I want to create skins for aircraft like the Su-34, IL-78M, Tu-160, and etc, for a semi-realistic 'What If' campaign for Persian Gulf.
DishDoggie Posted February 20, 2022 Posted February 20, 2022 I wanted to make a skin for the Huey and found out things as a new skinner : NOTE this is a first time skin makers views. 1st I will say I have SO much respect for Skin Makers that Know What They Are Doing. 2nd You need to teach yourself so much about how to use just the software to make so many special files the skins use it is crazy. College Courses could be given on just making DCS Skins. Why??? You have old skins made one way and newer skins made another way This skin needs this type of file this skin needs another kind of file. You need to write a LUA file on top of the Graphics Files you make to tell the Game what all this stuff is and what to load on the Aircraft and what part to load it to. Learn the file structure of all the Graphics files in DCS to access them when needed. At this point I am babbling like a idiot because it is SO HARD. This is just MY OPINION. You don't find tons of videos on how to skin in DCS because it is so hard to Teach someone all they need to know and do to get to the Good skinners level they don't have the time to make all the lessons to do it. Then if you are using GIMP instead of Photo Shop Well You need to learn to do it another way. Who has the time to teach you how to get that far into how to skin? People are Kind and Will try to help you out and Answer your Questions but they can't hold your hand to teach you every step in the process. You need to be knowledgeable about Graphic file manipulation with Layers, Masks, Paths, Lightmaps, Spectrum, RGB file Manipulation babble like a idiot I know nothing and just enough to get me into trouble and all I have managed to do is Learn how to take a DCS template make layers for the outside of the uh-1h model how to make interior files for the model how to make Pilot skin files for the uniforms and helmet how to make Some Spec files (Not ALL) and try to make the LUA file to make it all work in the game. I feel like I am a drowning person at the 5 second still alive point just before drowning. Look for and use the DCS MODEL viewer program inside the files of the game and learn how to use it to load the 3d model files and skins to view them and to file locate all the skin files used by the game. Another lesson to learn. You will have question after question. DEEP RESPECT to the DCS SKINNERS NOT LIKE ME. That know what they are doing. Every once in a while a Idiot will manage to crawl under the wire into the new skin release download section of user skin downloads. This is how I will feel when I finally release my Huey skin I want for my custom mission that will probably not matter to any one like this Babbling Opinion. DON'T Give up You are able to do this just want you to know you will need to learn a lot of stuff. Find the Discord channel for DCS Skinner help Deep Respect to Them. Very Smart people hang out there. I suck at skinning (Kindergarten level) Best of luck to you I'm sure you will Far out reach my level skill luck and knowledge. 1
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