paint gloss

[catchthefoxes]

i know most players like a matte finish on their planes but can someone tell me how you get the regular gloss/glossy look that the original default skins use? (i use gimp but i don't know how to make skins shinier) 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

The alpha channel of the skin controls the material characteristics. A "shiny" appearance can be achieved with certain values in the alpha channel. 

 

I could explain how it's done in Photoshop but I'm not familiar with GIMP. Nevertheless, the principles are the same.

[DetCord12B]

21 minutes ago, catchthefoxes said:

i know most players like a matte finish on their planes but can someone tell me how you get the regular gloss/glossy look that the original default skins use? (i use gimp but i don't know how to make skins shinier) 

 

Typically the gloss level of an exterior texture would be controlled via a spectacular map. Unfortunately however, we don't have those in IL-2. Very, very unfortunately IMHO. That said, the level of reflectivity/gloss/shininess or whatever you want to call it is defined per the alpha map. The darker the alpha the more matte it appears. The lighter the more is reflects.

 

This is something you have to be very careful with. You can't simply go to the alpha map and adjust it's brightness/contrast over the alpha as a whole as there are parts that are mapped to certain levels for specific reasons. An option you could play with is to select the major aircraft components (fuselage, wings, tail, rudder etc etc) to where its in its selected form (like a cut or marque outline), go to the alpha while still selected, and adjust those levels there. I don't use Gimp so I can't comment on how it works or if it even works this way.

 

I will say this...

[ROCKET_KNUT]

Hi,

 

you might find this thread very useful: 

 

And the topic and the how to is explained using GIMP. This should help you for a start.

Cheers!

[catchthefoxes]

thanks all! i learned something new today!

[Raptorattacker]

14 hours ago, catchthefoxes said:

thanks all! i learned something new today!

I was going to say what they said but they said it so I won't!