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jt233

How to use Alpha channel

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Sorry to bug you guys again but I am still having trouble with a repaint I am working on. With your help, I was able to create a re-paint for the 737. The only issue is, is that when I load my livery in P3D the plane looks too shiny. From what I understand I need to make an alpha channel but I have no Idea how to do this. I know where to find your channels in Photoshop but don't know how you use the alpha channel to do this. I can find some guides online but none of them relate to re-painting aircraft and was still confused. Also, I did find some info in the FAQ about what values to use for the alpha channel but again didn't how to change it. Any help will be appreciated.

 

Thanks


Jason Thiers

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If you already been working with  photoshop you are familiar to paint I would imagine.

So to create an alpha channel is like painting, or make gradient but in gray style, where withe show the material and black hide.

Let's says you select a portion of image that shows the shiny and the rest will be matt, from the selection menu you save as mask.

On channel tab you will see RGB channel if you saved a mask you will see anothe channel call Alpha1.

here a tube that explain what is an alpha channel

 


 

 

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If it is too shiny, that probably means the alpha channel is too dark.

I suggest you open the texture file with dxtbmp, use that to export the alpha to your editor, make it lighter, import it again and try the new textures to see if yourpaint is less shiny. Could be done in a few minutes.


All my FSX/P3D repaints are here on Avsim, for my MSFS repaints, go to FS.2

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16 hours ago, jankees said:

If it is too shiny, that probably means the alpha channel is too dark.

I suggest you open the texture file with dxtbmp, use that to export the alpha to your editor, make it lighter, import it again and try the new textures to see if yourpaint is less shiny. Could be done in a few minutes.

Thanks for the help. Do I need to do this for each file like the wings and tail? Also for the fuselage do I edit the alpha for the master file or do I have I have to do it for each fuselage file?


Jason Thiers

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18 hours ago, simbio said:

If you already been working with  photoshop you are familiar to paint I would imagine.

So to create an alpha channel is like painting, or make gradient but in gray style, where withe show the material and black hide.

Let's says you select a portion of image that shows the shiny and the rest will be matt, from the selection menu you save as mask.

On channel tab you will see RGB channel if you saved a mask you will see anothe channel call Alpha1.

here a tube that explain what is an alpha channel

 

7

I am still a beginner with photoshop but have been learning a little bit while learning how to make a re-paint. I know how to paint a little but don't know how to paint the whole plane. I did come across this video before and was still confused but maybe if I watch it a few time it will begin to make sense.

Thanks


Jason Thiers

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Load your file in DXTBmp as suggested before and export your alpha ( just a greys-scaled texture in this case) to your paintingprogram.
When you make the texture lighter (brighter) and re-import it in DXTBmp yopu can save it to DDS or  DXT and the gloss will be less.

workflow
Load your file in DXTBmp.
Export the alpha to your painting program.
Do NOT close DXTBmp
Edit the alpha in your paintprogram.
Save the file in your paintprogram ( not save as, just save )
Do not close your paintprogram.
Re-load the alpha in DXTBmp.
Save your file to DDS or DXT.

 

IF its not possible to save the alpha in your paintingprogram and you must save it as, or export it as , save it on your desktop and choose for the import-alpha option in DXTBmp.

If you are painting for X-Plane save your file in DXTBmp to targa with alpha and convert this targa to PNG32bit with alpha with convimx.

BTW
Light alpha in FSX/P3D means less gloss
Dark alpha in X-Plane means  less gloss

 

Where to download DXTBmp

See FAQ nr 2



 


forumlogopaintmod.png

"Non licet omnibus volare cum aquilis" (Azzurro)

Visit Flybike-Paints

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19 hours ago, Leen3131cs said:

Load your file in DXTBmp as suggested before and export your alpha ( just a greys-scaled texture in this case) to your paintingprogram.
When you make the texture lighter (brighter) and re-import it in DXTBmp yopu can save it to DDS or  DXT and the gloss will be less.

workflow
Load your file in DXTBmp.
Export the alpha to your painting program.
Do NOT close DXTBmp
Edit the alpha in your paintprogram.
Save the file in your paintprogram ( not save as, just save )
Do not close your paintprogram.
Re-load the alpha in DXTBmp.
Save your file to DDS or DXT.

 

IF its not possible to save the alpha in your paintingprogram and you must save it as, or export it as , save it on your desktop and choose for the import-alpha option in DXTBmp.

If you are painting for X-Plane save your file in DXTBmp to targa with alpha and convert this targa to PNG32bit with alpha with convimx.

BTW
Light alpha in FSX/P3D means less gloss
Dark alpha in X-Plane means  less gloss

 

Where to download DXTBmp

See FAQ nr 2


I take it, it should be possible to export the alpha to Photoshop. When I try to export the alpha from DCTBmp it only give me MS paint

13

 


Jason Thiers

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DXTBmp gives you the possibility of selecting the program of your choice.

Prefs> Select editor

Give yourself more time to explore things, you are to much in a hurry and overlooking things.
 


forumlogopaintmod.png

"Non licet omnibus volare cum aquilis" (Azzurro)

Visit Flybike-Paints

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On 1/9/2019 at 3:24 AM, jt233 said:

Thanks for the help. Do I need to do this for each file like the wings and tail? Also for the fuselage do I edit the alpha for the master file or do I have I have to do it for each fuselage file?

For all the texture files that are too shiny I think.


All my FSX/P3D repaints are here on Avsim, for my MSFS repaints, go to FS.2

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7 hours ago, jankees said:

For all the texture files that are too shiny I think.

Great, thanks.


Jason Thiers

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