I am interested in designing 2d cockpits for fs9. I'm very new to this and have done some reading up on xml coding. I guess my first question is, how do you download photo real panels into bmp's so they are crisp and full screen? Also, I'd like to get side views, upper etc... Do I need photoshop to do this, or can I use paint? I looked on airliners.net for some cockpit views and downloaded them; however, they don't seem to be the right size. I hope somone can help me with this or guide me into the right direction. Thanks.

Photoshop is a must, you will need to learn much about manipulating images of various types using photoshop. If you don't feel like buying photoshop, there is GIMP which is just as good and in some cases better than photoshop and free.Keep in mind this, the color absolute black #000000 is invisible in panels. Flight Simulator panel images must be bitmap image types. You can use downloaded images from A.net and edit them and then save them as bitmaps to use in flight simulator.For XML have a look at the various gauges of the default aircraft, this is very useful in learning XML use. I would first copy them and try to get them working on your panel and then modify them.There are many sites that will provide tutorials and such, good luck!

Thanks DVA4110,This really helps. I guess i'll be checking out photoshop or gimp. Also, when you say absolute black is invisible, i'm assuming you mean that it doesn't appear on screen or can be seen through like main panel bitmap. Referring to xml coding, well, i think this is going to be trial and error and alot of learning. For right now, i will tinker around like you said with panels in fs9 and alter them for learning sake. The only thing is, i don't seem to know what the coding means or really how to right xml. Everything looks Greek to me. lol. Oh well, no rush. I just think it would be fun making own panels.