Hi. I am just finished repainting the PMDG JS4100 into a fictional paint.The repaint looks good, but I just can not find a good tutorial on how to make a Specular of the repaint.I ended up just using the original that came with another repaint just to see how my repaint turned out in FSX.Of course every here and there the spec shines through from the original paint where it was taken from.By the way, here is the explaination that came with the repaint kit, but I can not seem to make sense of it:Quote begin:"Now creating your spec map for this texture is simple. Resize your newly pasted PMDG_J41_Fuselage_T_Clean (Dirty) map to 1024 x 1024 then fill this with black with Blending settings of Mode - Multiply and opacity set to 76% "Quote endI need to make a spec before i release this paint.I am using Photoshop with the nVidia dds. plug-in.Please I ask, can anybody guide me through on making a Spec? Remember that I am not 100% familiar with all theterminology of Photoshop yet, so please explain so everyone can understand;) Thank you..Here is my repaint just to show you what I am doing.Regards, Kjetil M

Nice paint.I am not familiar with that kit, and will try to help you.First it wants you to re-size the texture to 1024X1024 - Edit>image sizeThen select, from the menu bars, edit>Fill... and this should open the fill dialog box.You should have an area labeled "Contents" in that is a drop-down labeled "use", select Black from that drop-downBelow that should be another area labeled "Blending" with 2 optionsOn the drop-down labeled "Mode" select "Multiply"and in the box next to "Opacity" enter "76"Then click "OK"You will then need to "Save as" the name required for the spec.Hope this helps,Joe

I asked around when I did a few paints for the Flight1 Mustang...Pretty much had to learn by trial and error.So I snooped around in the other folders....The ones that made the sense was WOP3 P-47.Here is the "Base spec map as a PSD"...I've seen colors from dark gray to black to white.Now one of the paints that came with package....it's OD color.And the spec texture for it....Now to confuse you even more....Here's the Flight1 Mustang....Texture...Spec map....One set has the "Dark Gray" background and the "White." They both work.When I did the Mustang they had the spec mapping layers built into the template. But you can make your own by taking the main template and and merging layers like rivets and panel lines and such.Colors in the spec map are like pearl overlays in the real world...Like in the 2 above from the Mustang....Main texture...dark Blue and Red....Spec layer....Lighter blue and red...Don't be afraid to try different colors to make your greens 'Pop'...Just remember...the "Alphas" on both the "Texture" and "Specular" maps are also going to effect the "All" textures...I hope this helps...Jeff

This trial and error on specular maps with the 510 Mustang seems like a lot of hit and misses to get the look you want. I wish there was a simpler way of doing it. My question is, is it really necessary to create the spec for the Mustang as shown above, or can just the default blank spec work okay?

No ,the default blank specular has no information about the colorsceme of the repaint , OK you can use it ,but its not the way.Covering the diffuse texture with a multyplied black layer of 76% opacity is`nt the ideal solution either, it will work just "more or less".Making a real good specular is a question of trial and error ( you are right there Johnny ) and a question of personal taste and artistic skills.Do not forget there is an alpha in every spec. wich needs the same attention too. Leen

Do not forget there is an alpha in every spec. wich needs the same attention too. Leen

I know, as if creating spec for the original scheme wasn't hard enough, now you have to worry about the alpha channel looking right too. That's why I like sticking to paint kits that don't require such tedious process. I use the 76% opacity on the PMDG J4100, which is how you create the spec for it, nothing as tedious like the Mustang.

I am afraid ,its not so simple.Making a real good spec. implicates making its unique aplha as well. Making a specular without a tailormade alpha is doing just half the job.Thats were the real work starts. Paintkits that don't require such tedious process are nice but insufficient.They just give the idea the job is done, while in fact it is`nt. . Leen de Jager