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GIMP, Alpha & DXTBmp

R

ralphc

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16
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southafrica
Hello All...
Can someone please help :confused:I've searched for what seems like ages for this info. I'm trying to get 'shine' on my aircraft repaints. I'm using the MAAM DC-3 Paint Kit. When loaded (into DXTBmp) with the Alpha Template it looks fine. I export it to GIMP, do my work, reload it (in .bmp) backto DXTBmp...and I get a white box (which displays the image Alpha)...All the Alpha looks like it's been 'masked over'

I'd really appreciate a 'walkthrough' on this process please. anybody got any ideas please? :o
Thanks
ralphc
 
That annoyed me too. A solution I found, (a tedious one at that), is to export the Alpha channel as a .BMP image. Save it somewhere like your desktop or some place you have easy access to. For OCD's sake, you'll want to rename the .BMP to the name of the texture you opened in DXTBMP, with "_alpha" at the end, so you know which one is which. Then send the original texture to GIMP, do your editing, export it with the same name as the original texture, and take it back into DXTBMP. You can then go to the top menu and click "Alpha Channel", then go down to "Import Alpha channel". Import your previously exported Alpha .BMP image and you will see it in the Alpha channel box. THEN...:rolleyes:...Export it as a DXT5 .DDS texture and you should be good to go. ;)
 
A slightly shorter way (if GIMP allows this) is to assign GIMP as your Editor in DXTBmp. Then load the original image. Then:

1. In DXTBmp choose Image/Send to Editor
2. Edit image in GIMP.
3. Save image in GIMP.
4. In DXTBmp, choose Image/Reload after Edit
5. Save the final image.

If GIMP doesn't open up with the image in it, then you will have to do it the long way as described above.
 
DXTbmp & GIMP Cont:

Hello Again..
That annoyed me too.
Click to expand...
:) Glad it's just not me then! :)

Ozzman & Tom, thanks both for your replies and time.

Ozzman, I've tried your method and I'm still getting the same negative results. Not to say it doesn't work, just that I'm probably going wrong somewhere.

Then send the original texture to GIMP, do your editing, export it with the same name as the original texture, and take it back into DXTBMP
Click to expand...
:confused:

By "original texture" do you mean the actual template that needs to be painted? Sorry if I seem to be asking a dim Q re: this, but my brains are scrambled with it! :o

Tom, No joy with your method either. I'd tried that before. Thing is, GIMP saves in .xcf. I'm thinking that when a layer is automatically applied by GIMP, it's automatically giving an Alpha Channel (my MAAM DC-3's still have shine when installed) I've tried to apply an alpha Channel to a specified area (like nose cone) but it does the whole lot. Even when a 'path' is created for it to be applied to. I can use everything else in GIMP..just this that's giving me 'grief'

The MAAM PK's come with a ready 'laid out' alpha template, which I apply (in DXTbmp) before I send it to GIMP. I've tried to add that template afterwards. Over the top of the finished repaint, but it seems to affect the original colours (makes them pailer)

Thanks for your help ...The quest goes on ;)
Thanks
ralphc
 
ralphc said:
Hello Again..
:) Glad it's just not me then! :)

Ozzman & Tom, thanks both for your replies and time.

Ozzman, I've tried your method and I'm still getting the same negative results. Not to say it doesn't work, just that I'm probably going wrong somewhere.

:confused:

By "original texture" do you mean the actual template that needs to be painted? Sorry if I seem to be asking a dim Q re: this, but my brains are scrambled with it! :o

Tom, No joy with your method either. I'd tried that before. Thing is, GIMP saves in .xcf. I'm thinking that when a layer is automatically applied by GIMP, it's automatically giving an Alpha Channel (my MAAM DC-3's still have shine when installed) I've tried to apply an alpha Channel to a specified area (like nose cone) but it does the whole lot. Even when a 'path' is created for it to be applied to. I can use everything else in GIMP..just this that's giving me 'grief'

The MAAM PK's come with a ready 'laid out' alpha template, which I apply (in DXTbmp) before I send it to GIMP. I've tried to add that template afterwards. Over the top of the finished repaint, but it seems to affect the original colours (makes them pailer)

Thanks for your help ...The quest goes on ;)
Thanks
ralphc
Click to expand...

Yes.

It's the one you're sending to the editor to paint on.

That method works fine for me. :confused: Are you sure you exported the alpha channel out of the [ORIGINAL TEXTURE] template and made sure it looked right? It should work, as that is what the "Export Alpha" tool is designed to do.
 
Third Try

Hi...
Apologies for the late reply. Tried again with your suggestion. It seemed to work.

What I dids was paint as normal, with GIMP adding the Alpha C automatically. Took it back into DXT....Imported the original Alpha Template on to the image in DXT...Saved it and sent it to the AC texture folder. Looked OK. Thanks. :)

However, that worked with an Aircraft repaint kit with a 'ready made' Alpha template, the test will be when I come across one without such a luxury. :eek:
Thanks
ralphc
 
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