Hi All,

 

I'm consistently wrestling a problem every time I paint an aircraft that I can't figure out. Previous searches on AVSIM have failed to find any solutions.

 

The majority of times when I add a graphic to the texture, it ends up looking like the aircraft shown in the "Botched Repaint" attachment. The different components on that particular texture are displayed on the flight control surfaces, etc., on that texture. I'll re-accomplish the entire texture and sometimes it will come out ok.

 

Bottom line is most times when I add a graphic such as an insignia (jpeg or BMP) my troubleshooting has shown that it corrupts the texture resulting in the texture components being placed on and displayed on items in that texture (see "Botched Repaint" attachment).

 

The vertical stab should look like the "Texture 3" screen shot which is also attached.

 

The red and blue stripes on the aft end of the left fuselage side is the striping I was playing with. That part is displaying correctly.

 

Has anyone seen this before?

 

Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

FSX?

 

Carenado C208?

 

Is it possible that you forgot to flip the texture before converting?

 

regards,

Joe

 

[edit]

I don't have the Carenado C208, so I had to download a repaint to check.

 

It looks like you rotated the texture 180 degrees.

 

Compare the layout to a texture that works.

[/edit]

Thanks for your reply, Joe.

 

Gee, can you tell I'm a new painter? Repainter?

 

I didn't know you had to flip the texture. The first repaint I did was the Carenado C208 SCM version. It came out fine without flipping any textures, so I proceeded to do the Grand CVan all fat, dumb and happy...

 

Anyways, yes, I did rotate the texture 180 degrees because I got dizzy working the other side of the vertical stab.. Lame, I know...

 

Do I sound totally stoopid yet? Obviously, there are a lot of rules and mandatory procedures that I don't know about, yet. You've enlightened me on two so far.

 

I can't believe they allowed me to work on jets for 33 years.

 

I've read some very well-intentioned tutorials, but many are somewhat challenging to read in English. I have enough Photoshop knowledge to accomplish most tasks I'd like to do thanks to folks in my VA - the primary knowledge I need now are the file manipulations similar to what you've pointed out.

 

NOTE - I haven't worked with DDS files yet. I was warned to get experience with BMP first. Then the guy ran away from me really fast...

 

My current repainting "workflow" for Carenado repaints is this:

 

- Open and convert textures to 24 BMP in DXTBMP so Photoshop can work with it.

-- Is step 1 where I should flip the texture? It probably is, huh.

 

- Then I do the Photoshop work - NOTE TO SELF - Joe said DO NOT rotate the texture 180 degrees or you will screw it up! Puke if you will, but DO NOT rotate that texture!

-- See, I'm a fast learner, huh!

 

- Save your work as a BMP in Photoshop; then close the file. Do a shot of Tequila if necessary.

 

- Open the same file in DXTBMP and save it in the original format of DXT 5, Extended BMP.

 

- Open the aircraft in FSX and:

-- Act all happy if you didn't screw it up. Do another shot.

 

- OR -

 

-- Throw something that won't damage the walls when you realize that you hosed another texture. Drink the whole bottle.

 

- Rinse, repeat and re-attempt the whole thing again. BUT FIRST!

--Write AVSIM and hope some Good Samaritan will have pity on you.

 

That about covers it, Joe.

 

Any suggestions? Please don't say "commit suicide" or "take up golf". I'd really like to hang around for a while longer...

 

I apologize I afflicted you with such a long reply. This has been a long trail trying to learn this craft. But, it's worth it.

 

 

Thanks very much,

 

Mark

Mark you are a hoot to read!! DDS textures are just .bmp's that are flipped and saved (I use DXTBMP myself) as DDS files. I have to run but I will be back in a bit.

 

Best,

 

Robert

Mark,

 

That was a fun read.

 

As Robert said, flipping textures only comes into play with .DDS textures.

 

Feel free to rotate the textures while you are painting, if it makes it easier. I have done that myself to keep from having to paint upside down, Just don't forget to rotate it back before you save it. Maybe Jose distracted you when you were supposed to do that step.

 

My biggest suggestion would be to make sure there is a big clock visible from your work station because times absolutely flies when you get caught up in a paint job. Trust me,....I speak from experience.

 

regards,

Joe

I really appreciate it guys. Any info is appreciated - but this info fixed my issue with texture corruption. I had no idea that rotating the image would have affects beyond the display of the image during each session. I will make sure I swap it back before I save it. I'm sure that is the problem. It made no sense that a graphic would corrupt the texture - it all becomes a BMP once it is saved.

 

And you're not kidding about time flying when you're painting. I was forcibly retired because of medical issues. It's another wonderful story of life in the good ol' USA, so time needs to fly right now. I have lots of it.

 

I'm much better off than most of my contemporaries, so don't say "that sucks" too many times for me. I've been in aviation for a long, long time - I'm using FSX to gain familiarity with the new civilian systems before I try to re-enter the avionics job market - if I try to enter it... But, I digress.

 

Let me try my newly-gained knowledge on my Grand Caravan paint job. I proudly fly with Eagle Valley Air out of KMYL, McCall, Idaho or just about anywhere you wish to fly. It's made up of Caravan, Twotter, and smaller GA aircraft.

 

If you're interested in flying bush or between smaller "K" or "C" code airports as a feeder to the majors, then let me know. This VA is the friendliest, most accomodating organization I've flown with. It's orderly, active and well-run and very friendly. Best of all IMHO, it is actively and effectively managed. I love it.

 

Check out http://eaglevalleyair.com/ if you get a chance. And for Robert - we have tons of Canadian routes - most of which correlate with the Orbx scenery in the Western Regions in the Rockies and the Pacific fjords.

 

Thanks again - the worm is gone, but I have no idea who took it because I don't drink... :Thinking:

 

Joe? Robert? have y'all been sipping my virtual Tequila lately? NOTE: A translation of "y'all" is available for Robert upon request. Where is the worm, gentlemen? I have a trained tornado here in Oklahoma and I know how to use it! Don't make me come up there...

 

:Nerd:

 

Mark