Tutorial Question

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 03 Jun 2007, 23:10

I'd like to start out by doing small things to aircraft like the Alphasim Catalina and Boeing B-47 ( which I bought today ! )

Major problem there is reliance on people having those to offer assistance - payware is always going to limit the number of repaints available.

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 03 Jun 2007, 23:28

If the GIMP won't open the BMP file, then neither will Photoshop.

Which probably means that it is a compressed format such as DXT3 and needs converting to a regular BMP using Martin Wright's DXTBmp program. Then once the repaint has been done, you can use that program to convert from regular Windows BMP files to the special versions read by FS.

And while Garry may like ArcSoft Photo Studio, I like Photoshop (read the GIMP) for its Bezier tools that allow drawing of curved shapes which can be filled. Hence unusual shapes/logos/fonts can be traced as vector objects.

Also layers allow different colours or areas to be painted independently (and hence if you screw up, it does not affect the rest of the repaint) which when finished can be combined ("flattened") to produce a simple BMP file.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 03 Jun 2007, 23:40

Layers is not a preserve of photoshop or PSP :think:

ARC is layered..........all my paints are layered docs.

It's the speed and lack of complexity that I use ARC for despite having photoshop and PSP as well.

Garry

nazca_steve · Post by **nazca_steve** » 03 Jun 2007, 23:56

EDIT: OK now I understand what Garry was getting at, so I've retracted part of my earlier statement. However, the rest of it could still be useful to a budding painter:

The beauty of the CS1 and 2 series is the 'layer comp' feature that lets you save a 'snapshot' of your layers and folders, allowing you to view an entire scheme in one click of the layer comp rather than select on and off each corresponding layer. It's really speeded my work up, especially when I make edits.

My one other plug, is that for anyone thinking of getting into repaints, the one tool I couldn't recommend more is a Wacom tablet and pen which I find a beaut of a tool to use. Speeds up work and allows you to produce some lovely weathering effects or anything more 'organic'. I got one about 5 years ago, am still using the same one today and love it.

That all said and done, I'd be happy to contribute my humble knowledge to whatever tutorial shapes up from this post.

Cheers,

Steve

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 04 Jun 2007, 00:23

Garry

I was not suggesting that only Photoshop had layers - more that layers made life easier. So any paint program with layers is a "good thing". All my paints are Photoshop 7 layers. Only SWMBO has CS2 with CS3 on order.

I know some people paint with just Windows Paint (I think Joe "BAE146" does this) but I would not have the patience.

Familiarity with your chosen program is of most benefit. Garry prefers Arcsoft and I recall Mike Stone liked Xara. It is the end result that matters.

Ian

Post by **RAF_Quantum** » 04 Jun 2007, 09:53

Hi,

One thing that I would recommend getting which was recommended to me by Garry is the FSRepaint demo. It allows you a very quick preview of your paint and is much quicker than viewing it in FS9.

I've done a fair few repaints of the default DC3 and what I've done to speed things up for me is create a 'texture.a.currentWIP' with a corresponding entry in the aircraft.cfg. Each time I make an adjustment in PSP I 'save as' the texture I am working on in texture.a.currentWIP and then in FSRepaint hit F5 to refresh the list which enables a quick view of any changes. Once you are happy with the repaint, copy and paste texture.a.currentWIP and rename it to whatever you want and make an entry in the aircraft.cfg for the newly named texture. Your next new repaint of the same aircraft will use the texture.a.currentWIP. My texture folder a.currentWIP has seen a fair few repaints go through it. In case you are wondering, the '.a' in the texture name keeps it to the top of the texture list.

Rgds

John

Post by **Garry Russell** » 04 Jun 2007, 11:09

That is indeed very useful John

As you say F5 refreshes the list however F4 gives to an instant refresh of the job in hand

Saves hours

Garry

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 11 Jun 2007, 20:54

Well, after looking at the comments on here and trawling the net for similar topics on other forums (there really is a lot of good stuff out there to be found) I have started the learning process. As someone so rightly pointed out, the best thing to do is just have a bash.....

I downloaded DXTBmp and already have Photoshop Elements here and after reading loads of tutorials some of which are very well written to get you through the basics, I have actually made a start...

I made a back up copy of a texture file from Alphasim Halifax and made some simple modifications to the port wing. Saved the file as per the instructions in DXTBmp and fired up FS9.......Eureka....it worked and I can see the changes I made actually flying!!

Now I have learnt how to get that far I will progress onto more adventurous things like adding something else such as a new registration or serial number......when all that works OK I will try a layered PSD Paint Kit as advised by most tutorials and head off in that direction.

So all you other interested (budding) repainters, just get the tools which are not too expensive (DXTBmp is free) and aquaint yourself with your chosen paint program before any attempts are made to fiddle around and take it as I did one small step at a time......just remember to back up any file you are going to alter first though

Regards.

BrianG

Post by **Garry Russell** » 11 Jun 2007, 21:08

Brian

That's exactly the best way to go about it

Make a small change...see it work then move on bit by bit

Great to see you made a start which is always the tricky bit

ATB

Garry

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 23 Jun 2007, 20:49

Further to this thread I started.....I have decided to have a try....

I have always had a soft spot for the DH Beaver and was a little disappointed with the UK Army paint job on the Aerosoft Beaver.

Being inspired by that superb book 'Think like a bird' an Army Pilot's story by Alex Kimbell I have come up with this.........

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the colours but to me they look a darn site more realistic than the original.....plus the job was not as traumatic as I feared.......now onwards and upwards.....one step at a time..

'Somewhere over Southern England'

'Coming to the end of the exercise'

'Turning for Home'

'Crew in the NAAFI for Tea and a Wad at Middle Wallop'

Regards.

Bridon Bear