Need help with my heavy Metal....

[fabiane]

Hello guys,

ah I just don't get it how I can get Metal looking parts on an aircraft.

Maybe some of you noticed my preview pics in the Freeware-Screenshot of my B787-8 - Dreamliner colors.
I saw on the actual Boeing image, that the wing leading edges are made of a shiny metal.

I tried to get the parts look like metal by editing the Alpha-Channels, but when I edited the Alpha-Channels, all I got was, that the parts changed into transparent. I'm using the GIMP for my edits and DXTbmp.

I hope that hasn't been asked yet,

Greetings,

Fabian

[wji]

Hi Fabian . . . most of what I refer to as 'looking like metal' has been created by artists. That is, the texture is that of metal and it is applied in a consistant way to maintain this illusion; e.g., the Default DC-3 or the payware MAAM R4D.

Here's some 'metal' I purloined off the Default Ford Tri-Motor and and applied to Kristensen's Fokker VIIa



I hope you find this useful

[fabiane]

I mean something like that:



How can I get results like that?

Cheers,
Fabian

[Jakemaster]

Im not an alpha expert, but my understanding is that black = transparent, and grey is reflective.  So paint the parts dark grey, or light grey to get the reflections

[SkyNoz]

Im not an alpha expert, but my understanding is that black = transparent, and grey is reflective.  So paint the parts dark grey, or light grey to get the reflections

Dark black=Highly Reflective/trans
Grey=50%reflective/no trans
White=High Gloss

You need to have the paint of the Fuselage Black, with a dark Grey or black alpha to achieve chrome effects as the 727 shown.

[wji]

"I mean something like that:"
Well, to me that looks like Alpha Channel shading which you said you already tried.
I can't add any more to what has been stated here except: Good Luck.

[fabiane]

No, that wasn't my work. It was just an example to show you what I want to achieve. Would be glad if I got that type of metal.

Thank you all for your help so far, but wasn't able to get my metal  ::). Is it possible, that it depends on the model? Or is there a special editing programm one has to use? (I use: GIMP 2.0 / DXTbmp)

Ok this is a screenshot of the texture in DXTbmp:


The result is, that the Alpha-Channel turns the wing leading edges transparent / invisible.

Greetings,

Fabian

[Sakura]

As Noted Above,Black Make Transparent.

[wji]

I have not found the name of the B788 model anywhere in this thread so cannot comment on the specific (unnamed) model to which you refer.
As you know, FS9 models come in two flavors:
a.) show black alpha as chrome
b.) show black alpha as transparent

I'm just curious why you're using black in the alpha channel for the leading edge when shades-of-grey would be a more logical choice (for me). I would also try removing the black leading-edge from the RBG channel and see what that does.

[fabiane]

Sorry, It's the Camsim 787-8 model, available here:

http://www.simviation.com/fs2004jets159.htm

As far as I understand it: Different shades of grey make different levels of transparency, where black means transparent and white solid. Could it be, that chrome isn't possible on that model?

Cheers, have a nice sunday,

Fabian

[igorski]

Alpha will either make the affected part reflective OR transparent, not both. In theory a modeller can set some parts to transparent, and some to reflective, but I havn't seen many exaples of this mix'n'match approach.

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If a part has been set up for Alpha Channel reflections:
Black = Chrome, 100% reflective
White = Matt, 0% reflective
Grey Scale gives varying levels of reflections, and can be used over different colours to change the appearance, e.g. to make a park look like shiney gold.

-----

If the part is one that is designed with Alpha Channel transparency:
Black = 100% transparent
White = 0% transparent (i.e. fully opaque)
Grey Scale gives varying levels of transparency.

-----

[fabiane]

Thanks Igorski, that cleared a lot. ,
And thank you all, who replied to my question.
I'll write an email to Camil V. about that problem.

Cheers, have a good start for the coming week!

Fabian

[igorski]

No worries, this comes up quite often.. I think I might even make a copy of what I wrote for the future..  8-)

[fabiane]

Or we can pin a topic dealing with the Alpha-channels at the top of this section.
Would be a good idea....
Cheers,
Fabian

[igorski]

Would be useful.. as long as people dont pick up some of the previous, not entirely correct, explanations.

Think we need a Mod to make stick posts though.