Good Morning.I have the the retail FSRepaint V2 - latest u/g v 2.22.53 build 366 - I have it installed in my root dir but I absolutely must use "run an administator" or it will freeze up up immediately. I get an "access violation at blah blah blah" I have the latest ver of the 32 bit win7 with 4 GB ram memory.One of my other grips is Just Flight software and Abacus programs clash. When I bring up my Just Flight planes I get I huge banner saying License Expired in the largest font possible and I can't get rid of it along with all the extra animations locked to the plane. JF says it an Abacus problem, Abacus doesn't respond.I created the secondary FSx folder with only the planes I am working on and see if that helps. I tried to use The GIMP and Pixia to change the file type to something FSRep would read but was unsuccessful. I then used DXTBmp and saved the dds file in many many different file types. One of them worked because I can now see the plane using FSRepaint. Wow!Thanks for the tips.RayM

Good Morning.I have the the retail FSRepaint V2 - latest u/g v 2.22.53 build 366 - I have it installed in my root dir but I absolutely must use "run an administator" or it will freeze up up immediately. I get an "access violation at blah blah blah" I have the latest ver of the 32 bit win7 with 4 GB ram memory.One of my other grips is Just Flight software and Abacus programs clash. When I bring up my Just Flight planes I get I huge banner saying License Expired in the largest font possible and I can't get rid of it along with all the extra animations locked to the plane. JF says it an Abacus problem, Abacus doesn't respond.I created the secondary FSx folder with only the planes I am working on and see if that helps. I tried to use The GIMP and Pixia to change the file type to something FSRep would read but was unsuccessful. I then used DXTBmp and saved the dds file in many many different file types. One of them worked because I can now see the plane using FSRepaint. Wow!Thanks for the tips.RayM

I am sorry to hear that Ray.As I have only a Vista machine I cannot say a thing about this "access vialation".I have a reasonable rig :3Ghz Quad, 8 Gb ram ,260GTX,Vista professional version 64 bit and 2 harddisks running in a raid configuration ( double acces-speed handling two drives like it was only one.) plus one very big harddrive for the automated backup-system ( based on mirroring)Using FSRepaint really gives me not so much misery.As I told before often I use the FS9 mdl file and the FS9 DXT files to do the paintjob and convert these textures to DDS in the end.We at McPhatstudios ( I am a McPhatter ) are all very depending on the FSRepaint program ( just using it as a 3D viewer and as a tool to make "positioning masks")I`l ask my McPhat partners about Win7 in combination with FSRepaint.Till now I have not been able to reload an aircraft-texture in FSX without restarting FSX.If that was possible we would be a step further.We have to do with what FSRepaint allows us to do for now.It is not likely Abacus will recompose FSRepaint in a way wich enables us to use the program without problems.I am afraid we have the last version of FSRepaint, as we have the last version of MSFS.Probably FSX will vanish into the past within five years ( I really hope I am wrong and be a proven pessimist) or if the development of X-Plane keeps the pace even sooner.Half a year ago I started succesfully making repaints for X-Plane because I want to be prepaired for the future, as a painter as well as oracle :( Leen de Jager

I'm thinking the next version of FS will be a joint venture between Flight1 and Aerosoft. Flight1 has already purchased the engine from Microsoft and Aerosoft is starting to feel out the global market.RayM

I'm thinking the next version of FS will be a joint venture between Flight1 and Aerosoft. Flight1 has already purchased the engine from Microsoft and Aerosoft is starting to feel out the global market.RayM

Yes I saw the publications.They did not buy the engine of the sim, just the esp license.As long as the engine stays the same FSX more or less stays the same and becomes outdated within some years from.This problematic engine is the main reason (imho) for the fact FSX became far from as populair as FS9 and the majority of the simmers still prefer FS9.FSX should have been a completely new created sim instead of an altered FS9.I am afraid Flight1 is going to spill money and energy on this one.If Microsoft would have had expectations of making any profit with this product in the near future they would not have abandoned it.I know quiet a lot about painting and really have zero knowledge about software so I should not have any opinion about this subject.That I do lies in the fact I am one of those guys who always have an opinion about everything , being the wrong one most of the times.RegardsLeen de Jager

A tip ... To view your repaint in FSX you dont have to reload it just put it in Slew mode and change view to cockpit then back to outside view and it reloads the textures ... Simpuls . As for programs i use Paintshop pro Lee Marrow

Hi Ray,I know you have probably already chosen a painter program...However, I can recommend Corel Draw Suite. Been using it for more than fifteen years now. You don't "need" the latest and most expensive iteration of the software. I first bought V5 when it was to be had for around 50 Euros (or even cheaper) and now I wait at least two generations before upgrading. Why Corel when "everyone" swears by Photoshop? I can't answer that, but I do know that after 15 years, it simply isn't worth changing. It's got everything from a great vector graphics drawing capability through some impressively useful colour management options to a professional photo manipulation). I have The Gimp anyway, but even though I have to make my bump maps by hand with the Corel suite (The nVidia plugin doesn't work) I have found I can answer all my painting needs with Corel. And secretly I often ask myself just how many of those photoshops out there are licensed :( So if you do get hooked, try an older version of Corel if you feel you need a professional program. As for the abacus tool - I have it too, but now that I am working with UHD textures I find that FSR does not give me enough detail and I can't juggle my points of view around as well as I can with the DBS walk and follow tool (I recommend this tool to all painters who want to get close to their paints...)

Can DBS walk and follow be used as a stand alone viewer or is it a moving camera within the simulator itself, like Active Camera?In other words can it be used without having MSFS installed and running on the PC?Leen

'fraid not. I's like active camera. But the biggest failing it has in FS is that I can't find a way of moving around the plane while it is moving - only while paused.On the other hand - why paint planes if you don't have them installed. Or if you don't have FS? And even so, you need both planes and FSX to use the Abacus FSR

A tip ... To view your repaint in FSX you dont have to reload it just put it in Slew mode and change view to cockpit then back to outside view and it reloads the textures ... Simpuls . As for programs i use Paintshop pro Lee Marrow

Thanks , I did not know that.Ideal for those cases when FSRepaint refuses to show what it should.I tried it myself a moment ago and it worked indeed ,however ,I had to repeat the procedure a few times before the new texture was actually loaded.Leen

And even so, you need both planes and FSX to use the Abacus FSR

To paint a plane you need the plane , thats logic.( not the complete plane*)There is however no need to have FSX or FS9 installed, to use FSRepaint to view the plane.

On the other hand - why paint planes if you don't have them installed.

*As I am not a painter only and I do research for McPhatstudios, advice and help other painters I am often working on planes I do not have installed on my computer.Just having the mdl file, aircraft.cfg, and the texturefiles in a dummy version of FS on my desktop in combination with FSRepaint will do.I do not want to install a complete model in my sim , just to be able to solve some alignment-problems or things like that.Many times I receive these files just for troubleshooting-purposes only and delete them afterwards.Most of the planes I ever worked on have never been installend on my sim-PC.The majority of the planes I really completely painted myself I never fired up and flew seriously in the sim.E.g. some years ago I painted over 20 different liveries for the Project Fokker Jetline F28 release and I did not fly the plane in the sim.It may sound odd , I am a painter a pilot I am not. :( Leen

I couldn't get FSR to work without the sim installed - it askes for the FSX directory on install. Mind you, I can see how a "dummy" install would work - just the path...But then that isn't my idea of fun. I like to fly my paints too. Still, as I said... nothing wrong with FSR for the basic work. Mind you, last time I looked, it didn't show specular and bump.

I couldn't get FSR to work without the sim installed - it askes for the FSX directory on install. Mind you, I can see how a "dummy" install would work - just the path...

Yes it asks for the directory on install, BUT under Edit>Options> you are able to change the path to your choice any moment you like.MIND FSRepaint is located in ONE folder( preferably not under programfiles in Vista or W7 machines) wich you can duplicate without any problem.On my paint-PC I have start-icons for six different ( copied) installs of FSRepaint.Starting in FS9 full install (my actual installed version of FS9)Starting in FSX full install (my actual installed version of FSX)*Starting in FS9 dummyStarting in FSX dummy*Wich saves me from altering the path every time I choose for the other sim or its dummy.* I actually have that one in two versions FSRepaint V2 first and second version , each of them performing different The latest version (2.10.53 build 315) was changed to work better under SP2 but does not work with some planes the first (Beta2.09.52) version had no problem with.In other words I can probably do things with FSRepaint you cannot unless you have the old (portugese languaged brazilian) Beta version 2.09.52. wich has never been offered at the Abacus-site and has been available for a short while at the DirectSolutions ( the makers of FSRepaint) website in Brazil.In fact these two versions can handle almost all planes.I think only a handfull of people are aware of this phenomena and having/using both versions.Said in other words: If you do not have both versions , your toolbox is more or less incomplete.Leen

Quote: I downloaded GIMP early this morning as a viewer, fancy that.Downloading The Gimp ( its The Gimp )as a viewer??Leen de JagerYes, I had a PSD file with nothing installed that would read it. I googled "PSD viewer" and wouldn't you know - one of the ones that came up was The GIMP. Small world. :( RayM

*****Ray,I am, like you, new to repainting and reading alot ... I understand how you feel.I have WinVista 32bit 4GBI noticed you also have 4GB memory.Months ago I tried to load a 7MB PSD repaint from Prodject Open Sky (OS772V2_public_paintkit.psd) file into Paint.net using their PSD plugin.I ran out of memory loading it and got an error message.I posted on their forum .. turns out the numerous layers require a lot of memory in Paint.net.Today I loaded the same file with the Gimp without a problem and normal memory usage.I am thinking about getting Corel PSPX3. And, FSRepaint ...... after reading all the posts here.

...We at McPhatstudios ( I am a McPhatter ) are all very depending on the FSRepaint program ( just using it as a 3D viewer and as a tool to make "positioning masks")...

Can you explain how you do that?

OK I`ll give it a try.First some facts about FSRrepaint (FSR).The paintprogram build in FSR is a very simple (MS Paint like) program and not really suitable for making quality paintwork.The big advantage is the fact , the paintwork with this build in program can be viewed "real time" in the FSR viewer.Using other paintprograms like Photoshop and others in combination with FSR is possible with limitations.Allthough FSR is advertised in a way we might get the impresission FSR gives us the possibillity of painting with Photoshop-like programs the same "real time"way , we are not able to see our paintwork "alive" in the viewer.Seeing the paintwork in action only is possible when we paint with the build-in paintprogram.When working with Photoshop we have to reload the edited paintwork over and over to see the results.In other words ,real time quality-painting in the viewer is NOT possible, due the the simple build in paintingmachine.So, if you ask ,do you use FSR for painting?The answer is a simple NO.On the other hand I am very glad having FSR as a helping tool to see where a texture is located on the texturesheet and with the help of FSR it is possible toalign things like cheatlines.Many times the texture for a fuselage has been build up from two or more texturesheets and its sometimes very hard to determine where a line and on a texturesheet starts and where this line continous on the other texturesheet ( e.g. the situation we do not have a paintkit with a "total-fuse" or when we have some misalignements in the model)Now FSR becomes very handy.We just paint the line over the model in the FSR viewer using the build in paintprogram and we make screenshots from the texturesheets in FSR ( size set to 100% ).We are NOT going to save these texturesheets with FSR ( to bad quality )The only things we use are the screenshots we made and use these screenhots as an overlay-layer in Photoshop as a "positioning-mask" for our paintwork.These positioning masks are a of great help to make lines in exact the correct position.Conclusion:FSRepaint is a great "help-tool" to get things painted on the correct positions.FSRepaint is not suitable as a real "real-time-quality-painting-program"FSRepaint is a great viewer wich enables us to make positioning masks using its build in simple paint-program.FSR is very handy at finding "which spot on a texturesheet is showing on wich part of the plane" . See Repaint FAQ`s : How to find a spot on a texturesheet?....Answer 11Since the introduction of FSX , FSR is known to have several issues e.g. not being able to load all aircraft.Till now the makers of FSR have not been able to solve these problems completely.As I stated above real time quality painting in the viewer is not possible.This real time painting and the possibility to save the edited textures directly in the simulator is in fact the only painting-thing extra the "full-version" offers us.As real-time painting in the viewing -mode is only possible with the build in editor, this is only possible at a modest quality level.For making the positioning masks the "Free-Demo" will do perfectly.Leen de Jager