FSX Problem to create Blend Mask

[manschy]

Hi developers,

although I studied all topics here, I could not find any solution to solve my problem while making my first blend mask:

Everything runs fine until the resample.exe step. I got two layers, one with my background bmp and the second with a black white alpha blend mask, both built in GIMP. But when I resample my Photo.INF, I don't get the blend mask at all - just the background bmp image square.

Because image and blend mask seem fine, I think it might be a mistake inside the INF. I know about many posted INF files, but no matter to which version I tried to exchange my own, it fails. Any answer is much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Here my INF:

[Source]
Type=MultiSource
NumberOfSources=2

[Source1]
Type=BMP
Layer=Imagery
SourceDir= "."
SourceFile="RAF_Gutersloh_X_original.bmp"
Variation=ALL
Channel_BlendMask=2.0
SamplingMethod=Gaussian
ulyMap=51.9349520311117
ulxMap=8.28506469726563
xDim=5.36441802978516E-06
yDim=3.30814914574863E-06

[Source2]
Type=BMP
Layer=None
SourceDir="."
SourceFile="RAF_Gutersloh_X_blendmask.bmp"
SamplingMethod=Gaussian
ulyMap=51.9349520311117
ulxMap=8.28506469726563
xDim=5.36441802978516E-06
yDim=3.30814914574863E-06




[Destination]
DestDir="."
DestBaseFileName="RAF_Gutersloh_X_original"
DestFileType=BGL
LOD=Auto
UseSourceDimensions=1
CompressionQuality=85

 

[robystar]

Hi,

I can think of two possible reasons:
- the path to your source directory of your blend mask;
- the blend mask is not a black and white 8 bit LZW compressed bmp (or is still indexed).

 

[Shaun]

Blend masks can be any format it's the value which matters.

Everything looks in order, could you post a small version of your mask?

 

[manschy]

Thank's guys for quick replies

I start with my first designing steps in FSX according to this tutorial

http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?250762-How-to-create-photoreal-scenery-for-FSX/page37

@ Roby: I should have to place the blend mask into the same folder like the resample.exe, is this right? I exported the blend mask like auther defined in GIMP with 24bit BMP (seems to be important to create smooth edges...)

@ Shaun: Yes, for sure, here are blend mask and background image.

 

[GHD]

Try changing your blend mask to a tiff.

 

[Shaun]

I've had various problems resample over the years. Try changing the file name to something else and in the .inf. Export as a 24 bit and Under compatability options when you export, tick "no not write colour space info".

 

[GHD]

I have never had a problem when using 24bit bmps and tiffs.

Here is Gutersloh:

BMP:



TIFF:



and in TmfViewer:

 

[manschy]

Thank you guys. Okay, it is worth the effort just to do the final steps again, redoing the mask and exporting in bmp and TIFF so see what happens. Regarding your answers, I assume it must be a careless mistake while working with GIMP, especially the exporting part. Thank you so far.
@ Shaun: "not write colour space info" was ticked..

 

[GHD]

If you are working in GIMP, you need to save the blend mask as TIFF with LZW compression

 

[manschy]

Okay, George, will give it a try!

 

[manschy]

Well, I now exported my blend mask as requested and its size is now twice as big interestingly - but still got the sharp edges of the original background image (please have a look at the shot). Preview in TMFviewer failed likewise.
I really think I did something wrong while working with GIMP. So no matter, just at the beginning I will redo my trials with it. As soon as I get success I will let you know. Thank you all!

 

[robystar]

Hi,

A blendmask does not have to be 8 bit black and white, it can be 24 bit as well but a blendmask is gray scale and supposed to 'blend' so 8 bit is sufficient . In order to blend the photoreal with the default terrain you have to make the transition between black and white fuzzy.
I make it the same way George does (but 8 bit black and white - gray scale- LZW compressed tiff).

 

[manschy]

Hmm, okay - I reworked all from GIMP to resample.exe but unfortunately still no success, either exporting as BMP or suggested TIFF as well. TmFviewer shows nothing, FSX shows my square background image...

A shame, because I don't know where to find my fault. This is strange...

 

[Shaun]

If you are working in GIMP, you need to save the blend mask as TIFF with LZW compression

That's false, and will significantly increase the time of the resample. JR posted about that recently. Do NOT compress!

 

[GHD]

That's false, and will significantly increase the time of the resample. JR posted about that recently. Do NOT compress!

Do you use Gimp Shaun? If not, I can assure you that uncompresssed tiffs from Gimp wil NOT work with Resample. (Irrespective of the processing time).

 

[manschy]

Thanks again all for your commitment! But also failed, so some suggestions:

- resample.exe always works fine > so this shouldn't be the culprit
- sbuilder did its work, because I got the background and also its tales
- GIMP or my inadequacy respectively seams to be the reason...

@ Shaun: May you give me a rough tutorial please how to get this result work? Sounds so easy but unable to find the location of error I don't know where to rework...

Oh, and finally a silly question: Do I need a texture folder inside my scenery? Do I need any texture (image) inside this to get the resampled bgl work properly?

 

[Shaun]

Yeah I use gimp. So it wont work uncompressed with photoshop? WTF?

I can't see what you're doing is wrong. perhaps if George sends you the .inf he used, this will solve it.

I've had problems with resample not working in a folder with a particular name, so have had to move all of the files, or change the file name too. But no problems with blend masks. Unless you have a Null Value.

 

[GHD]

So it wont work uncompressed with photoshop?

I didn't mention Photoshop

 

[GHD]

perhaps if George sends you the .inf he used, this will solve it.

Unfortunately my bmp is 393Mb and the tiff 850Kb so it is impractical to upload them.

This is my .inf:

[Destination]
DestDir    = .
DestBaseFileName  = Area_Lm1_SnapOff_N051561392_N051545236_E008165015_E008201470
BuildSeasons      = 0
UseSourceDimensions    = 1
CompressionQuality  = 100

[Source]
Type  = MultiSource
NumberOfSources = 2

[Source1]
Type    = BMP
Layer    = Imagery
SourceDir  = .
SourceFile = Area_Lm1_SnapOff_N051561392_N051545236_E008165015_E008201470.bmp
Lon  = 8.28059434890747  ;for top left and bottom right is: 8.33741784095764
Lat  = 51.9372010231018  ;for top left and bottom right is: 51.914544403553
NumOfCellsPerLine = 15889  ;Pixel is not used in FSX
NumOfLines  = 8447  ;Pixel is not used in FSX
CellXdimensionDeg = 3.57627868652344E-06
CellYdimensionDeg = 2.68220901489258E-06
PixelIsPoint  = 0
SamplingMethod  = Point
Channel_BlendMask  = 2.0

[Source2]
Type    = TIFF
Layer    = None
SourceDir  = .
SourceFile = Area_Lm1_SnapOff_N051561392_N051545236_E008165015_E008201470-BLEND.tif
Lon  = 8.28059434890747  ;for top left and bottom right is: 8.33741784095764
Lat  = 51.9372010231018  ;for top left and bottom right is: 51.914544403553
NumOfCellsPerLine = 15889  ;Pixel is not used in FSX
NumOfLines  = 8447  ;Pixel is not used in FSX
CellXdimensionDeg = 3.57627868652344E-06
CellYdimensionDeg = 2.68220901489258E-06
PixelIsPoint  = 0
SamplingMethod  = Point

 

[GHD]

- resample.exe always works fine > so this shouldn't be the culprit

But it can't "work fine" if you can't see the bgl in TmfViewer