Hi Pete, can you help a brotha out..I've done a few paints and had them posted. However, none of them are with reflective textures. I'm trying to figure out how you get the reflective paints done. I mean could you provide a step by step process, Please?? ThanksTroy

Hi Troy,I use Adobe Photoshop, if you use Paintshop Pro you'll have to find it's equivalant.Reflective effects are controlled by FS' treatment of alpha layers. During your painting process you should add a alpha layer in the channels layer for the fuse tga file. Hope that's not confusing.For the alpha, a white layer adds no reflectivity. As you darken this layer (add gray), the reflectivity becomes more pronounced. You'll have to use seperate levels of grey for windows, fuse lines and text you want to display different levels of 'shine'.

Thanks for your response Pete. I am also using Photoshop CS and I see the alpha channel for the fuse tga file in the channel section. Am I suppose to create a new one or just use the one thats already there?...Another thing, once I'm done with the paint scheme that I want, am I suppose to import this file into DXTBmp and convert it to DXT3.bmp?ThanksAnything else you would like to share with me, please don't hesitate. I want to learn all my skills from the very best...Cheers

Troy, there can be only one alpha channel so create a new one. You'll have to add individual alphas to that channel. For instance, if you want to add an alpha for your cabin windows that is different than your main fuse alpha, you'll have to open the layer psd file for that fuse, select the cabin window layer on that psd file, do a select all then do an invert so just the cabin windows are highlighted. Now, make the tga file active, move to the alpha layer and paste. You should have the outline of the cabin windows visible. Align this alpha with the windows on the tga, then once your satisfied with the alignment, hide all layers but the alpha. You can then adjust the gray level of the added window alpha then click anywhere in the alpha layer to set it. You should now have a different alpha layer for your cabin widows. You're now building your custom alpha for your livery.Once ready, open Imagetool then open the tga files for your livery. Some of the files are in 32-bit format and a few are DXT-3's. The fuse, Wings, Tail and Engines art are 32-bit, everything else is DXT-3. Once the format is changed save them as bmp's.Let me know if you need further assistance. Happy painting!

Thanks Pete..You are soo Kool! :-wave

Ok Pete, I'm still working on this. I understand everything up this point: Howvever....You said: "Once ready, open Imagetool then open the tga files for your livery. Some of the files are in 32-bit format and a few are DXT-3's. The fuse, Wings, Tail and Engines art are 32-bit, everything else is DXT-3. Once the format is changed save them as bmp's"QUESTION:-Before I go to image tool, do I need to merge both the psd image and the tga image together in Photoshop then flatten and save as a BMP first? -Or, do I merge the psd and tga file, flatten then leave as a tga, but open in imagetool then follow your instructions above? Thanks

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