Skinning And Gimp 2.10.18 w/export Instructions

[SqwkHappy]

  I've looked around and when people talk about skinning in GIMP they always say export DDS using DXT5 and that is confusing because GIMP's DDS exporter has about four different DXT5 compression options.

  Anyway, so here is a quick run down of how I managed to get a skin to look right in the viewer from GIMP.

 

--> Load the psd file, select KEEP when it whines about the color profile.

--> Save it as GIMP's file format, xcf   

--> Do your skinning

--> Choices: 

   Flatten Image (resist the CTRL-S urge but if you can't, do a quick Save As) (right click in the layer list to bring up options and look for this one)

   or

   New Layer From Visible (recommended) (right click in the layer list to bring up options and look for this one)

--> Right click on the layer you just made, select Add Layer Mask, choose the bottom radio button for Channel, "Alpha 1" should be there already. 

       NOTE!! -- The "Alpha 1" channel is from the psd file. You shouldn't have to create it.

--> Make sure your image layer is selected (click the preview of it in the layers list and a border will show around it )

--> Export As (filename.dds)  --> DDS export options I set:

          - Compression set to BC3 / DXT5

          - Mimaps set to Generate Mipmaps

 

--> That's it. 

 

Troubleshooting: 

 

     --  If GIMP shows errors about a drawable surface, that means you did not select your layer in the layer list. Select it, problem solved.

 

      -- If the model viewer seems to be refusing to update the skin, it's most likely the viewer, close it and restart it. If that doesn't work, then it's your skin.

 

      -- GIMP is also problematic at times. If everything you do is causing errors / not doing what the procedure says it should be doing, restart GIMP. 

        

 

 

Edited April 18, 2020 by SqwkHappy
Added clarification

[Megalax]

20 hours ago, SqwkHappy said:

 

--> Flatten Image (resist the CTRL-S urge but if you can't do a quick Save As)

 

        

 

 

 

 

This part can be completely avoided by using 'copy visible' or shift+ctrl c and 'paste as new' or shift+ctrl v. I've flattened before, only to save the flattened image as my template and lose months worth of work. I do not recommend flatten AT ALL.

[SqwkHappy]

6 hours ago, Megalax said:

 

 

This part can be completely avoided by using 'copy visible' or shift+ctrl c and 'paste as new' or shift+ctrl v. I've flattened before, only to save the flattened image as my template and lose months worth of work. I do not recommend flatten AT ALL.

  

   Yeah, thanks. I updated the post to acknowledge that feature. I also edited it again to make it part of the procedure itself. I use the new layer from visible as well so I don't have to muck around with anything else, but who knows what some people may prefer.

[Dutch2]

On 4/17/2020 at 4:02 AM, SqwkHappy said:

  

   Yeah, thanks. I updated the post to acknowledge that feature. I also edited it again to make it part of the procedure itself. I use the new layer from visible as well so I don't have to muck around with anything else, but who knows what some people may prefer.

 

As it seems you are well know to Gimp, is there an easy way to change a selected color in an existing skin to another color?  Normally if I well remember you have to make another layer and paint again every detail you want to repaint. 

So lets say as an sample, you want only all red from the Redbarons plane chances to blue and wanting not to mess around with alfa’s/beta’s reflections/transparently and other adjustments. 

 

[Danziger]

1 hour ago, Dutch2 said:

 

As it seems you are well know to Gimp, is there an easy way to change a selected color in an existing skin to another color?  Normally if I well remember you have to make another layer and paint again every detail you want to repaint. 

So lets say as an sample, you want only all red from the Redbarons plane chances to blue and wanting not to mess around with alfa’s/beta’s reflections/transparently and other adjustments. 

 

Select the part you wish to change. 

Right click on it.

Choose from colors menu.

Colorize.

 

This used to work very well. However, I have noticed lately that even if I input the RGB color manually, it changes the color every time you do it and the color turns out to not be what you want. I found that now I have to paint a dot of the color I want in another layer and then when colorizing, use the manual sliders to eyeball and adjust the color until it looks right. Before, you could just plug in the numbers of the color you want and it would change it straight to that. Not anymore.

[Megalax]

Alternately @Dutch2, you can simply duplicate your layer, then click the lock alpha channel in the layers tab, then drag and drop the color you want from the color picker.

Edited April 18, 2020 by Megalax

[Skywarp]

This is the way to save the file in GIMP: