What software is needed to start repainting in FSX?

[HarleyDude]

I like to do a couple of repaints for the Vertigo F8F and the Carter P-51. What software do I need? The specific aircraft are the F8F Bearcat belonging to Mr. Bill Fornof and his P-51. Any Help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[paiken]

Either Photoshop or Paint.net are your best choices. The former can be quite expensive, the latter is free. Both enable you to use layers and will save your images in .dds format, which is essential for FSX and P3D. A bit of a learning curve on either one, but well worth the effort.

 

[gaucho_59]

Interesting question...

Your question picked my curiosity... for a couple of reasons...
To wit: 1) the subject matter seems to require a certain level of graphics skills and/or talent...
and the logical corollary... at least in my estimation... is 2) how can someone with the requisite skills and/or talent
be up to the task and have no idea what painting program to use....???

In other words, to do justice to the job at hand, one has to be able to work with layers, opacity, and a good number
of graphic execution parameters...albeit a modicum of talent... and a person who is thusly endowed... SHOULD per force be familiar with graphics manipulation programs
like PSP or Photoshop... or a reasonable facsimile thereof.. Succinctly... it is not the brush... but the painter handling
it that matters...

Basically... there is no ONE program specifically endowed to do the task... IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE REASONABLE RESULTS... what is necessary
is THOROUGH FAMILIARITY with one such program... in other words... KNOW WHAT ONE IS DOING... if you do... anything that allows the aforementioned
manipulation parameters WILL DO... if not... it will be like a so so driver handling a Ferrari... a waste of money... (for good programs like Photoshop, unless pirated,
will set one back more than a couple of shekels... On the other hand... if one is a budding "repaint artist" it can be a worthwhile investment to shell out those few
shekels for GREAT future results... an money well spent... In any case, the best deal would be to TRY out one of those fancy programs and buy it if it suits your needs
and ability... REALLY.. no matter what I or anyone can advise... will be only on the basis of our needs and abilities... so let yourself decide what is best for you...

G.

 

[Jafo]

What goucho said...
Actually any paint program will do...provided the user knows how to use it.
Yes, even MSPaint.
Just google that one for some quite spectacular woks done with it.

Meanwhile...I'm laid up typing lefy handed so no painting for a bit....was uner the knife on Thursday...right hand all plastered up...

 

[scotth6]

GIMP is an excellent freeware graphics editing program with a lot of tools and available plugins.

Cheers,

 

[hairyspin]

And there's Paintshop Pro: can be bought quite cheaply, especially if a version or two back. Unlike Photoshop which will cost you many shekels indeed, even secondhand. Many shekels...

But give it a go!

 

[Jafo]

Forgot to mention...my weapon of choice is PSP6 ...an oldie but a goodie....
...and DXTBmp for Extended BMP or DDS working....

 

[Stefano Zibell]

GIMP is an excellent freeware graphics editing program with a lot of tools and available plugins.

Cheers,

This. It rivals photoshop in almost every way. And where it doesn't, you'll find a plugin to fill that gap.

 

[hairyspin]

Once Vertigo have their site back up you should be able to get the paint kit for the F8-F, which will make repainting easier, so long as your bitmap editor can read it (probably Photoshop .PSD format).

 

[Cirrus N210MS]

Once Vertigo have their site back up you should be able to get the paint kit for the F8-F, which will make repainting easier, so long as your bitmap editor can read it (probably Photoshop .PSD format).

i use Paint Shop Pro 8 and dxt bmp

 

[wombat666]

What goucho said...
Actually any paint program will do...provided the user knows how to use it.
Yes, even MSPaint.
Just google that one for some quite spectacular woks done with it.

Meanwhile...I'm laid up typing lefy handed so no painting for a bit....was under the knife on Thursday...right hand all plastered up...

Under your present circumstances I guess you should consider GIMP(Y) .........
My bad, but I couldn't resist it.
Hope your op went well and you get your hand operational soon.

 

[hairyspin]

Either Photoshop or Paint.net are your best choices. Both ... will save your images in .dds format...

To be strictly accurate, Photoshop needs the free nVidia plugin which is excellent. Paint.NET has .dds handling built in. Paint Shop Pro can also use the nVidia plugin, or it did with PSP 8 and X when I used them.

I believe there's a dds plugin for the Gimp too.

 

[huub vink]

Like Jafo I use an older version of Paint Shop Pro (I'm stuck to version 7) and use (free) DTXbmp from Martin Wright to convert the textures to an extended format.

As I have some compatibility issues with Windows10 I should move on to Gimp, which is most probably as good (and perhaps even better) than PSP7. And perhaps the best of all: it is well supported and freeware.

Now if I only could find a good tutorial how to work on several layers in Gimp...................

Cheers,
Huub

 

[Willy]

I've been painting on and off since CFS 1 was the hot new sim using a variety of paint programs. These days, I mainly use Paint.net with the Photoshop & Paint Shop Pro plugins so I can open .psd and .psp files, but I do the majority of my work in Paint.net. While I do have Photoshop 7 and PSP 10 installed, I just don't use them that much. And there's an older program, Photosuite IV, that I used for years, but it doesn't do layers. However there are a few things that I still use it for.

Huub, I tried Gimp, but found Paint.net to be more to my liking (I finally figured out how to do layers with it). Give it a look. It's free and there are tons of plug ins.

Willy

 

[DaveB]

HarleyDude..

If you need a copy of the VS F8F paint kit, I can upload a copy for you. It's not the friendliest kit I've ever worked with even though there are only 2 main maps.
ATB
DaveB

 

[Dangerousdave26]

one more vote for Gimp

Any painting program has a learning curve so expect to be awhile before you are a master at it.

 

[DaveB]

Incidentally.. PS Elements won't open it without errors. You need at least CS2 (or equivalent)
ATB
DaveB

 

[hairyspin]

HarleyDude..

If you need a copy of the VS F8F paint kit, I can upload a copy for you.

Actually Dave, would you please upload it anyway, I got the F8-F just last month. Thanks!

 

[DaveB]

Sure It's around 98mb so it'll take a fair bit of coal to get it up the line. I'll start now and add a link when it's ready

EDIT: Grab it HERE

ATB
DaveB

 

[trucker17]

I started painting for the sim 2 years ago. When i wanted to start i had absolutely no idea what i needed or even what i was doing. But still i learned as i went. My paints have gotten better and better, as i am sure many painters here have as well.
I dont run with a college degree in computers, or programing. And i still dont know everything about painting planes for the sim. when i get stuck on something, i ask, and try to follow what i was told to achieve the look i am trying for.

I paid out the money for Photoshop CS6, and yes it was well worth the money as i do alot of custom paints and am always adding things to suit my own scenery.

Like Goucho said. No one can say what program will work best for you. The best advice for this is to try each one out (Like a test drive). find the one that works best for you, and use it. Some programs are very expensive, others work just as well and are free. Link Gimp just to name one.
And never be afraid to ask question or ask for help when you get stuck. Some out here will come back with an answer.