ROF skins to FC

[czech693]

If you're interested in changing the ROF skins and using them in FC here's the process that I came up with.  The converted skins look good to me and there's so many of them with squadron insignia that they should be used.   I was new to GIMP so you may or may not need all these steps, but this works for me:

1. Open with GIMP and check OK on Load DDS menu.

2. Uncheck Alpha layer on right-side menu.  This turns off the mesh overlay so you can see the skin.

3. Select Colors and then Exposure from top menu.

4. On Exposure menu select Exposure field, delete entry and add the exposure level you want.  I did most with a 2.5, but I've been going back and changing the camoflaged skins to 2.0 to make them a little darker.  Check OK.

5. Select File from top menu and then Export As.

6. In Export Image pop-up menu you may want to add something to the image name or it will overwrite the original.  Click Export.

7. In Save as DDS pop-up menu select Compression BC/DXT5.  Click OK.

8. Close GIMP and when it asks if you want to save changes I check Discard Changes.  The new image you changed will be in the same folder where you got the original.

 

[Barkhorn1x]

Works like a charm!!!!!!!!! TY.

[jollyjack]

Me thinks the imported skins are not 4k?

[garethj2]

I used Gimp 2.10 as per your instructions on 3 Se5 skins from ROF - 60 Sqn blue nose, red nose, yellow nose.

They are far more acceptable now than previous, even though not 4k. ( They look really good in IL2 )

The blue nose also needed some contrast and brightness adjustments.

Will use again on selected ROF skins prior to importing to IL2

Thank you for providing the instructions

[czech693]

No they're not 4k, as they weren't in ROF.  But they look pretty good and there's so many with squadron insignia (there's a massive amount of Breguet squadrons) that it's a waste not to bring them forward into FC.  Most fit right in with the tactical code system.  Anyway, 4k is for eye candy on the ground or close up in flight.  In combat a quick glimpse of an insignia makes the sim more realistic.

 

Give us your contrast and brightness adjustments so that we can try them out.

Edited July 25, 2023 by czech693

[czech693]

[Ringlett]

 

[czech693]

ROF skins to FC.  Albatros D.II early doesn't look much different than the new default skin, but has the serial number.  Not many D.II skins in the old days.  The only problem I've found with the conversion is the DFW which has great skins but black space shows up for the access panels, at the front of the nose, and in a gap between skin panels under the access plates.  Also, the RFC Spad VII dosen't work with the RFC tactical code format so I tried the American tactical code format which puts the number/letter in front of the national insignia.  But, the RFC insignia is too far forward and the number/letter overlaps it.  Some of the national tactical code formats do different placements on different aircraft.  French on the Spad XIII puts the number at the rear of the fuselage and on the top of the left wing.  US format puts the number in front of the national insignia and on the top of the right wing and bottom of the left wing.  On the Spad VII it's all on the top of the right wing.  Also, Snipe skins have the insignia so far forward so that no format works.

 

I've discovered that you can do batch processing with an add-on the GIMP called BIMP, and will be experimenting with that as the process I use now is easy but tedious.  For some reason my pictures look fuzzy which they aren't on my saved snips.  But if you click them to expand the picture they are back to their sharper resolution.

Edited September 25, 2023 by czech693

[czech693]

The Albatros D.II early skins from ROF came out way too shiney.  I experimented some more and used different settings.  In GIMP I deleted the Alpha layer and changed the Exposure to 4.0 (2.0 and 2.5 were really dark).  Looks like weathered plywood.  Here it is compared to the stock D.II early skin.  Click the skin to see a better resolution image.

Edited November 23, 2023 by czech693

[Andy7317]

I have much Problems using GIMP 2.10. How do I delete the Alpha Layer on the right Side-Menu? I do not understand this. 

[czech693]

First, you are turning it off so that you remove the mesh overlay and can see the skin.  The button is located on the lower, right.  Click the eyeball symbol next to the word Alpha.

 

To delete the Alpha channel, go to the top menu and select Layer, then Transparency, and Remove Alpha Channel.

Edited December 26, 2023 by czech693

[Andy7317]

Thanks, I will try it?

[jollyjack]

It's not always working. Just experimented with the still missing template for the RE8 imported from RoF and remapped to 4k. The are slightly different.

[czech693]

Yep, there are some differences in the models.  I've noted here before that the DFW skins from ROF don't match the FC models completely and leave black lines or spaces where something is missing.

[LukeFF]

You guys would be much better off just creating these skins from scratch with the new templates created for FC. 🙂

[jollyjack]

well, that's if they were there i would ... CG4A, RE8?

[LukeFF]

I'll ask again about them.

[czech693]

I'm a fiddler not a skinner.  If I could skin I'd be churning out skins instead of modifying existing.  I can patch skin those black holes on the DFW, it's the only one I've found with missing areas.  The HD1 didn't come out as good as the FC stock skins so I skipped it.  I tried doing a 22nd FS, 36FG P-47D-22 with a red cowling and yellow rudder and it looks passible at far, but close up it looks pretty crude.

[czech693]

Here is all the ROF skins that I have converted to FC to date.  Please read the README to understand the naming convention that I use.

 

https://www.mediafire.com/file/qxannix2gcxjb7b/ROF_to_FC_Skins.7z/file

[czech693]

I'll do more in the future once I learn how to do batch file processing on GIMP.  The Albatros D.III has a lot of skins.  Also, there is a graphic anomaly on the Albatros D.III skins.  The metal fairings on the side of the nose are showing up black instead of gray because of slight differences in the ROF and FC skins or models.  Same with the DFW.  Maybe I can find the location on the skins to correct this.

[Dr1falcon500]

Lots of thanks for these. Looking forward to using the DIII skins in particular.

[czech693]

11 hours ago, Dr1falcon500 said:

Lots of thanks for these. Looking forward to using the DIII skins in particular.

Be advised that the D.III skins have black flanges instead of gray.  The base image would have to be modified to change that.