• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

    • Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
    • Questions about making 3D assets can be posted in the 3D asset design forum. Either post them in the subforum of the modelling tool you use or in the general forum if they are general.
    • Questions about aircraft design can be posted in the Aircraft design forum
    • Questions about airport design can be posted in the FS2020 airport design forum. Once airport development tools have been updated for FS2020 you can post tool speciifc questions in the subforums of those tools as well of course.
    • Questions about terrain design can be posted in the FS2020 terrain design forum.
    • Questions about SimConnect can be posted in the SimConnect forum.

    Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.

    By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.

Textures not displaying

S

supernova48

Messages
35
Country
us-iowa
Hello,
I have been trying out your ModelConverterX program to try and import Google Sketchup models into FS9. I converted four buildings, but on three of them, there are only partial texturing. The fourth building displayed all textures. I went back and exported them again but with the same result. Is there something I am missing in the process or is there an error message I should be looking for? I did not see any error in the log file.

Thanks,
Ken
 
Is this loss of texturing only after Export to FS, or also while loaded in MCX?

If only after Export to FS, then you may need to convert some of the textures (especially if you used the ones that come with Sketchup) to the proper BMP format that FS can read. If so, use the Mass Texture Editor button in MCX to convert them to DDS (FSX) or DXBMP (FS9).

You can view a video tutorial of the Mass Texture Editor here:

http://bit.ly/5dKmLh

My Sketchup to FS tutorial also covers it a bit:

http://www.calclassic.com/sketchup_tutorial.htm

Hope this helps,
 
Last edited:
Tom,
Thanks for the reply. I was converting the textures to BMP's. I'll try DXBMP and see if that works.

Thanks,
Ken


Tom, that did the trick, thanks.
 
Last edited:
Hi,

If you use the mass texture editor in ModelConverterX it can convert the textures automatically for you (using ImageTool). Be sure to select DXTBMP from the format list. You can set it as the default format in the options when you are working for FS2004.
 
Hi,

When the Mass Texture Editor states "BMP", that is a 24 bit BMP texture that is incompatible with FS. I don't know why we would need to convert them to an incompatible format, but there you go.

It certainly caught me by surprise the first time I tried it... :(
 
Yes, BMP is normal 24 bit BMP indeed. That option can be useful if you want to convert all texture for usage in GMax for example.
 
Hey Tom and Arno,

Thanks for your help early with my texture problems. I have been using ModelConverterX for some FS9 and FSX scenery projects.

I did a version of March AFRB since there were quite a few Sketchup model in this area. Probably 20 or so models at the base. I notice quite a slow down in frame rates. Is there a way to make this models a little more frame rate friendly.

Again thanks for your help and thanks to Arno for creating this neat utility.

Ken
 
The best way to make them more frame rate friendly:

1. Avoid 3D lettering in Sketchup - that can create thousands of polygons
2. Watch out for the number of polygons being created by things like round wheels.
3. Avoid creating very complex buildings by only using 3D elements.

You can cheat with #3 if you:

1. Create a simple building and save it for later use.
2. Add all the complex 3D things you want, like windows, pillars, etc.
3. Set the View in Sketchup to Front, Right, etc. so it is dead on to the wall, etc.
4. Take a screen shot (Alt-Print Scrn) and paste it into your favorite paint program.
5. Repeat #3 and #4 for all sides of the building (or whatever)
6. Create a texture from these screen shots, with all the details in the texture.
7. In Sketchup, load the simple building from #1 and apply the texture to it.

Now you have a simple building that looks complex.

Hope this helps,
 
Hey Tom,
Thanks for the reply.

Basically I'm using other user created Sketchup models for KRIV. I had emailed the author and received permission to use his models for my version of KRIV. In the process of creating FS9 models from the sketchup models, can I create a more frame rate friendly texture? Are the textures adjustable?

I have not created any models using sketchup, just using the one someone else has already created. Don't know that I have to talent to do that.

Thanks,
Ken
 
Hi Ken,

To add to what Tom said already. Keep a good eye on the amount of drawcalls as well. If a model uses a lit of different materials that will influence the performance. Especially if it is combined with high amounts of triangles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top