DXTbmp .....problem?

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 29 Jun 2007, 13:49

Hi Chaps, experts and technophobes.....

Sorry to say that I have a problem that has just occured with first use today with DXTbmp (Version 4.00.85).....if I open a PSD file from a valid paint kit to edit, the program seems to no longer recognise the file correctly. (the drop down bar is set to any file BTW)

The image is tiny and the info bar at the top of DXTbmp tells me that the image is: jpeg: 128x 128 (100%) - 24bit - PSD Preview

If I ignore the small image size and send to editor as usual, there is no change to the size when it opens Photoshop and the layers are not accessible (i.e appear locked)

However if I load the PSD in the first instance from Photoshop....all is ok, normal sized and the layers are usable.

This is weird as until yesterday all was working perfectly from within DXTbmp....suddenly it will not play ball...only this problem with PSD files, all others from FS2004 aircraft texture folders work as they should.

I removed DXTbmp and re-installed it.....nope!

I restored the PC to 2 days ago (DXTbmp was fine yesterday).....nope!

Downloaded another fresh one from Martin's site....installed.....nope!

Tried several other paint kits all PSD....nope!

Noticed one small clue...when in explorer, today any PSD file now shows as a visible thumbnail whereas before it didn't....(used to be a small Photoshop icon)...so I fear the problem is not cut and dried but any help or ideas much appreciated (Using WinXP) no known M$ updates either as I have those set to advise me and not auto.

Just getting a little frustrated here...any clues...?

Regards.

Bridon Bear

AndyG · Post by **AndyG** » 29 Jun 2007, 14:07

Sorry if I'm being a little dim BB, but why would you need to open a .PSD file with DXTBMP in the first place?

I only use it to open up a .bmp for editing, or for converting the targa file I produce in Photoshop into an extended bitmap. Have I been missing a trick?

AndyG

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 29 Jun 2007, 14:15

Hi Andy...

I use it that way as being new to the repainting lark, I followed the instructions that DXTbmp had and that worked flawlessly......My worry is that if it worked OK but no longer is doing as it was so to speak....is there something more sinister causing this...?

When I can get the problem pin pointed then yes, you may well be right...I could be using the thing A** About Face.....but I am a little concerned when things start behaving differently for no apparent reason....

Regards.

Bridon Bear

Post by **Garry Russell** » 29 Jun 2007, 14:26

Hi BB

I don't know either why you want to do this

You should not see a thumbnail in a layered PSD only JPG and Bitmap.......Or at least I can never see a thumbnail in them :think:

I just tried opening a PSD in DXT and it opened badly and locked DXT so badly I had to use the Task Manager to stop it and close it :shock:

You use DXT to turn extended bitmaps into 24 bit to read in paint programmes and then again to turn the 24 into extended and perhaps add an alpha.

The PSD should be opened straight into you paint programme.

Garry

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 29 Jun 2007, 14:42

Thanks for that Garry.......as I said, I was following Martin Wrights info and it did work perfect...until today. I have emailed him before here of course but I know he sometimes goes 'Off Radar' for extended periods so when I get an answer I do not know.

Gratifying to hear from two sources that I am approaching the tasks backwards...

but when you are a complete novice...you tend to actually read instructions to the letter especially when you have no idea how things work initially.. :shock: Then you read up on anything you can on the subject and hope that it is all going to work as it should.

All I need to wonder about then is why on earth I can see PSD files as Thumbnails in Explorer when yesterday I couldn't....that is now my biggest mystery...

I hate not knowing why something like this should suddenly manifest itself for no apparent reason.....I might spend the afternoon with Adaware, Spybot and a virus scan......

Regards

Bridon Bear

Post by **Garry Russell** » 29 Jun 2007, 14:55

Hmmmm..:think:

Instructions/guides can be a pain sometimes and cause more confusion then when you started.

But.......

As long as you can open up your PSD into the paint programme....save as bitmap and then call the bitmap into DXT to re save as extended then fine.

Also as long as you can open extended in DXT and re save as 32bit to open in you paint programme if only the extended is availiable.....then again, fine.

Nothing else to worry about with DXT.....not with basic painting at least

Garry

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 29 Jun 2007, 15:22

I can do all the above.....open PSD direct in Photoshop and I can see all the layers.....save as bitmap....good.

Open up DXTbmp and allows me to send file to editor for any more work should I choose....all fine so far...however when I am back in the editor to maybe do some more work....ALL the Layers are locked and the unlock area is now grayed out.........

Surely that can't be right...? 'Cos we all think of something else to do before the job is completed....with locked layers I cannot edit any more in that case...I would only get one shot at it.....

Regards.

Bridon Bear

Post by **Garry Russell** » 29 Jun 2007, 15:36

H BB

It is probably a Bitmap in DXT .I can't see it would still be layered

Don't use DXT to send to editor pick them up with the editor and always work from that

Don't convert in DXT and reconvert back you will degenerate your image.

Only use DXT to convert to view in FS

A quicker way is to put a bitmap in the FS aircraft folder and view in FS Repaint.

You don't need to put it through DXT as it reads 24bit maps for viewing.

Don't use it for painting just viewing.

Once the paint is loaded up just minimise and when you make a change maximise it and hit F4 to see the change instantly

There is a free demo on Abacus FS Repaint site

Garry

Post by **Bridon Bear** » 29 Jun 2007, 15:46

Getting worse here....Open PSD in Photoshop....fine.....the 'save layers' tick is active.....but when I select save as bitmap....a warning tells me that unless I save as a copy...the save layers will not work....so I save as a copy as instructed.

Not even using DXT proggy....I open the saved copy (now a bitmap) in Photoshop and the layers are locked....grrrr

Not to be out done, I have PSP 7 here so I tried all the above procedures and it is OK until I try to save as a bitmap....then a warning tells me all layers will be merged with this command.......It is getting more involved now as DXTbmp is out of the loop.....All the layers get locked on saving irrespective to the paint program I am using.....yet yesterday, I could execute all these tasks directly within DXTbmp with no problems and if I wished I could get back into any layer and do more tweaks......It is very frustrating indeed..... :crying:

Regards.

Bridon Bear

Post by **Garry Russell** » 29 Jun 2007, 16:07

You are saving as a bitmap so your layers are lost

That's why it makes a copy so the original PSD is left intact

A bitmaps cannot contain layers....it is a single layer doc.

So you should have two that you are working from

The PSD layered doc you are working on and a bitmap version that is used in the paint.

I can't see a problem

Save as PSD and you save layers....save as Bitmap and the layers are lost.

The copy can have the same name....one is say Fuse.psd and the other fuse.bmp.

As long as you save the BMP as .bmp then you should be able to call back the .PSD which will still be layered.

To be sure though call the PSD "Fuse master.psd" and the BMP "Fuse.bmp"

Garry