Basics of repainting

[LaserSailorRy]

Okay after a unsucessful search for understandable information, I have some questions on repainting, so here goes:

First I have Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 with the dds plug-in from nVidea. i am able to open the dds files and paint all over them, however each file is a single layer, i was expecting layered images.

Was I mistaken?

I have a add-on plane I'd like to repaint, it's textures are stored as 32bit bmp files. I tried to paint the tail white but it became clear when I ran up fsx. First i realised that i was using the wrong bit-depth and all i got were all black parts.  >:(

Does white=transparent?  :-?

Can someone PM, email me, or point me to a tutorial that explains it all in layman's terms?

[LaserSailorRy]

Ok it's not that simple, any ajustment causes the texture to "turn" clear. The model loads fine, texture i ajust is missing.

I'm working with 32bit bmps, they are 32bit when i open the files and when i save them.

whats going on?

[Dr.bob7]

the white may have been the alpha color on that im not sure i dont paint add-on aircraft i have experence on the FSX C172 King Air 300 C208B and CRJ700, but we need to know more about your aircraft like what sim and what aircraft

[LaserSailorRy]

Ok have used dxtbmp/PS to make some edits on this plane before.

Now when i change the image and try to save it, it automaticly reverts to the previous version.

It's a C-1a trader for fsx.

I'm editing in PS elements, and dxtbmp.

I'm running vista dxt is being run as admin.

[Dr.bob7]

even as experienced as i am sometimes something wont think right but I have to think about whats wrong heres a list of why your paint my not work:

didnt edit config for new paint
saved to wrong location (desktop version instead of 1 in game)
wrong file type
didnt save

maybe thatll help

[LaserSailorRy]

I'm just replacing the regular paintjob not creating a new variant. But it won't let me overwrite the file.


But even if i just try to save the new texture in a different location under a different name it still, reverts to the original freakin image . . .

EDIT: Boy do I feel dumb, I was not saving at the correct bit depth. I saved the norm at 32bit instead of 24bit . . .

[LaserSailorRy]

Well the painting is going swimmingly now, as long as it's a solid. I did tweak the alpha a bit to make the spinning props see through, but now the scenery objects show through the prop.



Solution?

[Dr.bob7]

not sure about your prop, I repaint defaults so I drap microsofts prop file into mine, check for a prop file in your folder, if not tweak your alpha

[LaserSailorRy]

Ok i tried changing the strenght of the alpha no effect. Could it be something in the aircraft.cfg?