dpabrams Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I have been working up my V3 M1 skins to now include the existing decals and doing a general update to release a V4 pack. The models have not changed that I can tell for the M1 series. However, I am having some trouble with the gear bags on the rear on the M1A0. The bags are see through along with some parts of the turret. Whats the matter? Is is a conversion to dds issue? I generally make my skins in PSP and save as a PSD file to convert to a dds using Photoshop. Next issue. Is there a way to "alpha" out the equipment bag in the rear bustle rack of the IPM1 and MA1A's? I think the tank would look better without the low rez tarp. Thanks, Pete 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpabrams Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 OK, new PS and "see through" problem solved. I would still like to see if I can make a model feature invisible? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 51 minutes ago, dpabrams said: I would still like to see if I can make a model feature invisible? Yes, but it leaves a black hole. There is no texture mapped to the floor of the bustle. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpabrams Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 13 hours ago, Splash said: Yes, but it leaves a black hole. There is no texture mapped to the floor of the bustle. OK, I think I can live with that. I cannot figure out how to edit the alpha channel though. On a side note didn't I see a thread where someone had a shape file viewer that you could view shapes in without firing the sim up? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpabrams Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 I found a shape viewer in the library but it states its for older versions? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt DeFault Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 1 hour ago, dpabrams said: I cannot figure out how to edit the alpha channel though. What editor are you using? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpabrams Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 95% Paint Shop Pro 8, 5% Photoshop............. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt DeFault Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 In Photoshop, you can click the "channels" tab in the "layers" window. The alpha channel should be at the bottom of the channels. Not sure about Paint Shop as I don't use it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Rotareneg revealed the how-to in this thread: Be sure to read all of Rotareneg's posts in the thread. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpabrams Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 OK, I cannot find the alpha layer in my mods. I have long since lost that layer working in PSP. So I will have to DL a template and add the original alpha back into the PSD files. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpabrams Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 Hmmmmm, I see no alpha channel on the IPM1 template I just DL'd. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 I'm probably of limited help because I don't know what PSP does or doesn't do. But in Gimp 2.8, channels are accessible in a tab in the same dialog box with the layers, paths and history tabs. You should make this edit on the final, flattened form of your skin; before you export it as a .dds. (Of course you can also do it on a finished skin from the folder -- that's what I did for the example -- but you lose some quality with the additional compression upon saving.) But I don't even bother with the channels dialog. I just use the scissors tool to 'cut' the part(s) from the flattened layer. (leaves the 'checkerboard' of a transparent layer. Then export it as a .dds (with mipmaps, rgbA8 format and DXT3 compression) and place it in both the nation AND seasonal root mod folders. Something not mentioned in the referenced thread: There's still some very subtle ghosting from, I suppose, the normal and/or specular maps. So it seems logical that editing those also would be necessary. I haven't messed with that myself. If you'e up to a challenge, it would be wicked cool to eliminate the CITV from the Aussie M1 (when using the M1A2SEP as a stand-in). This is absolutely doable -- but a little complicated because the CITV is composed of several noncontiguous parts on both the main skin and 'interior' skin. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpabrams Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 I am updating my M1 mods and will likely release a 4.006 M1, IPM1, MA1A and M1A1(HA) but I want to get rid of the blob in the basket. I have added camo to the blob but it's so low rez it just looks bad. I did an Aussie M1A1 and it's in the library. These models still look great but I suspect they will get upgraded in the next major release to go with the M60A3 and M113A1/2/3. I have never redone the skins for the M1A2, playing with those is just cheating 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Paint Shop Pro is horrible working with layers. I switched to Photoshop just for that reason alone. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_Colossus Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 That's useful- then it's possible to visually subtract the fording tube from the T-55 yes? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpabrams Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share Posted October 24, 2016 On 10/21/2016 at 0:47 PM, Captain_Colossus said: That's useful- then it's possible to visually subtract the fording tube from the T-55 yes? Yes it is possible to remove it by making or altering the alpha channel. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_Colossus Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 This does work: my older version of Photoshop doesn't handle alpha channels, but Gimp does- it's simply a matter of using the eraser tool, easy as that. Interesting possibilities to vismod certain vehicles. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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