How do I add reflection?

[Pc-Shark]

I still say that option has to be defined in the MDL during export or reflective textures simply won't display. This would also depend on whether the aircraft was created in FSDS2 or Gmax. I'm not sure if it's possible to add reflections later by hex-editing the MDL. I've not seen it mentioned anywhere but I've lost touch with most of this stuff.

The reason I said it was half true was because yes Reflection's can be defined in the MDL file & if it is defined in the MDL file then no matter what repaint is on the plane it will have reflection's however if the reflection is defined in a individual repaint then only that repaint will show reflection's.

[Hagar]

The reason I said it was half true was because yes Reflection's can be defined in the MDL file & if it is defined in the MDL file then no matter what repaint is on the plane it will have reflection's however if the reflection is defined in a individual repaint then only that repaint will show reflection's.

I don't think that's correct. In my experience, even if that reflective option is defined in the MDL the reflective effects won't display unless they have the appropriate Alpha Channel. In other words, you can remove the reflective effects from any aircraft if you wish to do so by removing the Alpha Channel from the textures.

Of course, I could be quite wrong but this is how it worked in FS2002.

PS. I seem to recall that adding reflective textures to a model without reflective effects defined makes the parts transparent. This topic really belongs in the Aircraft Repainting forum.

[Pc-Shark]

I don't think that's correct. In my experience, even if that reflective option is defined in the MDL the reflective effects won't display unless they have the appropriate Alpha Channel. In other words, you can remove the reflective effects from any aircraft if you wish to do so by removing the Alpha Channel from the textures.

I seem to recall that removeing a alpha channel from a already saved as DXT texture will destort the repaint. Even if you modify a aircraft repaint more than 4 times the only place that repaint belongs is in the trash because repeated saveing of repaints totaly screws up the look & colors of the repaint.

[Hagar]

I seem to recall that removeing a alpha channel from a already saved as DXT texture will destort the repaint.

What I meant was changing the Alpha Channel to neutral, or all-white or all black (I can't remember which) which effectively removes the reflections. Either that or use a different texture format without an Alpha Channel.

Even if you modify a aircraft repaint more than 4 times the only place that repaint belongs is in the trash because repeated saveing of repaints totaly screws up the look & colors of the repaint.

This is why you should always work from the original master texture, preferably saved in the native format of your graphics editor. This will retain features such as layers which can save an awful amount of work.

[Katahu]

Let me make this as easily understood as possible.

*********Make backups of all texture files**********

*********Prior to doing this, make sure the main textures are in the FS9/Aircraft//Texture folder***********

To apply actual reflections on the model [such as mirror-like effects of chrome or a highly polished surface that reflects the surrounding areas]:

The original model [in Gmax or in FSDS] will need to first be CREATED from scratch and then applied WITH the basic texture [in 24-bit format] using the UV modifiers [in Gmax for example] prior to being converted with the alpha channel.

After the basic texture is set on the visual model in Gmax, save the model and then close Gmax. Create a black and white version of the texture in question by making a copy of the main texture that was applied and renaming it to _Alpha_t.bmp and adjust the shades of grey with either M$ Paint or PaintShop or Photoshop [the darker the shade, the more chrome-like the effect in FS].

Note: The suffix *_t.bmp is important and needs to be added to the Main texture and the Alpha channel for reflective textures. Without it, the alpha channel will cause a transparency instead of a reflection.

Run DXTBmp software and open the MAIN texture that was recently applied to the visual model in Gmax. In the menu bar, click on "Alpha" and select "Import Alpha Channel". Select the new black and white texture file you made. DXTBMP will then add it in to the basic texture. Click on File > Save As > Extended Bitmap and save the newly converted file in the SAME location with the SAME name "BUT" save it as in a different format by selecting DXT3 in the Save File Type field. Then click save. Say YES to overwrite.

Start up Gmax and open the visual model. The textures in the model should look greyed out. Don't freak out, it's suppose to be like that. Export the visual model as *.mdl [assuming you have MdlCommander and Middleman utilities prior to doing this - if you don't obtain them before doing the whole thing]. In the export window, go to Options tab and make sure that the following options are checked:

Has Reflect Map [this tells FS that the model has a flective texture]
Save X File
Auto Interior [assuming you prepared an interior model]
Fix Specular [this gives a better brightness to the mesh surface when reflecting the light from the sun]
Compile X File

Click GO!

After it completes, make sure that the newly compiled *.mdl file is in the FS9/Aircraft//Model folder.

This is the most basic knowledge when it comes to applying reflective textures to aircraft. You should also know that *.mdl files can NEVER be decompiled back to Gmax or any other source program because it is a compiled file.

Trust me, I know from experience because I am modeling the 1978 Chevy Corvette for FS9 as I type this message. I have done this so many times on my own, that I can start my own tutorials on car modeling if I wanted right now.

This is as easy as it gets.

[Pc-Shark]

What I meant was changing the Alpha Channel to neutral, or all-white or all black (I can't remember which) which effectively removes the reflections. Either that or use a different texture format without an Alpha Channel.

This is why you should always work from the original master texture, preferably saved in the native format of your graphics editor. This will retain features such as layers which can save an awful amount of work.

Yeah, way back when I owned my VA Sand Piper Airlines, While I was doing my fleet I would finish the repaint then after doing all the modifications to it, adding layers & converting it to DXT3 I would open the Aircraft in flight simulator and see some inperfection's that needed fixing so I would convert it back to BMP and it destroyed the image qulity so bad that I had to start over again. So I learned that when I convert the repaint texture files to DXT3 for testing in Flight Simulator, that I retain the original BMP file{s} in case it is in need of editing. That is a tip to any professional or amature repainter. It will save you alot of time...

[Hagar]

I learned that when I convert the repaint texture files to DXT3 for testing in Flight Simulator, that I retain the original BMP file{s} in case it is in need of editing. That is a tip to any professional or amature repainter. It will save you alot of time...

I don't know which graphics editor you use for repainting. Rather than BMP this is much better in the native format which preserves the layers & other features. For example: PSP format in Paint Shop Pro or PSD in Adobe Photoshop. Most decent graphics editors will have their own native format which can usually be opened in the others.

[Pc-Shark]

I don't know which graphics editor you use for repainting. Rather than BMP this is much better in the native format which preserves the layers & other features. For example: PSP format in Paint Shop Pro or PSD in Adobe Photoshop. Most decent graphics editors will have their own native format which can usually be opened in the others.

Bitmap is the native format of my graphics editor, I mean when I download a blank texture set for a aircraft it comes in BMP so the layers are still retained in the original files.

[Hagar]

Which graphics editor do you use for repainting? Most serious repainters use Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro which are both commercial programs. There are others but the most popular freeware alternative is Pixia. This has the same basic features (such as layers) as the others