MSFS PBR Textures for CUSTOM MATERIALS

[peacefarm]

Hi all,

In an attempt to expand processes and get away from projected mesh issues (especially in the last couple SDK updates), I'm looking to use the built-in apron feature of the SDK to make some pavement areas. So far, I've only been able to import the base textures via custom materials, but I'm looking to import a full PBR material. Unfortunately, the SDK documentation is not very forthcoming on how to convert standard roughness, normal, height, etc maps to the COMP format MSFS needs. It mentions what channels make up what, but I'm not sure how to actually properly plug them in. I've read through the forum and although there are a lot of concepts and some success stories, I still have not had any luck having the sim read my COMP textures.

Could someone shine some light on how to successfully do this or perhaps an article or tutorial? I have photoshop and substance painter, but happy to use other software need be - WHATEVER IT TAKES!

Thanks in advance.

-PEACE FARM

 

[Pyscen]

To make the COMP you would use either GIMP or Photoshop. Placing the individual maps within their proper channel. Save them as png or jpg files.

With SP you should be saving them out already combine into a COMP file.

 

[peacefarm]

To make the COMP you would use either GIMP or Photoshop. Placing the individual maps within their proper channel. Save them as png or jpg files.

With SP you should be saving them out already combine into a COMP file.

Thanks, I managed to understand the general concept, but looking for help as to how to actually do it. In other words, the actual workflow in one of the mentioned programs.

 

[bar_rodoy]

Thanks, I managed to understand the general concept, but looking for help as to how to actually do it. In other words, the actual workflow in one of the mentioned programs.

Same here. I could not find any explanation of how to convert normal, spec and bump maps into COMP

 

[mamu]

Normal map doesn't go into the comp/orm map

I have a video about pbr workflow with Gimp,
roughly 20 minutes in

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

 

[peacefarm]

Normal map doesn't go into the comp/orm map

I have a video about pbr workflow with Gimp,
roughly 20 minutes in

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

Thanks!

 

[peacefarm]

Normal map doesn't go into the comp/orm map

I have a video about pbr workflow with Gimp,
roughly 20 minutes in

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

Thanks again for the video, however, it still doesn't explain what I'm looking to do and that is create a COMP map for use with the IN SIM custom material editor (for use with aprons, polygons, etc). I have no problem exporting out PBR via Substance Painter, but that only works for 3D objects and not "custom materials" within the sim.

I'd really appreciate some help in this topic.

Thanks!

 

[mamu]

Oooopss didn't read your topic carefully!

So, to create apron materials, you Need to
- have a metalness texture map
- have a roughess texture map
- have a normal map


- take the normal map, Decompose It with Gimp
- take any RGBA image or create One in Gimp (when creating an image you can find It in the presets), RGBA stands for Red Green Blue Alpha

Now you have the decomposed normal with 3 layers and the the decomposed RGBA with 4 layers

Using the decomposed RGBA

In the Red layer put the metalness map
In the Green layer put the Red layer from the decomposed normal map
In the Blue layer put the roughess map
In the Alpha layer put the Blue layer from the decomposed normal map

Then compose


All the above halfway into this docs page

Inspector Menus

docs.flightsimulator.com

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

 

[peacefarm]

Oooopss didn't read your topic carefully!

So, to create apron materials, you Need to
- have a metalness texture map
- have a roughess texture map
- have a normal map


- take the normal map, Decompose It with Gimp
- take any RGBA image or create One in Gimp (when creating an image you can find It in the presets), RGBA stands for Red Green Blue Alpha

Now you have the decomposed normal with 3 layers and the the decomposed RGBA with 4 layers

Using the decomposed RGBA

In the Red layer put the metalness map
In the Green layer put the Red layer from the decomposed normal map
In the Blue layer put the roughess map
In the Alpha layer put the Blue layer from the decomposed normal map

Then compose


All the above halfway into this docs page

Inspector Menus

docs.flightsimulator.com

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

Thanks A LOT for the detailed explanation, Mamu! I will give it a shot this weekend 😃

 

[peacefarm]

Oooopss didn't read your topic carefully!

So, to create apron materials, you Need to
- have a metalness texture map
- have a roughess texture map
- have a normal map


- take the normal map, Decompose It with Gimp
- take any RGBA image or create One in Gimp (when creating an image you can find It in the presets), RGBA stands for Red Green Blue Alpha

Now you have the decomposed normal with 3 layers and the the decomposed RGBA with 4 layers

Using the decomposed RGBA

In the Red layer put the metalness map
In the Green layer put the Red layer from the decomposed normal map
In the Blue layer put the roughess map
In the Alpha layer put the Blue layer from the decomposed normal map

Then compose


All the above halfway into this docs page

Inspector Menus

docs.flightsimulator.com

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

Hey Mamu, excuse my ignorance with Gimp, but how exactly do I "put" a specific image into a specific layer of the RGBA image? I have here my decomposed blank RGBA image, but sure how to "plug in" into the channels here. Would you mind expanding on that a bit? Thanks!

PS: What format should I export out of Gimp after composing it?

 

[Pyscen]

With GIMP, can be little tricky, but it can be done. Check out the GIMP: Creating Ambient Occlusion Map tutorial in the resources section. It is for P3D, but the.process in placing the maps is the same only the the channels would be different.

 

[mamu]

Hey Mamu, excuse my ignorance with Gimp, but how exactly do I "put" a specific image into a specific layer of the RGBA image? I have here my decomposed blank RGBA image, but sure how to "plug in" into the channels here. Would you mind expanding on that a bit? Thanks!

PS: What format should I export out of Gimp after composing it?

View attachment 79258

Select the layer
Drag and drop your Image into the layer
This Will creare a new layer, right click on the new layer and select merge down
Do for all the layers
Compose (color/component/compose)
Export as png



Will do a more specific tutorial

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

 

[peacefarm]

Select the layer
Drag and drop your Image into the layer
This Will creare a new layer, right click on the new layer and select merge down
Do for all the layers
Compose (color/component/compose)
Export as png



Will do a more specific tutorial

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

Thank you, I will try again soon. I appreciate the reply!

 

[DanielM]

I've found that it's easy to use Imagemagick and the Command prompt/Terminal to build the PBR file if you already have the other parts as separate files.
You simply put them in the same folder and run something like this to combine everything in to one file: convert ao.png rough.png metal.png -combine mynewpbrfile.png

This comes very handy if you need to update the texture, you save a lot of time this way. Combine isn't the only thing you can do, you can also resize, do various batch jobs etc.

ImageMagick

Create, Edit, Compose, or Convert Digital Images

imagemagick.org

 

[peacefarm]

I've found that it's easy to use Imagemagick and the Command prompt/Terminal to build the PBR file if you already have the other parts as separate files.
You simply put them in the same folder and run something like this to combine everything in to one file: convert ao.png rough.png metal.png -combine mynewpbrfile.png

This comes very handy if you need to update the texture, you save a lot of time this way. Combine isn't the only thing you can do, you can also resize, do various batch jobs etc.

ImageMagick

Create, Edit, Compose, or Convert Digital Images

imagemagick.org

Thanks, Daniel! I'll be sure to give it a go this week.

 

[peacefarm]

Select the layer
Drag and drop your Image into the layer
This Will creare a new layer, right click on the new layer and select merge down
Do for all the layers
Compose (color/component/compose)
Export as png



Will do a more specific tutorial

Inviato dal mio Mi 9 Lite utilizzando Tapatalk

Hi Mamu, have you had a chance to do a tutorial on this by chance? I've tried all you suggested above, but I'm obviously not doing something correctly as I my COMP (for MATERIALS (like aprons, etc) ) are not working.

Thank you!

 

[mamu]

Hi Mamu, have you had a chance to do a tutorial on this by chance? I've tried all you suggested above, but I'm obviously not doing something correctly as I my COMP (for MATERIALS (like aprons, etc) ) are not working.

Thank you!

hope you enjoy!!