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Canopy transparency (GMAX to FSX)

S

Swildons

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5
Country
england
I have almost completed my first Gmax model aeroplane, and am able to successfully export it to FSX, however I have a couple of "glitches", so advice please: -

The canopy is either totally invisible (if in the material set up I set the "opacity" to 99%), or totally opaque (if I set Opacity to 100%)
So how do I manage to get a transparent tinted cockpit canopy?

I have a similar problem with my "blurred" prop.
 
Hi Swildons,

For FSX, forget the "Opacity" setting. Start by checking out the FSX SDK on how to create FSX materials in GMax using alpha channels for transparency etc. Bill Leaming (n4gix) and others have provided some good tips here and on the other major fsim fora. Try searching for "opacity fsx".

As a last resort, contact me and I will provide a quick n' dirty tutorial. ;)

/Tom
 
The critical point is that you MUST click on the option in the FSX Material Properties to "Set Default Transparent" in the Framebuffer Blend section.

Then, and only then will the Blinn Opacity spinner have any affect whatever... ;)
 
Many thanks,
I knew the solution was probably quite simple - I had been experimenting for hours, and couldn't find anything already on the forums. (My search technique is not very expert!)

I'm now having problems with the VC panel materials so the guages show up - but I know I've seen a tutorial on this somewhere, it's just a matter of finding it again, or experimenting till it works. (In the meantime I now have a flyable aeroplane - even if it is very much "seat of the pants"!)
 
For your VC materials for gauges; create your FSX gauge material, such as for $pan1, and then go to the very bottom of the material page and you will see a tick for 'VC gauge material'. Tick that on and you now have a gauge material for FSX.

For illumination of your gauges, you will need to set the self illumination flyout to 'multiplyblenduser... something something' (sorry, I do not remember it precisely). That will enable you to use a lightmap on your gauges, and it will softly illuminate it instead of harsh pure white overlays.


Bill
 
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