About alpha layer and bare metal relection

[Zargos]

When I started skin for BOS (I 've tried some for ROF too, but I didn't go further) I've discovered to alpha layer and its effect on the way light reflects on the surfaces.

Since there were no guide nor tutorial about the alpha layer, I made my own experiments and now I know how to get a matt surface and a glossy one. But this is all empiric and I still don't know how it works really.

 

This, my first resquest to the developpers is to ask for a brief tutorial about the alpha layer.

 

My second request, is just a question : how to get a perfect bare metal surface as this one (from Flight Simulator X) in BOS ?

 

 

I've tried with different colors (withe, grey, blue-gray) on the skin, and different shades of grey on the alpha layer. But I've got was a glossy paint, not a metallic surface.

 

Do you have an answer ?

Thanks in advance.

Edited October 28, 2015 by UF_Zargos

[beepee]

Here are some ideas:

 

 

I'll start with a basic gradient layer, much like what GiantFlyingRobots does with his three layer treatment. I'll then hand-paint in some very soft color lines using light blues and tans to get some color into it. Add in an extra low opacity layer or two of white and black over some panels to get them to look like they aren't from the same piece of metal.

Here's where my tricks come in.

I'll add a layer using a stock image of real metal and lower the opacity to less than 10%, grain merge to rough it up.

Add other layers as you see fit to add more texture to it. I'll often use textures of dirt, rock, old leaves and other assorted junk, desaturated, to further break up the texture.

Another layer or two of very light gray lines to scratch up removable panel edges, around screws, high wear areas, etc.

For the polished metal that I showed early on in my Mustang thread, I looked at a couple of photos of some really shiny mustangs and hand painted a layer to look like they did. It took lots of smudging, blurring, sharpening and spray work with a soft brush to get it to look OK. Then I lowered the opacity and set it to Grain Merge. I still need to work on getting that shiny effect to look right on painted areas, however.  

 

From here: http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1958&highlight=silver+finish

 

Bear in mind that I am a noob skinner, but it seems like there are some good ideas in there.

Edited October 28, 2015 by beepee

[Zargos]

 

 

Bear in mind that I am a noob skinner, but it seems like there are some good ideas in there.

You try to help, that what is the most imortant.

Unfortunately these ideas don't help with BOS skins ...

[SvAF/F19_Klunk]

"I don't know this for a fact, but I know it to be true"  ....

 

I would think it's the restrictions of their engine that prevents an effect like that. I am not sure but I seem to recall that a mirror inside cockpit is out of the question right now as it would drastically affect performance--- negatively... . Extrapolate that to this issue where a complete airframe works like a mirror.....

Edited October 28, 2015 by SvAF/F19_Klunk

[BlackHellHound1]

Heey Zargos,

 

I have done a bit of testing to see what effects can be achieved with the game mechanics.

It seems that the alpha channel does not create a mirror finish but instead only effects how direct sunlight reflects on it. This means that objects on the ground and the sky have no effect on it! Only the sun and other direct light sources.

The closest you can get to a mirror finish is a grey plane which will reflect light just a tiny bit better. 

 

The way I see it, the alpha 1 channel is added to make painted aircraft look more realistic by making wear, smoke/dirt residue, metal deformation and rivets visible by creating small but realistic differences in light reflections.

 

I could not find an other way to make a polished mirror metal finish.

 

As for the tutorial: there are some video's on youtube that explain how to edit them. (it is quite easy once you know how)

 

I would like to add that I am working on a project to recreate the skin templates with a bit more realistic wear on the planes. (you can read more about it in my museum). I might release these to the public if there are enough people that would like to use them. 

This template will include an easily editable alpha channel template!

 

BlackHellHound1

 

[Obelix]

It sounds great.

 

It seems that Alpha chanel can make the skin more or less glossy and of course can make also some parts of the skin  become invisible.

[Jaws2002]

The alpha layer doesn't work like in ROF, so you can't make real looking bare metal skins.

In ROF this was really easy, by adjusting the alpha for the parts/areas you wanted to look like bare metal:

 

 

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Yes unfortunately the shader in BoS does not allow us to model bare metal reflective surfaces. It's quite strange seing RoF did it as they pretty much share their foundation but well.

[Zargos]

 

 

It's quite strange seing RoF did it as they pretty much share their foundation but well.

Yes. Strange indeed. And also very sad ...

 

@Jaws2002 :

Could you give me the values for the alpha layer that allow you this metallic reflection effect on BOS ?

Thanks in advance.

[Jaws2002]

Yes. Strange indeed. And also very sad ...

 

@Jaws2002 :

Could you give me the values for the alpha layer that allow you this metallic reflection effect on BOS ?

Thanks in advance.

 

I tried using the values in BOS but they don't work. It only works in ROF. I even used that very skin on a BOS plane and didn't work.

I don't have now the exact values I used in those ROF skins (I'm not home).

 

Will do some digging.

[Jaws2002]

Here's how different this ROF nieuport 28 skin looks when loaded in BOS:

 

free upload pictures

Edited October 28, 2015 by Jaws2002