Hello, I am thinking about getting Adobe's Photoshop to make some of those stunning repaints for FSX Aircraft. When I got onto the Adobe website, I saw the new "Photoshop elements 10". Is this the version required, or is it capable of making the aircraft textures? If not, which one is?Thank you in advance. :(

Photoshop Elements isn't really Photoshop per se, it's a stripped down cheaper version that doesn't have all the bells & whistles that the full blown version has. That said, I started out with Photoshop Elements (2.0?) years ago and it was a wonderful program for the price. No idea how PSE 10 compares, but when I finally got a full blown copy of PhotoShop the big differences were "layer sets", alpha channel editing, and some (very useful) alignment features. Being able to edit the alpha channel as if it were another layer is nice, but there are other ways to accomplish the task. I use CS2 now after using good ole PhotoShop 7 for years, so I'm not really up on what's new in the new versions. I do know that Elements 2.0 was one heck of an app for $60 which is what I think I paid for it, so I imagine Elements 10 would be a great value as well.Jim

Ok. Thanks for your reply! :(

Just use GIMP!

I´ve PSE 9 and use it very often for manipulating my pictures. It´s very heplful and is full of features.AFAIK the only difference between PSE and PhotoShop CS is that they´ve left all the professional features for modern CYMK print out but everything other should be in it. But I could be wrong on it.Edit:Here´s what I found about the difference between PSE and PhotoShop CS2:PSE is missing the CYMK print mode, continually 16 bit mode, a better Channel pallet. There are some additonal differences but these shouldn´t be to important.

Hi Steffen, just curious, do you have the channels pallette like this:and also does PSE 9 have these alignment buttons?Jim

Nope Jim, only the layers section seems to be there. it that the k.o. criterium for PSE in regards to repainting?! I allwas wanted to try it but I never really did.

You can just make a layer overtop all of the other layers in your paint and call it "alpha", then just paint the alpha channel on that layer however you need it. Just turn the alpha layer off and export a .bmp, then turn it back on and export the alpha as a seperate .bmp. Then you can open the first export in DXTBmp and import the alpha channel there. I think also if you "save a selection" in PSE, the saved selection will become the alpha channel if you export as 32 bit targa (.tga).<edit>I just checked in PSE 2.0 and yes, if you save a selection (Select > Save Selection) and then save the file as a 32 bit .bmp (or 32 bit .tga) it does in fact turn the selection into an alpha channel. It comes out inverted by my way of thinking, i.e.the alpha is all black and the selected area is white where I would have expected the other way around, but it does work... Try it, make a blank texture, select something and save the selection. Save it as 32 bit .bmp or .tga, then open it in DXTBmp and you'll see the alpha channel in the little window on the upper right. I think the first option of painting the alpha on another layer and importing it with DXTBmp is a better way to go.</edit>...so no, not a dealbreaker, there are many ways to deal with alpha without a channels pallette. I'd hate to give up those alignment buttons though :smile:Jim

Edited January 10, 201214 yr by Jim Robinson

Seriously Tatave, take a look at Gimp (dont be afraid of the name :-) and save yourself $$$$....http://www.gimp.org/