Can't open templates

[digant]

I downloaded the templates from simviation but when I try to open them in Photoshop, or Paint or anything else, they just appear blank (or in Photoshop, it actually says read error).

I notice the same thing with some of the files that came with FS9.  But, they all work fine in the game.

What should I use to edit the BMPs?

[Stormtropper]

use the program DXPbmp, load them as an extended image and save them as a 24 bit bitmap

[digant]

use the program DXPbmp, load them as an extended image and save them as a 24 bit bitmap

Where would one find that program?  I tried a handful of others that supposedly can load extended bmp but they all failed as well. (some of them could see parts of it but they were all stripped and noisy, but I could make out parts of it as being the panels).

[Hagar]

It's DXTBmp. http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/programs/dxtbmp.htm

[digant]

That works beautifully.  Thanks!

[wji]

thanks Hagar et al for all the help you give us here and at your other sites.
Bill
I repainted this one in WindowsPaint 24bit and saved it back as 32bit using DXTBmp. Gee, hope that's correct.

[Hagar]

Well done Bill. You certainly have the right idea & that's not at all bad for M$ Paint.

Instead of saving in 32 bit try one of the special 16 bit Extended BMP formats. It's usually best to use the same format as the original textures. DXT3 with Alpha is the FS2002/4 default format.