Quick question about alpha channels

Quixoticish · Post by **Quixoticish** » 27 Mar 2007, 21:20

Thanks to Nazca Steve I've discovered a little utility that will modify the aircraft model for you and make the alpha channel textures work as reflectives rather than transparencies.

If you get MDLC117.zip from no-nodes and then google for a little file called "shine.zip" (if you can't find it let me know and I'll send it to you) you can simply right click on the aircraft model and select "reflective textures" and let the program go to work. You can also set varying levels of shine actually on the model, although this seems to have little effect and you are far better simply using the reflective textures option then setting shine via the alpha channel.

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 27 Mar 2007, 22:32

Chris

I should have remembered my post of about a year ago that told Nazca Steve about that utility.

Just to prove that there is nothing new, just people pointing to earlier posts:

http://forums.netwings.org/forums/showthread.php?t=628

Ian

Post by **Garry Russell** » 27 Mar 2007, 22:35

What happens to the model parts that are supposed to remain transparent?

Garry

Quixoticish · Post by **Quixoticish** » 27 Mar 2007, 23:50

Garry Russell wrote:What happens to the model parts that are supposed to remain transparent?

Garry

If you know your way around a hex editor you can open the .mdl and tinker with things manually I believe. Obviously if you just set it to make your textures reflective it'll make every texture reflective so some manual re-adjusting is required unless you want to be blinded by your own VC.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 28 Mar 2007, 00:01

Prop discs and window glass could be affected

Most if not all model authors forbid tinkering with the models.

Garry

Quixoticish · Post by **Quixoticish** » 28 Mar 2007, 00:15

Garry Russell wrote:Prop discs and window glass could be affected

Most if not all model authors forbid tinkering with the models.

Garry

Of course I wouldn't even consider nor condone uploading any models modified using this program onto the web.

I'm sorry if this is treading on peoples toes or upsetting people but since this handy little application had already been discussed in public on this forum with no complaints raised I thought I'd post here to help people out if they were experiencing the same problem I was.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 28 Mar 2007, 00:36

Hi Chris

Good information but I err caution

I am only raising it as I can see potential problem as mentioned above.

I remember this when it came out but have never used it as it works on the model and that could cause problems by changing everything and some things need to be left transparent.

Maybe it is OK and it doesn't in which case this is an invitation for someone to say so.

That is all.

Garry

Quixoticish · Post by **Quixoticish** » 28 Mar 2007, 00:40

Garry Russell wrote:Hi Chris

Good information but I err caution

I am only raising it as I can see potential problem as mentioned above.

I remember this when it came out but have never used it as it works on the model and that could cause problems by changing everything and some things need to be left transparent.

Maybe it is OK and it doesn't in which case this is an invitation for someone to say so.

That is all.

Garry

Well it seems to work as advertised and is exactly what the doctor ordered, apart from the aforementioned shiny VC. If it doesn't just restore the backup that you made. (You all made backups, didn't you?)

Post by **Garry Russell** » 28 Mar 2007, 00:50

Backups...............of course Chris......... :think: ....... we always make backups... :think:

:redface:

In reality some models makes get emails because someone fiddled like this and it went wrong.

But as you say revert to back up is all that's needed.

Garry

AndyG · Post by **AndyG** » 28 Mar 2007, 09:16

Garry Russell wrote:Hi Chris

Good information but I err caution

I am only raising it as I can see potential problem as mentioned above.

I remember this when it came out but have never used it as it works on the model and that could cause problems by changing everything and some things need to be left transparent.

Maybe it is OK and it doesn't in which case this is an invitation for someone to say so.

That is all.

Garry

Nazca Steve and I used it on the Mk 8 Canberras, with no obvious ill effects. He didn't need to release the 'shined' model we were using as the author kindly went back and tweaked the original as necessary - the point is, we were able to use it to achieve the effect needed without dire consequences to the rest of the model.

I agree with you though Garry. This utility is fine for personal use, but I would never publish the results unless I had permission from the model author.

AndyG