Transparency layers… Maybe?

[CDNnOz]

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction. I’ve searched the forums, read any tutorials I could find and watched half a dozen YouTube vidoes but I’m obviously still doing something wrong (I’m sure it’s going to be something basic and obvious, so I apologize in advance for any stupid questions I’m about to ask)

I was just playing around with some very basic skin editing for personal use, nothing major, just my callsign on my canopy, roundels on wingtips and tail number etc (probably less than 20 minutes total worth of Photoshopping) but then hit a road block which has had me stumped for 2 days trying to get the edited skins into game…

So just as a run down of my process, just in case I made a major mistake early and have just been oblivious to it, I’m editing the F-16 Block 52, I followed this (http://tactical.nekromantix.com/wiki/doku.php?id=falcon4:textures:skinoverview) tutorial pretty much to the letter. I exported all the DDS files I wanted to change into Photoshop, made the changes I liked, changed them into BMP files so I could preview them in 3d viewer using LOD editor (which is where I first saw the error ocurring, (photo attached) and then hoping 3d viewer was just being glitchy I used the Nvidia Photoshop plug-in to convert the finished images back into DDS files and placed them back in the KoreaObj folder.

the wings and tail worked but no matter what I try, just behind the canopy there is an area that stays white. I’ve read that some models have a transparency layer that is used to add different squad markings and I think this may be what I’m seeing? I’m not sure how I can get around it though… I’ve tried to fumble my way through LOD editor following a few tutorials but any changes I must be making (or likely not making), I’m not seeing any effects of… Hope I’m not wasting anyone’s time, I’ve tried to trouble shoot it myself but it’s time to acknowledge that I’m in over my head and appeal for help.

If anyone has any advice for me on what I’m doing wrong I would really appreciate it Thanks in advance, see you in the skies!

-Oz

[lazystone]

That tutorial you’ve followed is extremely outdated.
Do not convert *.dds to *.bmp, you’ll lose quality and Alpha channel.

Simply open the *.dds you want to edit from
\Data\Terrdata\object\KoreaObj
in Photoshop, using the Nvidia Photoshop plug-in.
(Backup before, … just in case…)

After editing, save *.dds which has no Alpha channel as DXT1 (no Alpha),
and *.dds which already has an Alpha channel as DXT3 (explicit Alpha).

Cheers,
LS

[CDNnOz]

That worked! Thanks heaps for your reply!

[parislord]

Hey, dumb question: I’ve got the plugin 8.55…1800.exe installed but I cannot open .dds in PS, browsing to a folder w/ .dds files shows blank, nothing to open…

[lazystone]

@parislord:

Hey, dumb question: I’ve got the plugin 8.55…1800.exe installed but I cannot open .dds in PS, browsing to a folder w/ .dds files shows blank, nothing to open…

I think, I’ve installed the same version.

My specs: Win7 ultimate x64, Photoshop CS5 v.12.0 x64

Your problem might be that you’ve installed the plugins into a wrong directory.

For use with PSP x64, dds64.8bi should finally resist in
\Photoshop\Adobe Photoshop CS5 (64 Bit)\Plug-ins\File Formats\

Cheers,
LS

[parislord]

Yup, that’s where, but still not seeing anything. I’m on PS6, would that matter?

[lazystone]

I can’t tell you, but I doubt CS6 would be a problem as long as
we’re talking about the x64 version. (dunno if exist a x32 version of CS6 at all)

If you create a new picture, can you save as *.dds?

Cheers,
LS

[parislord]

Nope, sure can’t. I’m running Win7 x64 but the PS6 I’m using is an old version that ran on W2K, would that have been a 32bit version and if so, wouldn’t I still need the x64 plugin as the current OS is x64?

[wilco]

Use to dxtbmp it’s more easy (it’s a software you can find it on net). With dxtbmp you can see .dds and you can export it directly in photoshop without modification.

[lazystone]

@parislord:

Nope, sure can’t. I’m running Win7 x64 but the PS6 I’m using is an old version that ran on W2K, would that have been a 32bit version and if so, wouldn’t I still need the x64 plugin as the current OS is x64?

There is the problem. I really thought you are on CS6 and PS6 was just a spelling error.

But yes, PS6 was x32 and therefore a x64 plugin won’t work.
You would need an older x32 Nvidia plugin for PS6,
or try what “wilco” suggested in the post above.

…or time to get a x64 photoshop version, IMHO.

Cheers,
LS