The gimp

A

Axenti

Guest
I have installed the gimp

I want te make a repaint of a Spitfire IXC so do i need to find a skin somwhere first to work on or how dus this works?

i have seen on google but i always come to a point that this are already painted crafts so where do i find a clean skin to work on.

any advice?
 
I don't think there is a clean template for the Spitfire, but I would anyway prefer an existing skin (the xxx_t.dds file) and edit it
 
oki said:
I don't think there is a clean template for the Spitfire, but I would anyway prefer an existing skin (the xxx_t.dds file) and edit it
Click to expand...

do i not need to convert the file in a bitmap file or something like that so the gimp can read it?
 
Pat Pattle said:
Axenti, another freeware paint proggy is Paintdot net:

http://www.getpaint.net/index.html

You can use this to edit the dds directly, with a plug-in or convert it to bmp to use in Gimp which I don't think will read .dds, may be wrong though.
Click to expand...

yeah the gimp dusnt read dds, it says not a valid file to open
i have a long way to gow i think

where do i find a dds converter to bmp?
 
hang on, the gimp CAN read dds files, but you need a little addon....

let me find the link :running:

by the way, the Paint.Net can handle dds files like a bomb........
 
you get an exe file, which you must place into the gimp folder (where the readme tells you). Whe you start the gimp, the exe file is executed....
 
Hi Axenti,

for converting .dds files etc I strongly suggest using Martin Wrights DXTbmp program, it has the advantage of being able to build, export and import alpha channels into your images, something the others cant do simply.
It also allows you to save in around 10 differant types of .dds formats, something you will need for certain standalone models should you wish to paint them. formats such as .dds555, .ddsDXT1, .ddsDXT1no alpha etc etc. it willalso change .dds files into .bmp and a couple of others as well. it really is the all round tool for CFS3 file convertions.

Once your a bit more experianced with painting we can discuss the finer points sush as alpha channels, specular textures (_s.dds files), reflective textures (_r.dds files) and differing .dds format etc. theres heaps of tricks to make your skins look top notch.

I have attached again what I put in the email to you the other day explaining some of the questions your asking here.

Repainting aircraft, you will need two bits of software:

1). A painting program like Photoshop, Paintshop pro or a freeware one called "The Gimp" (google this to find a download sight) when we paint a plane it is done using what’s called layers, so in your paint program you would have a back ground layer, (this is the bottom layer) the you would have another layer which is overlain onto the background, on this one you might put say green paint fro the upper camouflage surface, then another layer over that one, which might have the rivets’ painted onto it. then another layer that may have the national markings on it. etc etc This is what’s known as a Template..

so you build up a multilayer image then when your happy with how the whole image looks you save it as a .bmp file this will compress all the layers into one single image. you then use the second piece of software.

2). DXTbmp this is a freeware program that is used to convert .bmp images into .dds images and vise versa (this is the file format CFS3 uses) once you have saved your new paint scheme into a .dds format you can then place it into the aircraft folder replacing the original and your plane will now show your new skin when you fly the plane. This is what’s Known as a Skin..

the link for DXTbmp. look at the left side of the page for the CFS3 link then click on the DXTbmp link to download. There is a good tutorial on this site that explains the various formats CFS3 uses to texture models.
http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/

have a look on the net for tutorials on painting there are hundreds of them (a lot deal with CFS3 as well) once you understand some of the basic painting tools in your software package you will be able to make reasonable skins pretty quickly.

Continue to ask questions on the SOH forum, it will take time but once your started you'll pick it up pretty quickly.

regards Rob.
 
Capt. Winters said:
Hi Axenti,

for converting .dds files etc I strongly suggest using Martin Wrights DXTbmp program, it has the advantage of being able to build, export and import alpha channels into your images, something the others cant do simply.
It also allows you to save in around 10 differant types of .dds formats, something you will need for certain standalone models should you wish to paint them. formats such as .dds555, .ddsDXT1, .ddsDXT1no alpha etc etc. it willalso change .dds files into .bmp and a couple of others as well. it really is the all round tool for CFS3 file convertions.

Once your a bit more experianced with painting we can discuss the finer points sush as alpha channels, specular textures (_s.dds files), reflective textures (_r.dds files) and differing .dds format etc. theres heaps of tricks to make your skins look top notch.

I have attached again what I put in the email to you the other day explaining some of the questions your asking here.

Repainting aircraft, you will need two bits of software:

1). A painting program like Photoshop, Paintshop pro or a freeware one called "The Gimp" (google this to find a download sight) when we paint a plane it is done using what’s called layers, so in your paint program you would have a back ground layer, (this is the bottom layer) the you would have another layer which is overlain onto the background, on this one you might put say green paint fro the upper camouflage surface, then another layer over that one, which might have the rivets’ painted onto it. then another layer that may have the national markings on it. etc etc This is what’s known as a Template..

so you build up a multilayer image then when your happy with how the whole image looks you save it as a .bmp file this will compress all the layers into one single image. you then use the second piece of software.

2). DXTbmp this is a freeware program that is used to convert .bmp images into .dds images and vise versa (this is the file format CFS3 uses) once you have saved your new paint scheme into a .dds format you can then place it into the aircraft folder replacing the original and your plane will now show your new skin when you fly the plane. This is what’s Known as a Skin..

the link for DXTbmp. look at the left side of the page for the CFS3 link then click on the DXTbmp link to download. There is a good tutorial on this site that explains the various formats CFS3 uses to texture models.
http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/

have a look on the net for tutorials on painting there are hundreds of them (a lot deal with CFS3 as well) once you understand some of the basic painting tools in your software package you will be able to make reasonable skins pretty quickly.

Continue to ask questions on the SOH forum, it will take time but once your started you'll pick it up pretty quickly.

regards Rob.
Click to expand...

My first attemt to repainting a spitfire is taking time, i have to figure things out. now this is how far i getting on this moment.​

picture.php

Upper wings are not ready yet​

picture.php

On the boddem side i think this is finisched​

picture.php

A close up from the front with my name on it​
 
picture.php


Made a mistake here i have removed it already but i cant figure it out how i
do turn the letters in mirror righting on the right side on paint net
some one with advice for that?​
 
Hi Axenti,

open up the P51 skin I sent you and have a look at the code letters there, you'll see one side the letters are painted back to front, they then show the right way round when veiwed on the planes.

when you have placed you text into your template select the movement tool to drag the text around, well if you click and hold the little point to the left of the bounding box and drag it completely to the right and beyond it will turn the letters back to front.

the best way to picture it is get a piece of paper and write using a felt marker your code letters on it. then hold that peice of paper up to a light and try to read the code letters from the other side. they will look backwards.

now write the code letters agian but this time write them backwards, and then hold the peice of paper up to the light again. now the letters will appear the right way round when viewed from the other side.

this how the skin works you have to imagine your looking at it from the backside rather than the front, and do everything backwards so that when it shows up in game it will look the right way round.

sorry cant be more precise as I dont use the gimp or paintnet and are not familiar with its buttons, functions etc.

regards Rob.
 
Capt. Winters said:
Hi Axenti,

open up the P51 skin I sent you and have a look at the code letters there, you'll see one side the letters are painted back to front, they then show the right way round when veiwed on the planes.

when you have placed you text into your template select the movement tool to drag the text around, well if you click and hold the little point to the left of the bounding box and drag it completely to the right and beyond it will turn the letters back to front.

the best way to picture it is get a piece of paper and write using a felt marker your code letters on it. then hold that peice of paper up to a light and try to read the code letters from the other side. they will look backwards.

now write the code letters agian but this time write them backwards, and then hold the peice of paper up to the light again. now the letters will appear the right way round when viewed from the other side.

this how the skin works you have to imagine your looking at it from the backside rather than the front, and do everything backwards so that when it shows up in game it will look the right way round.

sorry cant be more precise as I dont use the gimp or paintnet and are not familiar with its buttons, functions etc.

regards Rob.
Click to expand...

i fliped the template backwards righted the letters en fliped the template back that did it :d

its finished im gonna post some pictures here so you can look at it
 
First repaint of spit ixc

picture.php

picture.php

picture.php

picture.php

picture.php

picture.php

picture.php

More foto's to see in my album​

So this is the repaint of my spitfire ixc ​

i have take the one of the game it self
i made a copy of the whole aircraft
and i replaced the origenal
in the game with mine.
:costumes:​
 
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