Simviation Forums

I've added this question to a previous post on the design forum... but I think `Scenery & Panel design` is more appropriate... so sorry for repeating myself  ::)

Could someone please tell me if there is a default pallet transparency colour for panel bitmaps, or does it have to be defined somehow in a cfg file?

I have re-textured a model of a Pitts Special that was designed for FS2002, but in FS2004 the cockpit panel has totally black window areas, although the gauges & dials appear in their respective `windows` on the panel.

Are you talking about the VC or the regular panel?  If it is the VC, you can't change the transparency of that part because it was defined in the process of creating the model for the aircraft.

Thanks Ender Baron,

The virtual cockpit works fine, it`s the 2D panels that are all black where the glass is supposed to be. All the cockpit detail is there including the gauges (that work), I just can't see thru the window?

I've loaded the bitmap into Paintshop and checked the colour index, and it shows pallet register `0` for all the black areas. I know from previous experience that most bitmaps or PCX files use `0` as the default pallet transparency colour when used over a 3D background. So I'm a little confused as to why it's showing black? I've compared it to another panel from a working cockpit & that too shows `0` for it's transparent areas, so I've no idea why this one has no transparency?

If your using CfgEdt then jet black 100% is transparant, but I have seen some where they use bright pink!! but just check that it is black and not slightly grey.
Sam

Thanks Sam,

I've checked the pallet registry values & they are:
R=0
G=0
B=0
It don't come no `blacker` than that  ::) not a hint of grey to be found lol!

Most likely the file is not converted to 256 colors, or indexed if your working with Photoshop...

Thanks HAN,

I checked that first... the file that came with the model (and doesn't work) is 16million colours... so I altered it to 256 with black being colour 0 in the index... needless to say that didn't fix the problem. So I resurected the 16m version & made it's colour 0 black... still no luck  ???

hmmm...Some graphic programs have a tendency not to allow you to alter a color in the colorswatch when it's an indexed file. Sometimes (Photoshop) you have to replace a color before it takes on a new color in the swatch. Otherwise have you got a link to that offending bitmap..? Or maybe check if it's a really old file if the upper left hand corner has a color pixel that shouldn't be there, meaning make it RGB 0. That was an old trick used during FS2000 (I think) to get some vidcards to display the bitmap that might cause the problems now...

Thanks Han I'll give that a try... then I'll give up on it lol!

Wow....sounds complicated. You may end up getting another panel to fix that, I woulda given up long ago.

Saratoga... you have no idea!  :-/ lol

I've already given up!  ;)

Lol. Hey I try!