News and Comments by Garry Smith

[Guest]

Open Letter to all SimmersI believe that you may be aware that I have been producing textures and utilities for the Flight Sim community now for many years. In fact for longer than many Flight Sim sites have existed. I would like to advise my fellow simmers about some news items and comments if I may: (1) Control 2000 softwareThe Control 98/2000/2000SE aircraft management program that I was developing and maintaining has been quite a success in its time but I ceased work on it a while ago because I just can't keep up with the variation for graphics for FS2002 and CFS3 now requiring support. There are now many more appropriate programs that do a much better job - so in the not too distant future I will be shutting all of Control software sites down. Support will of course continue for those that request it.(2) Aircraft Textures.I have now created more than 340 FREE textures for the Flight sim community and have achieved a modicum of success with the work I am now doing, particularly in relation to the metallic effects. But my work is not exclusively reflective textures as many have been released in a MATT finish. I would like to invite staff and fellow simmers to my new Catalog system for these textures at:http://www.gjsmith.com/textures/catalaog.htm(3) What is on my site:(a) Over 340 Free aircraft textures covering a large range of Civilian aircraft liveries, several military liveries and even some great fun textures for various aircraft.http://www.gjsmith.com/textures/enter_fs2002.htm(:( Graphic's Tutorial - a comprehensive tutorial that was created for Computer Pilot Magazine is now available in PDF format and HTML format.http://www.gjsmith.com/tutorial/tutorial.htm© A catalog system, hopefully useful for simmers access to the many textures that I have released.http://www.gjsmith.com/textures/catalog.htm(d) Small Forum, Guestbook, GuestMap (great fun), Mailing List (for my texture news)(e) and of course my e-mail address - I provide many hours each week of user support for budding texture creators and people having any problems with my and even other painter textures.(f) For the aircraft that I paint, I acknowledge and support each/all aircraft designers and apply appropriate links and support to their incredible efforts wherever possible on my site.(4) Posting of Aircraft Textures.As you are aware I post all of my textures to the internet community through my own site. The intent of this is purely resource orientated. With only a 56k link and too many good FS sites for me to post my, all too frequent, creation, averaging more than one a day, it is simply more resource efficient to post them once.This is in no way intended to be competitive nor imply a lack of understanding on what each of the many flight sim sites bring uniquely and generally to the community. However, this also helps me be seen as non bias to any one site. Each seems to have a unique group of people as patrons and these groups seem, from my perspective, to vary quite dramatically. I do occasionally post a texture to each major site simply to keep simmers informed of the availability of textures on my site(5) Forums.I appreciate greatly the access that the Sim Site's allow me to their excellent forums and I am grateful for their forum monitors tolerating my frequent posts referring people to my site for textures etc. I know that I am always a titch graphic's intense with my posts but I offer my only excuse that what I post I try to minimise and it is far less than what I create on my own site. (6) Reviews.I have not yet had the privilege of any reviews of my textures by any site, but I understand that the Reviewers are naturally restricted to reviewing what is available for download on their site however, if anyone feels so inclined to do a review or critique then please feel free to do so.(7) Seeking.This post of course has a motive other than to highlight what is available on my site. I would like to humbly request your support in my endeavours to continue to service the flight sim community in my small way. The support I seek is not extensive, simply, if you consider that what I am producing is of some value to the simmers you have as friends or patrons, is it possible for you to assist me in getting a broader public face to the Flight Sim aspects of my site by actively referring your patrons and friends to my textures and services. (8) ConclusionThis letter is to highlight what is available for simmers at http://www.gjsmith.com/textures/enter_fs2002.htm and to seek support from the Flight Sim community.Again, I wish to thank all of the simming sites out there for supporting the simming community and to express my humble appreciation for the support that I occasionally receive from those sites in relation to my texture releases but in particular the tolerance of my frequent posts in their forums.Happy Simming to you all.Blatant PLUG - anyone who want to refer my textures to others then please feel free to do so, links to my site are also appreciated - the more that know of what I do then the more request I get and from that the more we all get to play with. By all means let everyone know about what's available and sent them to: http://www.gjsmith.com/textures/catalog.htmGarry J. Smith at http://www.gjsmith.comAircraft Texture Tinkererhttp://www.gjsmith.com/images/GJS-banner.gifhttp://www.gjsmith.com/html/Personal/Images/Raaf-s.gif RAAF RetiredAvailable on my site:GuestBook, GuestMap, Mailing List, Forum, Graphics Tutorial, hundreds of FREE textures

[mikesflight 0]

Hi GarryThanks for all the info. I am particularly grateful for your recent tutorial becoming available in PDF.I had had little success in trying to understand what was required to paint textures for aircraft, and then with the assistance of your tutorial I hit the jackpot! I have now completed two new textures which I hope soon to post on ProjectAI.Many thanks indeed for all you do to help us.CheersMike

[Guest crashing_pilot]

hey,there

[Guest]

Thanks Gentlemen for your Kind Comments.I am pleased that the Tutorial has enabled you to get into textures and that you have already completed two new textures for us all to enjoy - looking forward to seeing them.I am also pleased that some of my textures meet simmers expectations.Happy simming to you allGarry J. Smith at http://www.gjsmith.comAircraft Texture Tinkererhttp://www.gjsmith.com/images/GJS-banner.gifhttp://www.gjsmith.com/html/Personal/Images/Raaf-s.gif RAAF RetiredAvailable on my site:GuestBook, GuestMap, Mailing List, Forum, Graphics Tutorial, hundreds of FREE textures