Photo on the instrument panel?

[LukeFF]

BTW, in case anyone's wondering, that's Jason's grandmother in the default American cockpit photo. ?

[=420=Grumio]

Steam user here.

 

I can find the game folder in my steam directory but \data\graphics has no 'planes' folders. I can't see any existing templates either

 

Anyone else have this issue and know a workaround? do I just create the folders? Somehow I doubt that will work, as it's probably not looking in this folder right now cause it's empty! It must be getting the files from somewhere...

[LLv24_SukkaVR]

8 minutes ago, [LAME]Grumio said:

Steam user here.

 

I can find the game folder in my steam directory but \data\graphics has no 'planes' folders. I can't see any existing templates either

 

Anyone else have this issue and know a workaround? do I just create the folders? Somehow I doubt that will work, as it's probably not looking in this folder right now cause it's empty! It must be getting the files from somewhere...

 

Try to verify your game files. Right click game, properties local files. Or maybe you at some point uninstalled IL-2, then installed it on some other drive and you are now looking at the old folder?

[56RAF_Roblex]

I simply cheated.  I opened the original default photo in Photoshop then I opened the photo I wanted instead and copied it and pasted it onto the original and resized it to fit within the frame then saved it again as a dds.  It already had all the right settings etc because I was merely resaving the file I had just opened.    NOTE:-  I did make a copy of the original first.

 

Edited October 1, 2019 by 56RAF_Roblex

[migmadmarine]

Can someone walk me through the steps of adding the alpha layer successfully in Gimp? Each thing I've tried has resulted in it appearing opaque in cockpit. 

[No601_Swallow]

3 minutes ago, thenorm said:

Can someone walk me through the steps of adding the alpha layer successfully in Gimp? Each thing I've tried has resulted in it appearing opaque in cockpit. 

 

Yeah....  I've made custom skins, - which means I've done the alpha-layer two-step successfully in the past...

 

But I've been away from the game for a few months and I can't remember what I did, and even when I did it successfully, I really don't think I understood what I was doing and why I was doing it. Without wanting to sound like a shill for (the free) paint.net is that magically (it seemed to me this morning), I saw that it (the program) was now (after updates) willing to save an image (with layers, etc) as a .dds file, didn't ask about alpha layers and so on. It just asked me what type of - erm, encoding??? thingy I wanted to use (obviously the DXT5 option) and then tick the "Mipmaps?" box.  And that seems to be enough!

 

I doubt this "dumbing-down" would work with actual plane skins, but... I look forward to testing it (and seeing what might be lost - I'm guessing reflectiveness of different areas of the skin), but paint.net seems to work fine with these in-cockpit pictures - which, I might add, are often charmingly "inserted" into the cockpit environment. (I almost damaged my neck looking for my picture in the i16 - it's there, but it's "deep" and "high" (so to speak...) on the recessed instrument panel.)

[MasserME262]

18 hours ago, AeroAce said:

 

So it is a ball ache then. More akin to a mod than a feature that 95% will not be bothered with.

 

That is really dumb this day and age. There should just be an user friendly option to drop in a photo. Why go to the effort to make it a half feature?

Ironic that this post about this "feature that 95% will not be bothered with" has >40 replies with several players happy to see it implemented and having fun with it already, while your post about the lack of destroyed dams received almost 0 interest.

 

Just sayin'

[=420=Grumio]

5 hours ago, LLv24_Sukka24 said:

 

Try to verify your game files. Right click game, properties local files. Or maybe you at some point uninstalled IL-2, then installed it on some other drive and you are now looking at the old folder?

 

It turns out the problem was something different- I looked at the game properties in steam and clicked "browse local files" and found all the files on a different hard drive than the one I had told it to install on!

But that let me find all the skin folders and templates. Cheers for the suggestion!

[Muff_Huggar]

I suppose it could be used for something useful like settings for the aircraft that I forget every time. Or a chart showing keyboard mappings. 

[Stoopy]

I think this is just the coolest feature ever, having a blast with it!

 

Since i flew the A20 quite a bit in the Pacific in old IL2 1946, this seems to fit...

 

If I'm going to get shot down by the new birds while I'm in my 190-A8, I'll at least die happy....

 

The D9 gets color version, because newer tech....

 

The A5 is more of a spiritual ride....

 

Because 'Murca!!!

 

P51D gets color 'Murca (hmmm doesn't look right though does it)

 

The P-38 is just cool as a jewel...

 

Hs129 pilots don't get much love, but at least they're very dedicated.... 

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2019 by =[TIA]=Stoopy

[spitfirejoe]

Is it possible to put more photos than 1 in the dedicated folder, so that you could later choose in the game menu from all the photos, same as choosing different airplane Skins, or would that not work?

Maybe it would be possible here to upload some photos here to share for download, Ready to put into the folder?

I have watched the Video how to, but still did not really understand how to do.

 

Thanks.

[Ribbon]

Why there is a granny pic by default in p51?

I Glocked on purpose and crashed

[No601_Swallow]

17 hours ago, VBF-12_Stick-95 said:

Swallow, you sure that's not Bonnie?

 

 

Respect for (finally) getting it to work, Stick!

 

The lady with the shotgun is the one and only Jenny Agutter, from The Eagle Has Landed. I also posted a picture of Ingrid Pitt from Where Eagles Dare. I toyed with the idea of doing one of the delectable Kate Beckinsale (from the WWII travesty that shall remain nameless), but I just couldn't.

[Cathaoir]

my inspiration? 

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

My pit.  I choose a smaller square photo as these were more typical of photos taken at the time with a Brownie camera.

[I/JG27_Rollo]

On 10/1/2019 at 4:55 AM, gn728 said:

There's also a how to video....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq_YjPwFQlo&t=75s

 

Just what I was looking for, thanks! ?

[[808_BOB]_RlCK]

Is having this as an image considered cheating?

[[PFR]Sarpalaxan]

8 minutes ago, Dafak-man said:

Is having this as an image considered cheating?

Everybody can do it. Means no unfair advantage.

There is nothing that would have stopped a real Pilot from doing this and the material was available. Means not really unrealistic.

So no, I wouldn't consider that cheating. But I guess looking down into your cockpit to double check when you have spotted something results in a good chance of loosing the possible target when you look back up.

[40plus]

OK, I eventually found my away around the hard part and created an image in the correct file type and size in the correct folder.

 

I'm stymied by the easy part. How the heck to I turn the picture on in-game?

[56RAF_Roblex]

1 hour ago, pfrances said:

OK, I eventually found my away around the hard part and created an image in the correct file type and size in the correct folder.

 

I'm stymied by the easy part. How the heck to I turn the picture on in-game?

 

Go to the part where you choose the loadout and the skin before spawning. There is now a third tab to decide if you want a photo displayed.

[Sokol1]

Well, it may have practical use: ?

 

[40plus]

1 hour ago, 56RAF_Roblex said:

 

Go to the part where you choose the loadout and the skin before spawning. There is now a third tab to decide if you want a photo displayed.

 

Hmm, that's what I thought the process was. It's just that when I setup a QMB flight and selected Plane Setup no such tabs were available. Only livery and load out were selectable . . . Will double check this evening. The problem could exist between my chair and my keyboard. I was drinking wine after all.

 

Thanks

Edited October 2, 2019 by pfrances

[CIA_Yankee_]

1 hour ago, Sokol1 said:

Well, it may have practical use: ?

 

 

Target Wings

 

Bf-109 = 2

Bf-110 = 2

He-111 = 2

Ju 87 = 2

Ju 88 = 2

[Diamondaxe]

Took me four hours to figure this out. Miserable experience. Now i can do it in 3 min. the video has it's flaws but eventually I figured it out. He's using a different program. I got too hung up on that and my inability get the pics side by side.

Go to video:

1. DL gimp AND his template AND the plugin

2. Install plugin follow instructions in read me

3. get your image. Right click. Click edit. click resize. Resize to pixels 900hx616w save file.

4. Open GIMP and then file and open the template. Drag the file the file to where it says "photo here". It doesn't have to be in that layer it will make its own layer and that's OK (took me an hour to figure that out.) use the maltese cross on the left side of the screen to be able to drag things. Possibly "M" is the shortcut???

5. Select your photo and the border to be the only visible layers so that an eyeball is highlighted next to the layer.

6. Go to layers and make new layer from visible.

7. select layers then mask then add layer mask then select channel (mask layer should be the channel).

8. click file click export

9. name file as custom_photo.dds

10.  click export select bc3 for top option and for mipmaps select generate mipmaps. leave others as default. MAKE CERTAIN DESTINATION FOLDERS ARE NOT READ ONLY WHEN exporting. some game folders are read only by default. (otherwise you get "Gimp and DDS Error")

11. place resulting photo in plane of choice.

Edited October 2, 2019 by Diamondaxe

[40plus]

Someone should form a Joint Photographic Experts Group to define a image file standard that is ubiquitous and easy to use by any and all . . . . hmm.jpeg

[Sokol1]

Easy way:

 

1 - Choose the photo, cut/resize for 1024x1024 save as JPG or PNG (I use IrfanView for this).

2 - Upload to https://online-converting.com/image/convert2dds/

3 - Select DXT5 and set Yes in Generate mip maps.

4 - Download the converted file and put in game folder.

 

 

Edited October 2, 2019 by Sokol1

[CIA_Yankee_]

17 minutes ago, pfrances said:

Someone should form a Joint Photographic Experts Group to define a image file standard that is ubiquitous and easy to use by any and all . . . . hmm.jpeg

 

The thing is what this picture is, is a cockpit texture. The cockpit interior works just like a skin, and skins don't just take .jpeg.

 

So it's either the devs have to spend a lot of effort building some sort of internal converter to automatically convert any pictures selected to a dds file, or we do the extra work instead. 

 

That said, @Diamondaxe, thank you for writing up the process. The video was useful and I managed it, but videos are _terrible_ ways to instruct people.

[spudkopf]

3 hours ago, Sokol1 said:

Well, it may have practical use: ?

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Dafak-man said:

Is having this as an image considered cheating?

 

G’day as I’m away and still as of yet to have the pleasure of downloading the new update, and as it may be a few more days before I’ll be able to do so, I’ve had to rely on living vicariously through experiences of others, jumping from one relevant topic to another.

 

Now as features go, this one was not one that was overly high on my list and was not sure I'd even use it, however the idea to use it for notes or checklists is a great and one, which I now plan to take advantage of.

 

Beyond that, I was also wondering if the photo image has or is able to have a normal map, as adding some distressing textures in the form of lumps, bumps or creases would be a nice additional touch.

Edited October 2, 2019 by spudkopf

[40plus]

7 minutes ago, 71st_AH_Yankee_ said:

 

The thing is what this picture is, is a cockpit texture. The cockpit interior works just like a skin, and skins don't just take .jpeg.

 

So it's either the devs have to spend a lot of effort building some sort of internal converter to automatically convert any pictures selected to a dds file, or we do the extra work instead. 

 

That said, @Diamondaxe, thank you for writing up the process. The video was useful and I managed it, but videos are _terrible_ ways to instruct people.

 

Gotcha.

Not complaining really. This was not an advertised feature that was advertised to gain sales. It's a freebie gifted by the Devs for fun.

 

Bit of a barrier to entry for the rank and file but doable with a bit of effort.

[GiftZahnsSteigern]

If wishing to use GIMP, this is how I've been doing it. I'm sure there are many ways.

 

1.  Get GIMP

2.  Get dds plug-in (Google)

3.  Place "dds plug-in" application in a directory in
     Local Disk\Program Files\GIMP 2\lib\gimp\2.0\plug-ins
     (you may have to make "dds" folder within plug-ins with Make Folder, to maintain consistency with the other applications.)

4.  Open your image with GIMP

5.  Select the crop tool (4th tool second row)

6.  Select "Fixed aspect ratio" and "1024x1024"

7.  Left click and hold in the image, drag mouse to select the portion of the image you wish to keep. Reposition your square by click, hold and drag mouse.
     Finalize your crop with pressing "Enter" key.

8.  Under Image menu, select "Scale Image". Image resize by "Pixel" and "1024x1024". "X and Y" resolution" to "300 pixels/in". "Cubic interpolation". Press "scale".

9.  Under File menu, select "Export as..." , and name it whatever you wish .dds.

10. "Click Select File Type (by extension)", and choose "DDS" image. (if DDS is not listed, check steps 2 and 3 above.)

11. Click Export and watch for the Save as DDS box to open. Under Compression, choose BC3/DXT5, and under Mipmaps choose Generate mipmaps. Click OK.

12. Go to Program Files (x86)\1c Game Studios\IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles\data\graphics\Planes\"Your Plane you wish the picture to appear in"\Textures.

13. Rename the custom_photo in the Texture directory "custom_photo_original"

14. Place your brand new spankn' image here, and rename it custom_photo. NOT custom_photo.dds. Check properties on your new custom_photo. It should be

      ~1.3  MB, and a DDS file.

15. Just prior to spawning into IL2 with your chosen plane, hit the AP configure button lower right corner. Click the new 3rd button "Pilot Stuff", and click the photo.

       The image icon will not depict your new photo. Start and admire your new cockpit photo.

 

Many theme and variations of this method work. Image below is in a G 14 I just made with the above.

Edited October 3, 2019 by GiftZahnsSteigern

[LukeFF]

14 hours ago, EAF_Ribbon said:

Why there is a granny pic by default in p51?

 

Umm... because Jason wanted to recognize his grandma in some sort of way? That's a wartime photo. 

Edited October 2, 2019 by LukeFF

[Diamondaxe]

BTW kudos to the developers for placing modest images of women in the game for these dash pics. Little turned off by the images of certain skins. I look forward to getting my little ones and my nephews in the air someday....maybe starting age 5 or 6?!?!?!

Btw here's mine...My wife vacationing in Austria.

!!!

[40plus]

5 hours ago, pfrances said:

 

Hmm, that's what I thought the process was. It's just that when I setup a QMB flight and selected Plane Setup no such tabs were available. Only livery and load out were selectable . . . Will double check this evening. The problem could exist between my chair and my keyboard. I was drinking wine after all.

 

Thanks

So, I don't have access to the photo selection menu. Am I missing something?

 

[=KG76=flyus747]

14 minutes ago, pfrances said:

So, I don't have access to the photo selection menu. Am I missing something?

 

You need to press START, after loading and when the map appears, setup your P-38J-25. It'll be the third tab.

 

 

 

Okay does anyone else think they really dropped the ball on not letting us be able to choose from multiple photos? There should just be a folder in the game directory where you can drop all the photos and when in-game just select which photo you want in your plane.

 

The menu in the loadout screen almost suggests that's how it should work.

Edited October 3, 2019 by =KG76=flyus747

[Stoopy]

13 minutes ago, =KG76=flyus747 said:

Okay does anyone else think they really dropped the ball on not letting us be able to choose from multiple photos? There should just be a folder in the game directory where you can drop all the photos and when in-game just select which photo you want in your plane.

 

The menu in the loadout screen almost suggests that's how it should work.

 

I'm not too riled up about it.  I have lots of pictures (the Ali Landry collection seems to be growing at an alarming rate, actually) but I just spread 'em around across all the planes.  It gives each plane it's own personality.   I think over time they may add some GUI enhancements, but it's not like it's a big deal IMHO. 

 

For those looking for practical uses, I offer this....

 

 

[=KG76=flyus747]

7 minutes ago, =[TIA]=Stoopy said:

 

I'm not too riled up about it.  I have lots of pictures (the Ali Landry collection seems to be growing at an alarming rate, actually) but I just spread 'em around across all the planes.  It gives each plane it's own personality.   I think over time they may add some GUI enhancements, but it's not like it's a big deal IMHO. 

 

For those looking for practical uses, I offer this....

 

 

Babushka's shopping list?? That goes on your monitor!

[Jaegermeister]

 

18 hours ago, spitfirejoe said:

Is it possible to put more photos than 1 in the dedicated folder, so that you could later choose in the game menu from all the photos, same as choosing different airplane Skins, or would that not work?

Maybe it would be possible here to upload some photos here to share for download, Ready to put into the folder?

I have watched the Video how to, but still did not really understand how to do.

 

Thanks.

 

If you put more than 1 file with the same name in the same folder, one file will have to overwrite the other, so no.... you could not put more than 1 unless there is an as yet unrecognized coding for a numbering system like mission numbers in a campaign.

[56RAF_Roblex]

10 hours ago, spudkopf said:

Beyond that, I was also wondering if the photo image has or is able to have a normal map, as adding some distressing textures in the form of lumps, bumps or creases would be a nice additional touch.

 

If you look at the example I posted Tuesday just after 19:00,  I added creases and tears by overlaying a photo of some creased and folded paper then changing the blend mode so the creases and folds showed on the original photo.

[Stoopy]

12 hours ago, =KG76=flyus747 said:

Babushka's shopping list?? That goes on your monitor!

 

Stickies on monitors?  But that would kill my immersion, man!  

 

 

Edited October 3, 2019 by =[TIA]=Stoopy

[40plus]

13 hours ago, =KG76=flyus747 said:

You need to press START, after loading and when the map appears, setup your P-38J-25. It'll be the third tab.

 

 

Oh for the love of P.........REALLY?