Slight Skinning Problem....

[greek302]

I just started skinning for RTW and I need help. How do I remove the black stuff around the shields when I re-texturing. Here is a pic that shows the problem.

Image: http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rtwshot4ji.jpg

Someone help please.

[Lusted]

I doubt it, download a prgram such as GIMp and use that to edit your skins.

[greek302]

Ok I will download gIMP

[Halie Satanus]

When you do this is the thread you'll want. :wink:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=43015

[greek302]

Ok so GIMP is installed and I have the texture in there. what do I do now?

[Kallikratis]

Editing alpha channels is very easy job in photoshop as well.

[greek302]

Somone please explain what tools to use and how to get the black stuff out........

[Halie Satanus]

Err post 6 is a link to the gimp tutorial thread.:wink:

[greek302]

In that tutorial it says this: After opening it, click CTRL + L to open the Layers dialog. Delete all the layers except the first one by clicking on each and clicking the trash can icon.

The thing is there is it says there is only 1 layer in the box................ If you could just tell me what to do in steps........

[Halie Satanus]

I use photoshop so i can't help really, but if you post in tfighterpilots thread i'm sure he'll help you, i did notice though that the next instuction mentions alpha channels.

A dialog will open. In the first rolldown list, labled "Compression", choose DXT5. Check "Generate mipmaps". Make sure "Swap red and alpha" is not checked. Click ok, and exit GIMP.

as for the actual use of tools,
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/gimptutorials/

Good luck

[greek302]

firepilot?

[Lusted]

Well if you are opening the skin you created them im guessing when you first saved it it removed the alpha channel, so open the original skin again and edit it.

[greek302]

Removed

[Publius]

I assume you are talking about the alpha layers (like a black box is showing up outside of your shield etc) If this is the case, it is probably in the way you are saving that is causing problems. Make sure that upon opening the dds file, you press crtl-L and delete all of the mipmaps. Then, when you save, compress to DXT5 and allow for the generation of mipmaps. See if that helps

[greek302]

Removed

[Publius]

No need for hysterics. And just for the future it is a little hard to help you with just a picture - uploading the DDS file itself would be better. But still, do you know how to use the alpha layer function? If you do, then highlight the black areas which you dont want and then set them to alpha. This should clear it up (if you save properly of course)

[greek302]

Removed

[Publius]

Its only a bitmap image. Trust me, if I could use this I would. Just put the dds file in a zip folder and then upload

[greek302]

Ok i will save it as a dds file and then put in in a zip.rar file

I think this will work........... :\

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XRUC8UTE

Prox was here.

[Krusoth_the_Plague]

You can use DXTBmp to easily preserve original alpha channels. Download it here.

Install it, start the program, and open the original skin you desire to modify. The program with the opened skin will look like this:



At the top right-hand corner you'll see an 'Alpha Channel' subsection. Under the preview of the alpha channel, hit the arrow-to-folder button. Save the alpha channel as a .bmp. Then, modify the skin to your heart's content. After doing so, open the new skin with DXTBmp, hit the folder-to-arrow button, and import the previously saved .bmp alpha channel. Save.

Hope this helps. I'll be around for a bit (I'm sick and I'm coughing my lungs out, so I don't see any potential sleep in my near future), so feel free to ask more questions.