sorry also posted in the repaint forum, but here we get more views.....

 

I see the possibillity to download 32bit textures for my AI, what is the best way to convert them to DDS (dxt5) mipped with alpha. I have imagetool and BMP.

Rick,

 

I use DXTBMP. You can import the .bmps , flip the image and alpha and re-save in a variety of DXT formats to get the required .DDS files.

 

Regards

Mark

Rick,

 

I use DXTBMP. You can import the .bmps , flip the image and alpha and re-save in a variety of DXT formats to get the required .DDS files.

 

Regards

Mark

 

Thanks Mark, mip map would be automaticly saved by dxtbmp? And how about if a paint is missing a Alpha?

Put a copy of imagetool in your Windows\System32 folder and reboot the machine (this saves you having to place a copy of Imagetool into every folder you run commands from). Start Notepad and copy/paste the lines below:

 

imagetool  -nobeep -brief -dds -dxt5 *.bmp

del *.bmp

 

Save that as "convert_dxt5.bat" (or "my_dog_has_fleas.bat", the filename isn't important). Copy the .bat file into a folder with 32 bit .bmps and double click it. It'll do the whole folder in a blink. Note that it will delete the .bmps after conversion (so as not to confuse the sim due to the presence of .dds and .bmps bearing the same filenames) so take precautions (backup your originals) if that's not desirable for some reason. Alternatively you can leave out the "del *.bmp" line.

_____________________________________________________________

 

Method 2 (maybe a bit more elegant):

 

Right click Imagetool.exe, select "Create shortcut"

Rename the shortcut "Imagetool_DXT5"

Right click the shortcut, select "Properties", In the target field add a single space after Imagetool.exe" then paste the following:

 

-nobeep -brief -dds -dxt5

 

OK out of the properties dialog, move the shortcut into your "C:\Users\[your name]\SendTo" folder

Select any number of .bmps in any folder, right click and "Send to > Imagetool_DXT5"

Delete the src .bmps after the .dds files have been written

 

 

Jim

Thanks Mark, mip map would be automaticly saved by dxtbmp? And how about if a paint is missing a Alpha?

 

 

Hi Rick,

 

Yes, you can save MIPs with the tool as well. It's an option (checkbox) you can select.

 

Re alphas, DXTBMP is not  a photoediting app so it wont create alphas for you but when one does exist in another image you can easily import the alpha into your image by using the export feature of DXTBMP and then the import function for the target image, so you can easily move alphas to any image you want.

(For alpha creation I am using a photoediting app with negative image capabilities and/or grayscale if the alpha is being used for reflectivity of textures.)

 

I find this quite easy to do and beats some of the complexity in some of the photoediting apps that are around.

 

Regards

thanks Mark en Jim, can alpha's be white?

 

Also would you might now that faib uses the lightmap in the texture folder. I have 2 for example

- Faib_737_600_L.dds

-Faib_737_600_Alwayson_L.dds

 

will this give conflicts?

I have no idea as I'm not big on AI, but my guess is Faib_737_600_Alwayson_L.dds would be an optional light map where something is "always on". You're probably supposed to delete Faib_737_600_L.dds and rename Faib_737_600_Alwayson_L.dds to Faib_737_600_L.dds in order to utilize that option.

I have no idea as I'm not big on AI, but my guess is Faib_737_600_Alwayson_L.dds would be an optional light map where something is "always on". You're probably supposed to delete Faib_737_600_L.dds and rename Faib_737_600_Alwayson_L.dds to Faib_737_600_L.dds in order to utilize that option.

Thanks Jim, will go for always on, to have some more atmosphere  B)

 

 

Faib_737_600_Alwayson_L.dds would be an optional light map where something is "always on". You're probably supposed to delete Faib_737_600_L.dds and rename Faib_737_600_Alwayson_L.dds to Faib_737_600_L.dds in order to utilize that option.

Nope, not optional at all.

 

FAIB maps different parts of their planes to different lightmaps to work around the limitations of only having 2 switches for the lightmaps.

 

Their models need both lightmaps though the alwayson is usually in the ...\FSX\Texture folder.

 

The only reason to have one in an individual livery texture folder is if the painter has edited it.

 

I would not delete anything without verifying that it is an exact duplicate of an existing texture.

 

regards,

Joe

Well I guess I'm battin' a big fat zero in this thread then aren't I?

Well I guess I'm battin' a big fat zero in this thread then aren't I?

Nah, your tips in post #4 are awesome.

 

And you admitted you're not big on AI.

 

All in all you are on the plus side.

 

regards,

Joe

Well I guess I'm battin' a big fat zero in this thread then aren't I?

Jim not at all!!!! I always make backups

Nope, not optional at all.

 

FAIB maps different parts of their planes to different lightmaps to work around the limitations of only having 2 switches for the lightmaps.

 

Their models need both lightmaps though the alwayson is usually in the ...\FSX\Texture folder.

 

The only reason to have one in an individual livery texture folder is if the painter has edited it.

 

I would not delete anything without verifying that it is an exact duplicate of an existing texture.

 

regards,

Joe

 

 

thanks, have to check then if the painter has made a dedicated light texture.... problem is that the texture names are the same.

 

However all the new textures I have installed are now DDS and working perfect thanks guys