I've been using PSP for a number of years but I've never ventured into the realm of layers. I was wondering if someone in our community that uses PSP and layers might give me a "quick 'n dirty" on using layers to paint aircraft.Take me from opening a DXT3 paint-kit "t" file (white texture set) to the completed paint job (not everything - just layering). It doesn't have to be too elaborate. I just need to know how to get the "details" to show through, some suggested transparency settings, and what layers are below or above the "background" layer (the default when you open the "t" file).Plese contact me at [email protected] so much.Frank

I have made a little tutorial on how layers work. It was made using Photoshop but should be of help to you. Click Theres also a "Complete Repaint Walkthrough" on the link above my sig which will eventually take you from start to finish in detail. It currently takes you up to completing the actual scheme.. computer is down at the moment so can't continue you with it for the time being.For a rule of thumb, the "background" layer should remain just that.. the background. Keep it at the bottom and build on top of it.The quick and easy trick is to have the paint scheme on a layer and set the layer mode to multiply.. should retain more or less its original colour and show through background details.Feel free to ask any specific questions in the forum.. theres always someone to help and it isn't exactly busy around here ;)

Thanks very much for your reply. I read your tutorial last night. It's one of the best I've seen on this subject. However, I found that, while the concepts were the same, the details were different enough to be somewhat confusing to me - something that is easy at my age. :-)Remember, you said to ask questions - :-)I have the "t" file open with the single layer (background) showing. Where does the color go and do you set the new (color) layer's transparency to some setting so you can see the details through the color. Also, do you copy all the elements that will have paint from the background layer to the "color" layer and apply 100% paint with a layer transparency of something less than 100%.Frank

Thanks very much for the compliment :) I guess the best thing would be to have a completely separate tutorial for PSP users.. we'll have to see what happens in the future :)Is this a paint kit you're starting from?A bmp that has been converted to DXT3 and then converted back for repainting will lose quality each time it is converted. From what you say it sounds like you're starting off with a paint kit so don't worry about it. Its good to be aware of it in the future though.Ok, so you've opened your bmp up in the program. If its a bit of a simple paint kit then it will just have the one "background" layer, the best kind of paint kits are ones which have layers separating all the different parts (the windows for example). This allows the paint kit to be alot more versatile and easier to paint. Check out my paint kit for the Airhead Decathlon found on this page:http://airhead.hfdd.com/airworthy/04_8kcab_downloads.phpI'm not trying to say its the most amazing paint kit but you'll see what I'm talking about. Anyway..That background should be a sort of base, "white" plane. This will be where the paint kit is basically built off from.To get started add a new layer. Make sure the layer is selected in the layer palette (and is above the background layer).Start to paint on this layer, don't be afraid to add new layers. It'll actually be good to have a layer for each separate bit so you can change and move around things without having to affect something else.This is where the trick is to show through the details, in the layers palette you'll see a drop down box at the top of it probably saying something like "Normal". Click it and you should see a big list of layer modes. Select the one named "Multiply". You should be able to see background details while it still retains the colour.Keep adding layers and painting. However like acetate over lapping colours set to multiply will change them. You'll have to merge these layers in to one and then set that layer to multiply. Feel free to keep asking away ;)

Morgan,That did the trick. The "multiply" setting was the key to what I was looking for. Thanks so very much.I did notice one thing. When applying this layer setting the colors get a bit muddy looking - possibly because of all the detail stuff underneath. I'm thinking I can lighten the paint color before applying it so that when I set the layer to "multiply" the color won't be affected as much. Note: I tried moving the transparency slider back and forth but that didn't really affect the darkened color.Thanks again for your help.Regards,Frank

Yeah you won't want to fiddle with the transparency.Thats the problem with using multiply. If the base is not 100% then the colour will be affected. Some times what I do is create a white layer and put it underneath the paint scheme layer, inbetween that and the background layer. Then I drag the opacity right down.. that can sometimes help. Otherwise you'll have to try and fiddle with the colour, perhaps using the saturation tools.

Well, here's my first attempt using layers. The color is not exactly correct but I could not get the "muddiness" out of it.

Looks great Frank :)Keep experimenting with different things and I'm sure you'll come across something that works!