Fokker DVII Open Template Isn't Open (?)

[Beebop]

I got The_dudeWG's Fokker DVII Open template but for the life of me I keep getting the cowl panels that cover the top.

How can I get the open engine? 

(i know it's probably something simple i'm overlooking)

 

TIA

[BMA_FlyingShark]

I don't know much about skinning but what I do know is that in game, the regular DVIi has the cowl panels on the engine and the F version doesn't.

Maybe that's the reason why they each have their own template?

 

Have a nice day.

 

 

Edited May 12, 2021 by FlyingShark

[Beebop]

3 hours ago, FlyingShark said:

Maybe that's the reason why they each have their own template?

And I'm using a template for the open engine version.

 

Edited May 12, 2021 by Beebop

[BMA_FlyingShark]

23 minutes ago, Beebop said:

And I'm using a template for the open engine version.

Ok then.

 

Have a nice day.

 

[J5_Adam]

Not sure but maybe the links are mixed up. The alpha layer needs to be adjusted to black to make the cowling disappear

[Beebop]

41 minutes ago, J5_Adam said:

The alpha layer needs to be adjusted to black to make the cowling disappear

Ahhh.

[J5_Adam]

Not sure I understand what your issue is. I downloaded the above link and it works fine after creating a DDS file and viewing it in game

[Beebop]

This is what I get when I "Export(ed) as .dds".  Only removed color layers, using bare metal base.

 

Edited May 12, 2021 by Beebop

[the_dudeWG]

@Beebop let me understand all the steps you did ...

 

A) You downloaded my open template and opened it using which program?

B) You worked in and merged any color layers or details into my template file?

C) Did you try "exporting as .dds" the unmodified open template to see if the opening is there?

 

The alpha channel can be copy and pasted into a working model just like other layers, and working models can even have more than one alpha channel in it. In Photoshop, the .dds will use the alpha channel that is highest in the alpha layer tree. I have a feeling you might be trying to merge my template into an existing working file and the alpha channel layer is being left behind or is merging below the regular alpha channel. Hope we can get this sorted out. S!

[Beebop]

@the_dudeWG,

Thanks for taking the time to help.

In answer to your questions...

A) GIMP (latest version)

B) Turned off all color (painted and lozenge) layers leaving only the metal engine cover and the 'Base' and flattened all layers.  See attached.

C) Yes, exported it with no other modifications as a .dds layer.  BC3/DXT5/generate mipmaps/Box filter.

I opened all the layer groups and did not fine an alpha layer anywhere.

 

 

[the_dudeWG]

OK, I don't know anything about Gimp, so I have no idea where the Alpha channels would be located. I call them "layers" but in PSD they're in a different tab in the layer section. See the images below. The first shows the working model with the layers in the lower right hand corner. The second shows the Channels tab with the working alpha channel selected. Maybe a Gimp user can explain to us where the alpha channels are. Have you tried exporting the .dds without turning off the other layers? I'm wondering if the alpha channel is linked to one of the turned-off layers and thus it isn't used in the .dds file you created.

 

Edit: and be careful "flattening" layers. I've never found a good reason to do that in PSD. I would be curious to see the imported template, unmodified in any way, exported as a .dds to see what you get. I'm thinking you aren't getting any sort of an alpha channel applied to your .dds file.

 

Edited May 14, 2021 by the_dudeWG

[J5_Adam]

I remember hearing years ago in 2010 that Gimp doesn't handle Alpha Layers. One of the reasons I use Photoshop.

[RNAS10_Oliver]

19 minutes ago, J5_Adam said:

I remember hearing years ago in 2010 that Gimp doesn't handle Alpha Layers. One of the reasons I use Photoshop.

 

I remember learning (first hand) also that some layer blending modes are not handled the same (or even exist) in GIMP compared to PS also. This having an effect on the weathering and etc layers. 

 

One of the the reasons I changed over to Photoshop. Whether this remains the case in more recent versions of GIMP dunno.

Edited May 18, 2021 by Oliver88

[jollyjack]

Not with the latest version?

[Beebop]

1 hour ago, J5_Adam said:

I remember hearing years ago in 2010 that Gimp doesn't handle Alpha Layers.

They do.  There's a helpful tutorial on that here:

 

1 hour ago, Oliver88 said:

I remember learning (first hand) also that some layer blending modes are not handled the same (or even exist) in GIMP compared to PS also. This having an effect on the weathering and etc layers. 

I concur that GIMP handles .psd layers differently.  For instance they want to convert them to proprietary GIMP based RGB Layers.  then when saved back to a .psd image I often get "this is not a valid .psd image."

 

Currently the biggest problem I have with Photoshop is you no longer can own it outright.  You 'lease' it.  And it's a rather expensive lease.

[J5_Adam]

"Currently the biggest problem I have with Photoshop is you no longer can own it outright.  You 'lease' it.  And it's a rather expensive lease."

 

I would never, ever, ever own a hack full version of the newest PS that's is 100% free.

 

 

Wink wink

[Beebop]

1 hour ago, J5_Adam said:

I would never, ever, ever own a hack full version of the newest PS that's is 100% free.

I NEVER said anything about owning a hack.

There's a FREE version of PS?  Is it a trial?  No point in getting a trial, figuring it all out then having to pay that yearly "rent".

[J5_Adam]

4 hours ago, Beebop said:

I NEVER said anything about owning a hack.

There's a FREE version of PS?  Is it a trial?  No point in getting a trial, figuring it all out then having to pay that yearly "rent".

 

LOL You didn't understand my humor. Oh well. BTW I didn't say anything about you owning a hack. I've never paid for PS.... put it that way lol

[the_dudeWG]

7 hours ago, J5_Adam said:

"Currently the biggest problem I have with Photoshop is you no longer can own it outright.  You 'lease' it.  And it's a rather expensive lease."

 

I would never, ever, ever own a hack full version of the newest PS that's is 100% free.

 

 

Wink wink

Me neither! ... but and older copy of CS6 perhaps.

[jollyjack]

I bought a license for PS CS6 years ago secondhand ...

[J2_Steve]

I always create a alpha in BMP form and use DXTbmp to apply it.

 

I use Paint shop pro to make all my edits to the PSD, adding layers dirt etc.

Save it down as a bmp and then load it into DXTbmp and import an alpha.

 

The alpha I use is generally a grey scale of the psd with everything painted flat grey, no weathering, no shading. Nice and plain, saved down as a BMP and then imported into DXTbmp and then convert the image to DDS in there.

I've found exporting directly to dds from PSP problematic using the NVIDIA plugin.

 

DXTbmp is an old tool I have always had lying around on my PC, but it still works and gives you more freedom to play with alphas

DXTBmp Texture tool (mwgfx.co.uk)

 

 

Edited June 24, 2021 by J2_SteveF