Paint.net vs DXTBMP issues

F

FSX68

Banned
I have discovered that if you open certain dds files directly using Paint.net I will get this result:

15gctxt.jpg


If I open the same file with DXTBMT first and then send it to Paint.net to edit I get this:

15q6tft.jpg


Paint.net will open dds files but I cannot figure out why Paint.net will not open the same file as accurately as DXTBMP did.
I did go to their help page and there was some explaination of the checkers and such.
 
Did you look at my post as well as other members' posts about the checkers on your other thread? http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...epainting-C117&p=838518&viewfull=1#post838518

Now for this new post: When you open the dds with DXTBMP it separates the main texture (called diffuse layer) from the alpha. DXTBMP shows you the alpha on a small box on the top right and the diffuse on the main window. If you have set up Paint.net as the texture editor in DXTBMP it sends only the diffuse layer to Paint.net. This is why you don't have the checkers in that case. You then edit it and save it back to DXTBMP and save it as dds. You have to select DXT5 so that it will save the alpha too and you will have correct shine.

The above is a good method to use Paint.net together with DXTBMP for simple editing of existing dds files. For more complicated work I would suggest you use your PS CS2 with the Nvidia dds plugin as I suggested in your other thread.

Hope this helps.
 
,<<<<<
Dimus said:
Did you look at my post as well as other members' posts about the checkers on your other thread? http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...epainting-C117&p=838518&viewfull=1#post838518

I DID....

Now for this new post: When you open the dds with DXTBMP it separates the main texture (called diffuse layer) from the alpha. DXTBMP shows you the alpha on a small box on the top right and the diffuse on the main window. If you have set up Paint.net as the texture editor in DXTBMP it sends only the diffuse layer to Paint.net. This is why you don't have the checkers in that case. You then edit it and save it back to DXTBMP and save it as dds. You have to select DXT5 so that it will save the alpha too and you will have correct shine.

<<<<<<the above="" is="" a="" good="" method="" to="" use="" paint.net="" together="" with="" dxtbmp="" for="" simple="" editing="" of="" existing="" dds="" files.="" more="" complicated="" work="" i="" would="" suggest="" you="" your="" ps="" cs2="" the="" nvidia="" plugin="" as="" suggested="" in="" other="" thread.

I did that too but I am not as skilled using PSP as paint.net. There are certain edits one can make in Paint.net with the layers that are pasted into other pictures that I don't know of in
PSP.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
</the>
 
Issued solved.

I found a plugin for paint.net that will fix the transparency issues.

http://www.boltbait.com/pdn/


one of the fixes is:

The pack contains the following 14 plugin files with 19 effects:

Adjustments menu
ColorBalance.png
Color Balance - Easily adjust the tint of an image.
Transparency.png
Transparency - Adjust the transparency of a selection. <<<< A slider when moved to the right removes all the checkers!!!

Sorry to of bothered you. So, I can and will continue to use the paint program.

Hallelujah!!!

It was just a matter of adding one more plugin that I did not know about.

So for any of you Paint.net users, maybe I have blazed a trail for ya......
 
Again, just trying to keep you from pitfalls here. Since you prefer Paint.net I would suggest the following:

Don't change the transparency just to remove the checkers in Paint.net. You will mess up the alpha channel and alter the shine of the paint. Send the paint from DXTBMP to paint.net, edit it and send it back to DXTBMP to save as dds and keep the alpha safe.

Removing the "transparency" will make the paint matt, unless that's what you want.

Then again, experiment and see the effects for yourself. Sometimes that is the best way to learn. Happy painting!:wavey:
 
Dimus said:
Again, just trying to keep you from pitfalls here. Since you prefer Paint.net I would suggest the following:

Don't change the transparency just to remove the checkers in Paint.net. You will mess up the alpha channel and alter the shine of the paint. Send the paint from DXTBMP to paint.net, edit it and send it back to DXTBMP to save as dds and keep the alpha safe.

Removing the "transparency" will make the paint matt, unless that's what you want.

Then again, experiment and see the effects for yourself. Sometimes that is the best way to learn. Happy painting!:wavey:
Click to expand...

OK, I can and have opened the DDS in DXTBMP sent it to Paint.net made the edits but at that point while still in Paint.net, I could and can save it as a BMP with flatten the file which
DXTBMP opens and from there I can save it as a DXT5 or whatever in DXTBMP. That has been the grind or way I have rolled with it in the past. Remember those Jeeps
I did? That was the way I made the different repaints.
 
FSX68 said:
OK, I can and have opened the DDS in DXTBMP sent it to Paint.net made the edits but at that point while still in Paint.net, I could and can save it as a BMP with flatten the file which
DXTBMP opens and from there I can save it as a DXT5 or whatever in DXTBMP. That has been the grind or way I have rolled with it in the past. Remember those Jeeps
I did? That was the way I made the different repaints.
Click to expand...

The method you describe takes no account of any alpha channel in the texture which will be lost that way.

In the context of FSX, DxtBmp is a means to open extended bitmaps, which Paint cannot do and then
save them in various formats.
It also opens .dds textures with alpha channels in a way that shows the image and alpha separately which Paint.net also cannot do.
DxtBmp cannot edit the texture file beyond flipping the whole image.

Paint.net is a texture editor.

Each program has a different purpose and the one complements the other.
 
ncooper said:
The method you describe takes no account of any alpha channel in the texture which will be lost that way.

In the context of FSX, DxtBmp is a means to open extended bitmaps, which Paint cannot do and then
save them in various formats.
It also opens .dds textures with alpha channels in a way that shows the image and alpha separately which Paint.net also cannot do.
DxtBmp cannot edit the texture file beyond flipping the whole image.

Paint.net is a texture editor.

Each program has a different purpose and the one complements the other.
Click to expand...

Exactly!

This is why what I'm saying is: Send the file from DXTBMP to Paint.net but keep DXTBMP open. When you finish editing and save in Paint.net, it sends the diffuse texture back to DXTBMP (at least that is what Photoshop does). Check in DXTBMP screen if you see your texture altered. Then look on the top right corner to see if the alpha is still there (it would be a greyscale image) and save the dds from within DXTBMP.

Alternatively you can export the alpha channel to a bmp file from DXTBMP. Once you finish editing in Paint.net assemble/import the basic texture and the alpha texture in DXTBMP and save as dds.

Using Photoshop with the nvidia dds plugin is much simpler than the above, that's why I am suggesting it, but each to their own I guess...
 
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