Texture size in the aircraft

[EagleSkinner 36]

The default "white" aircraft textures are all a good start for high resolution stuff. I have used them as bases for "SHD" bumps and speculars too. Another important toll is if you have a vector graphics part to your art program. I use Corel Draw, the Photoshop equivalent is Adobe Illustrator. Either is excellent for creating new panel lines, but the biggest problem with "white" textures is that they include shading and creating a new shading layer is probably one of the most difficult parts of making a new paintkit. Just walk along a line of parked aircraft and look at the way light and dark affect the underside. Even at 40000 feet the underside of a plane will have a shadow on the underside - except during the early morning and late evening before nightfall when the sun is near the horizon. Any high detail paint is going to cost you time and in the end, you still can't get it right for all lighting - that's the wonder of the real world over the sim. The 747 "pretty lady" livery by TerrenceK is looking good.