DeltaGlider repaint ideas?

[AphelionHellion]

I tried posting this to the orbitersim forum but I had some problems

I've downloaded the dds plugin for photoshop and I'd like to try my hand at a Delta Glider repaint, seeing as how I'm
much better at photoshopping than programming  I like Mr. Batman's FedEx paint and I started putting together a
UPS repaint, until I found that he's made one of those already, too!
So, has anyone got any requests? Ideas for DG paints they'd like to see? Or do you guys think we have enough
DG repaints already and I'd be wasting my time?
Thanks in advance

[McBrain]

What about a Brenton-McBrain Aerospace repaint?
You could use our logo!

[DanSteph]

I've created a "repaint kit" with layered texture of the DGIII that you can edit
all the repaint you see was made from it, you can download it >>>>Here <<<< (8Mo)

Notice this repaint kit doesn't explain how to make a "DGIIIconfig" compatible skin.
Anyways it's very simple: edit with notepad a DeltaGliderIII***.msh in Meshes
directory and see at the end that each model have the texture name here.
Copy/rename a DeltaGliderIII***.msh  (ex: DeltaGliderIIIAphellion.msh )
Edit the name of the texture at the end to match yours (ex : dgmk3_aphel_3.dds )

you can add a 150x100 jpg  image that match the mesh's name in directory
sound/deltagliderIII/SKIN_IMAGE

And your set, selectable in dgIIIconfig, with a thumbnail also.

WARNING !!!! THE MESH MAY CHANGE FOR THE FINAL RELEASE, YOUR SKIN MAY THAN
CAUSE PROBLEMS OR WORSE CRASH ORBITER... STATE SOMEWERE THAT'S IT'S FOR
THE DGIII ALPHA VERSION IF YOU RELEASE YOUR REPAINT.

Dan
"someone noticed how I love the yellow higlight pen ? "



Post Edited ( 05-27-04 01:26 )

[schumanna]

WOW N I C E ! ! !

Thanks a mill Dan!  Your supper!

[AphelionHellion]

Hmm, now Orbiter forum is working
Some folks there had some nice suggestions in this vein too. The link:
http://orbit.m6.net/v2/read.asp?id=16216

On a related note, does anyone know where to find the specs for saving this stuff as a dds file? I had no idea there
were so many options for saving dds files! Over half a dozen menus... Alpha and mipmaps and whatnot. I'm not sure
what orbiter is expecting, I'm afraid. I'll hafta search for what's been written on this subject (assuming we're all using
the same photoshop plugin?)

PS - Dan: Your painting kid is friggin AWESOME  Thanks! I'm sure It'll come in handy for normal deltaglider repaints.
Not to mention learning this dds paint stuff

[DocHoliday]

Hey AphelionHellion (helluva nick there)

If you feel like learning, I guess one solid idea, that is bound to be popular is to make a theme skin for the NBA
teams. Like a Laker's DG3 or a SA Spur's Dg3? :awe:

[Schimz]

red cross/crescent skin
austin powers skin
UNO skin
USSR skin
...adlib

[Atom]

RAF Skin (British Air Force)
Atom Skin (with my sigi)  
Krytom Skin (with his sigi)

[freespace2dotcom]

*freespace downloads the zip file*

What? I can't use MSpaint?

NOOOOOOOOO!!!~

I need to get photoshop!

[DanSteph]

AphelionHellion wrote:
On a related note, does anyone know where to find the specs for saving this stuff as a dds file? I had no idea there
were so many options for saving dds files!

Usually you will only need to touch "dxt1" and "mip map" parameter all other should be leaved on
default.

Anyway here how to save a dds:




Dan

[AphelionHellion]

Heh, thanks Doc!
Interesting idea. I don't think I've ever seen anyone do "abstract" designs on these things. Of course it begs the
question - how long 'till we see the Coca Cola DG? Not very, I suspect
Hehe

Schimz: I like the medical idea... THere's already a medical paint, but I bet we could do better

Atom: Hmm, RAF might be interesting. And I could even scavenge chunks of other skins to build it

Freespace: I think photoshop plugins work with PaintShopPro, which has a free trialware version.

Or you could get on eMule or something...
*looks around suspiciously*

Ahem! I under no circumstances admit to or condone any sort of software piracy, whatsoever.
Just so everyone knows...
 

[AphelionHellion]

Dan: Thanks!
You're a lifesaver!


______________________

[AphelionHellion]

Ooh! I just had one more question - will a DG3 repaint work on a stock DG model? Or is it more complicated than that?
I'd hoped to make versions for the stock DG too so they could still be used when your DG3+ changes

[DanSteph]

Yes you can but you will owerwrite the DG "stock" texture wich are named
dgmk3_3.dds and further.

PS: your repaint WILL WORK (god this yellow is too appealing )
with the final version, you'll just need  to redo the final manipulation IE: copy a deltagliderIII***.msh
and change the name and the texture name at the end. You don't need to change your texture
at all , just a copy/rename/edit the texture name and your set: compatible with final version.

Dan



Post Edited ( 05-27-04 23:20 )

[DocHoliday]

Sorry for the ignorance. Could someone point me to where I can get this Photoshop plugin for DDS conversion? I'd
like to give it a shot with the skin design?

Tnx,
Janez

[DanSteph]

Here you are:

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html

Take "DDS Photoshop Plug-in" and don't forget the dll (in red)

Dan

[DocHoliday]

Got it, thanks.

It's all pretty damn inspiring The story thread, the skin thread, the Vsepucci-D being developped and the rest.

cheers,

[freespace2dotcom]

Yeah, I hear you doc! Now, maybe I can show my inspriation by making a super-cool skin to beat all others someday!

well, it'll likely be awhile, but I'm working on it.

[DocHoliday]

Well, as Dan said, the skin mechanism may change, so I'm prolly only gonna do just one for myself. Just to see if I can
actually do anything useful

[freespace2dotcom]

exactly. besides, I doubt anything I could do would be worth anybody's interest. But nonetheless, I'm gonna do it so I
have a bit more variety to choose from. and I just can't picture myself flying a future fedex truck. something slightly
more custom is almost required. now if only I could tamper with the thngs under the hood...

[DocHoliday]

Hm.. Error. Unsupported Input Format? Must be doing something wrong. Trying to Save As.. no option screen, just
the error message...

[freespace2dotcom]

that might be because you need to put the plugin into the photshop folder, as *well* as put those other dll files or
whatever in your windows/system folder. I, um.. borrowed.. a copy of photoshop and it works just swell on my
computer. (and I am working on mine as we speak. Dan, be afraid. be VERY afraid! )



Post Edited ( 05-29-04 02:50 )

[DanSteph]

Mhhhh janez I'm sorry, my error
check  image 3 and 5 and delete the alpha channel (it must be only RGB layer not RGBA)
because dxt1 forbid use of alpha. hence the message you have.

I updated the archive if you don't know how to do.


Dan



Post Edited ( 05-29-04 04:30 )

[freespace2dotcom]

AH, I got the same error! *Now* I know what you were talking about, doc... hehe, I don't wanna download anything
over again, with the risk of DOING stuff over again. so I ask: all I have to do is just click that "save alphas" checkbox
off and I'm good to go, right?

[DanSteph]

No, you need to delete the alpha channel in the tab "channel" in photoshop before saving them
you must only have RGB and Red Green Blue channel here no alpha.

Like this: (example)



And don't forget to save often at different stage of your repaint with different name (*_1.psd *_2.psd etc)
nothing worse than losing hours of work because you made a mystake.

Dan



Post Edited ( 05-29-04 04:17 )