Newbie With Scenery Texture Woes

[cessna172se]

Using:WinXP, FS9, GMAX 1.2,  BGL Compiler, FS9/GMAX SDK
I can successfully create a simple object in gmax, export it, and place the compiled BGL file in the "FS9/ADDON SCENERY/SCENERY" directory. And all works well.  As soon as I try and add a texture to it and repeat the above steps, the object disappears from view in FS9. The jpeg image is 256x256x16million colors. I have put the texture in several file locations but none seem to work.  Do I need to make any changes to the XML file before compiling it? Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

[JBaymore]

Cessna172se,

Hi and welcome to SimV.

Unfortunately I really don't have an answer for you on this problem... just wanted to say "Hi".

I also think this question might get some better responses if it were posted in another section that is frequented more by folks that are really "up to speed" on stuff like GMax scenery editing and so on.

I am the moderator of the "Homebuild Cockpits" forum.... not his one...... so I can't move this posting to a more appropriate location....which would be likely either "Aircraft and 3-D Design" (cause of GMax) or "Scenery Design".

[cessna172se]

Thanks John.  I will wait a couple days to see if this post gets moved. If not I will just repost in one of the other forums. Thanks again.

[ziliu]

uhm... cessna172se, is it a jpeg file that you are placing in the addon scenery\textures folder? I don't think that'll work, you'll have to convert it to bmp.

[cessna172se]

Thanks Ziliu. I am one step closer. Now if the texture would  show up on the object all would be fine. The object has a gray color. I have seen a couple of posts about using DXTbmp but I am not sure what to do there. I have Paint Shop and have used it to do some basic stuff but have not worked with channels or anything like that. For all I know, I could be headed in the wrong direction. So again I ask, if anyone can help, please?

PS: I copied the BGL file into the "AddOn Scenery/scenery" directory and the texture into the "AddOn Scenery/texture" directory.

[ziliu]

cessna172se, I'm a beginner in scenery design myself, but I'll tell you what I know. And I use FS2002, but I think the basic principles are the same.

You'll want to have two texture files. One is for use in gmax and one in FS. The one you already have is the gmax one. It's the FS version that needs to be in addon scenery\textures .To create the that one, you'll need a program called imagetools.exe

I have it on my hard drive, but I can't remember where I got it, I think it comes with one of the SDK's from microsoft, not sure though.

Anyway, start the program, and open your current texture file.
Then choose the program to change the encryption algorithm to DXT1 or DXT3 or whatever, I really don't know what the difference is, or which one is appropriate to use, maybe someone could enlighten me? I think it doesn't matter too much if you choose the "wrong" one really, only maybe FS will have slightly less performance.

Having choosing an appropriate encryption algorithm, you probably will want to create mip-maps. There is an option for this somewhere in the menu.

Now choose Save As. Save your new file and let it have the same name as your first file. Just make sure you don't overwrite your first file.

Get your DXT-ed and mip-mapped texture file in addon scenery\textures. Voil

[Glitch]

Try placing a copy of the texture .bmp in the main texture file. I had a simular prob in CFS2 and I think that solved the problem. And make sure the .bmp is not a 24bit .bmp, when I try to use a 24bit with FSDSv2 for fs2k2 I get a notice prompting me to convert to 16 or 32 bit .bmp. Hope one of these suggestions help.


glitch

[cessna172se]

Thanks Glitch! I converted the bitmap to 16 bit and all works well!  ;D  I appreciate all the help from everyone. I think I will hold off trying to use photographs for now....

[Stratobat]

Welcome to the forum, Cessna

You can use photo's in your textures, but just make sure that they're bitmaps

Might be a good idea to take out the mip maps though, some guys have problems with them

Regards,
Stratobat

[cessna172se]

Okay, that one went over my head  :o, what's a mip map?