I am new to repainting. Just how to you get the aircraft fuselage to have the polished aluminum look?

Hi there :)Are you wanting to have the reflective/shimmering chrome you see in Flight Sim or are you wanting to make an aluminum effect in your painting program?

The reflective/shimmering chrome in flight sim. Thank you.Edit: I actually just checked out your website and fnd. your tutorial on alpha channels. Nice. I think I figured it out.

:)If you have any more questions/problems feel free to shoot!

like fireman20, I am also new to repainting and would also like to know how to get a FSX aircraft fuselage to have the polished aluminum look?And also how to create chrome (as seen on the FSX P51 spinner).I use Adobe Photoshop CS3 for repainting.Thanks

like fireman20, I am also new to repainting and would also like to know how to get a FSX aircraft fuselage to have the polished aluminum look?And also how to create chrome (as seen on the FSX P51 spinner).I use Adobe Photoshop CS3 for repainting.Thanks

Generally spoken creating a chrome or alu finish on a model in FSX works the same way as in FS9.The big difference is the fact we have to deal with three different filetypes ( skinfiles if you like) within one model.The diffuse-file , the one on wich actually the main paintwork has to be done ( with it`s alphalayer).The specular-file , wich handles glossy ( colored and dynamic ) effects (with it`s alphalayer).And the normal-file ( the bump-file also with it`s alphalayer).All these files can be edited to change the appearance of the model and they all influence eachother.No need to say its not a question of simply saying " do this and that , and you`ll have the desired effect".It is a question of endless trial and error to create what you want.My advice is to study the files wich make the P51 spinner look the way it does and do some experiments yourself.Simply said fiddle a bit with those files and see what happens.Painting for FS9 is one thing , painting for FSX is a lot more complicated ( if you want to use all its possiblities )I strongly advise to have a good look at Morgan Dainows excellent painting tutorial http://members.lycos.co.uk/mcwdainow .Here he gives a well illustrated handbook for repainting for FS9 , there is no information about the special painting issues conceirning FSX in this tutorial yet..Leen de Jager

thankyou Leen for your reply. At least now I have somewhere to start from and don't feel as lost as I did before :( cheers.javo

Generally spoken creating a chrome or alu finish on a model in FSX works the same way as in FS9.The big difference is the fact we have to deal with three different filetypes ( skinfiles if you like) within one model.The diffuse-file , the one on wich actually the main paintwork has to be done ( with it`s alphalayer).The specular-file , wich handles glossy ( colored and dynamic ) effects (with it`s alphalayer).And the normal-file ( the bump-file also with it`s alphalayer).All these files can be edited to change the appearance of the model and they all influence eachother.No need to say its not a question of simply saying " do this and that , and you`ll have the desired effect".It is a question of endless trial and error to create what you want.My advice is to study the files wich make the P51 spinner look the way it does and do some experiments yourself.Simply said fiddle a bit with those files and see what happens.Painting for FS9 is one thing , painting for FSX is a lot more complicated ( if you want to use all its possiblities )I strongly advise to have a good look at Morgan Dainows excellent painting tutorial http://members.lycos.co.uk/mcwdainow .Here he gives a well illustrated handbook for repainting for FS9 , there is no information about the special painting issues conceirning FSX in this tutorial yet..Leen de Jager

The diffuse-file , the one on wich actually the main paintwork has to be done ( with it`s alphalayer).The specular-file , wich handles glossy ( colored and dynamic ) effects (with it`s alphalayer).And the normal-file ( the bump-file also with it`s alphalayer)Leen de Jager

ALmost. The specular does not handle glossy(ness), but reflectivity. Two different things, as the specular handles the amount of light reflected AND the colour it reflects. The Alpha is the one handling glossyness (in the diffuse). In the specular, the alpha regulates the amount of reflectivity.

To put it a bit more precise you explaned gloss and refelection not to be exactly the same thing, you are right there Terrence.Many people do not really know the difference , but as I said you`re right about this.Leen