I've posted this question on another site with little response.

 

Okay, I'm not the most experienced or talented painter. However I can hold my own. Admitted right off, this one has me stumped.

 

Aircraft: AIA EMB-120

Paint Prog: GIMP - FSRepaint - DXT2BMP

Problem: No night lights on any AIA EMB-120 when viewing the aircraft in FS9.

 

I have painted an EMB-120 (soon to be uploaded to avsim) and have created an exceptional (IMHO) lightmap. Proper alpha channel and all. I can view the results of my work with the GIMP in FSRepaint. Switch to night view . . lights up just as expected. Place the EMB-120 in a flight plan including a night flight and only the nav lights and landing lights illuminate . . no windows.

 

Pics are a bit dark . . . but it is nighttime !

 

In FSRepaint

 

In FS9

 

You say, "Joe, you've missed something." That's what I said . . . many times.

So i ended up checking all the AIA EMB-120 textures I have installed (all by different artists).

All of them show up in FSRepaint with lights at night ! Lights on the tails, windows.

 

Here's one in FSRepaint

 

Made a custom afcad and flight plan for a mass night flight. All 9 of my EMB's show up and taxi out.

None of the lights show up in FS9 at night.

 

All AIA EMB-120's in FS9

 

I am hoping it's something I haven't done correctly and can be fixed . . . but I'm beginning to believe it's a "built into the model" problem.

 

Any "Grand Master Painters" or model makers have any ideas? Please.

 

Joe

I just checked mine and they are working as expected.

 

The key is the lightmap alpha channel.

 

It should be pure black (0,0,0 RGB) except any areas that you want lit up only when the landing lights are on.

 

Those areas should be white. I use 255,255,255 RGB and save as DXT1.

 

Note you don't have to be too exact with the white areas.

 

Here is how it works...

 

Black texture area Black Alpha Channel Unlit

Black texture area White Alpha Channel Unlit

White texture area Black Alpha Channel Lit when Panel Lights are On

White texture area White Alpha Channel Lit when Landing Lights are On

 

Hope this helps.

 

regards,

Joe

Joe;

 

I hate to admit this, but I'm stupid.

 

I read your answer. I verified that the light map alphas were correct. Black - white in proper places, greyscale, etc. All the technicals were proper.

 

I had printed out your reply and it was lying on the desk in front of me while I watched for the hundredth time the EMB-120's taxi out at night.

 

I read the first line. "I just checked mine and they are working as expected." Thought - well I haven't touched the textures in the other planes and they are working for him, why not mine ?

Then as I read down the page again two words suddenly jumped out. " . . . landing lights . . .". Where were the landing lights ?

You know, if there is no little red check mark in the box beside "Landing Lights" on the "Options- Aircraft" selection screen, the landing lights will not be on ? And if the landing lights are not on, guess what ? The windows will be dark ! !

 

Don't know when or why that selection had been unmarked.

 

Aw well . . . . . live and learn.

 

Many thanks for you reply and help. I hope others reading this and will gain something from my travails.

 

Thanks again.

 

Joe