Quick start guide to skinning with GIMP

[Skywarp]

10 hours ago, =BLW=Tales said:

My skin not showing in IL2. What I get wrong? .dds extension... only show the template.

 

Have you followed all steps in this topic?

 

Maybe the size of the template? I had this problem before....

 

Send me the template through "WeTransfer" and I'll try to help...

 

Email:

mcpraxed@uol.com.br

[SE.VH_Boemundo]

9 hours ago, Skywarp said:

 

Have you followed all steps in this topic?

 

Maybe the size of the template? I had this problem before....

 

Send me the template through "WeTransfer" and I'll try to help...

 

Email:

mcpraxed@uol.com.br

Thank you for your answer. I managed to find the solution: I needed to flatten the image and to add an alpha layer. Now it is working. The DEVS will not include our skins to the game? Or at least an option to servers host our skns at to load it to incoming players? What is the purpose to fly with skins not appearing for others players. All officlal skins are from staffen fuhrer. I'm not a staffen fuhrer, I need to customize my skin with my markings. 

[Skywarp]

Yes in all sims I know it is that way... at least if your squad have all skins downloaded, you can fly together seeing each other...

[41Sqn_Skipper]

On 12/15/2018 at 7:53 AM, pjmack11377 said:

My first paint and I owe you a beer.  Great guide to make what was frustrating to be simple.  I do also have a follow up question...how does one reduce the shine on the aircraft?  Thank you.

 

I had the same issue when using Gimp. As I didn't want to mess around with the alpha channel, I tried to use Photoshop CS2 (it's for free) and there the default alpha channel works perfect without any further editing. 

 

It seems that PS CS2 doesn't support the latest Nvidia DDS plugin, so I had to use a different one, e.g. from 

http://www.deadbored.net/qt3/DDS Plugin/

Edited February 11, 2020 by 41Sqn_Banks

[RNAS10_Oliver]

16 hours ago, 41Sqn_Banks said:

 

I had the same issue when using Gimp. As I didn't want to mess around with the alpha channel, I tried to use Photoshop CS2 (it's for free) and there the default alpha channel works perfect without any further editing. 

 

It seems that PS CS2 doesn't support the latest Nvidia DDS plugin, so I had to use a different one, e.g. from 

http://www.deadbored.net/qt3/DDS Plugin/

 

I've found this alternative to be rather good (for CS6 to CC rather than CS2 though). I swapped to this a while ago as seemed better than the NVIDIA one to me (cant remember exact reasons) and I also seem to remember that it's last update was more recent than the NVIDIA one.

 

https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-texture-works-plugin

Edited February 12, 2020 by Oliver88

[migmadmarine]

Is there a way to open an existing DDS skin and view it full color, to match color with an existing skin? Trying to make a Jasta 5 skin, and want to take pointers from some of the ones that others have made. 

[RelentlessJPMoney]

On 5/23/2020 at 11:43 AM, migmadmarine said:

Is there a way to open an existing DDS skin and view it full color, to match color with an existing skin? Trying to make a Jasta 5 skin, and want to take pointers from some of the ones that others have made. 

I’m interested in this as well. Just posted a thread about this yesterday. I’m having trouble opening existing dds skin files in gimp. 

[migmadmarine]

 

6 hours ago, RelentlessJPMoney said:

I’m interested in this as well. Just posted a thread about this yesterday. I’m having trouble opening existing dds skin files in gimp. 

 

You need to have the DDS plug in to open them, then click over to the channels tab and disable to the alpha to view it. 

[RelentlessJPMoney]

1 hour ago, migmadmarine said:

 

 

You need to have the DDS plug in to open them, then click over to the channels tab and disable to the alpha to view it. 

Awesome, so disabling the Alpha allowed me to see the aircraft paint now. But I still don’t have any other layers than “main surface” in the layers tab. Can I not see all the layers when opening dds? 
 

Also, thoughts on why opening a certain dds would give me error messages of “unexpected eof” and “ddsd_pitch is not set”? 

[migmadmarine]

You have to download the templates from Jason's thread to have the multiple layers. The .DDS format is the finished, flattened and exported skin as used by the game. 

[RelentlessJPMoney]

1 hour ago, migmadmarine said:

You have to download the templates from Jason's thread to have the multiple layers. The .DDS format is the finished, flattened and exported skin as used by the game. 

Ah, okay I think I’m following now. So is the layer that comes in when you open the dds file something you can combine with the pds files from Jason’s thread (I know those have multiple layers)? Basically how can I use a previous skin dds file as a starting point so I can make color and nose art modifications to an existing skin?  Is that possible?

Edited April 27, 2021 by RelentlessJPMoney

[migmadmarine]

You I will sometimes use existing skins as guides, so I'll trace over the existing skin, fill it with color, and copy it over to the template and work from the template. You can work over the top of an existing skin, but the result will tend to be sloppy as bits will be missing weathering/panel lines or have the wrong alpha texture and so on. 

[CosmiC10R]

quick query as I can find the user layer, do all the editing, exporting etc and the dds shows up in game but its glossy as if its been covered in ten coats of gloss. 

 

I added the alpha and followed the instructions but still is the same. Not sure if someone knows the quick answer to what im doing wrong.

[CosmiC10R]

helps when you actually read the thread.

 

Got the custom skin, logo from a PE2 and kill markings in place

[jollyjack]

General Q. I am quite experienced with PS, but can you draw arched lines as easily as with the PS versions after Photoshop 2019?

[150_GIAP-Red_Dragon]

Hello! I'm making my first skin. It is for Yak 9. I looked and read all the guides, it seems, but maybe I missed something. Can someone help me find the texture of a spinning spinner? At least roughly indicate the area where to look for it. I painted the spinner red, but when the propeller starts spinning, the textures of the non-rotating red spinner are replaced with other textures. The spinner turns black. And I haven't been able to find these spinner textures for a spinning propeller yet.

Скрытый текст

I was sure that these textures were together with the textures of AMT 7, and painted them red too, but it didn't work

Edited December 14, 2024 by Red_Dragon

[150_GIAP-Red_Dragon]

It seems this rotating spinner is here, but I can point it anyway 

Скрытый текст

 

I have tried painting this place in all layers, but these textures remain black

 

EDIT  Ok Never mind I 've find it in Shade layer

 

Edited December 14, 2024 by Red_Dragon

[150_GIAP-Red_Dragon]

Hello @LukeFF, I have not found a suitable topic for the question. I wanted to download templates of several models, but my windows (11) defines files (PSD or PSB) IL 2 and P 39L as potentially dangerous. What should I do?

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, 150_GIAP-Red_Dragon said:

Hello @LukeFF, I have not found a suitable topic for the question. I wanted to download templates of several models, but my windows (11) defines files (PSD or PSB) IL 2 and P 39L as potentially dangerous. What should I do?

 

Those are just false positives. There's nothing dangerous about them.

[jollyjack]

I learned that with downloading game files it's necessary to disable your virus killer. Was also advice from IL2 support.

PS i experienced that with DCS as well.Must be that current virus killers are maybe too aggressive.