FSX repaint sharpness

[FreqE1]

Hi all,

I'm just learning to skin for FSX and am having a problem with image quality. I think I know where I'm losing the quality, I just don't know how to stop it.

I'm using a repaint kit for the A2A WoP P-47 Razorback. My Image in PS looks pretty good but by the time I get it into FSX it looks bad.

Example


On the left is the P-47 in FSX, on the right is the same area of the aircraft in PS.

I've used DXTBitmap to investigate many other paints submitted by other painters using this same paint kit. Their paints retain their quality in FSX. After many frustrating hours I noticed a file size difference between their work and mine. All their .dds file are between 16 00 and 22 000 kb's where mine are only just above 5 000 kb's. I figure this reduction in file size is what is causing my severe loss in quality.

I open the paint kit file in PS and do my stuff. When I get to where I want to check my progress in game I hit save then save as. I save it as a 24 bit bmp with alpha. I then use DXTBitmap to open this file. I import my edited alpha file from the paint kit and save as DXT5. This file comes out as just over 5 000 kb's.

What am I doing wrong? How do I do this and end up with the larger file size I've seen in all the over 20 paints I've downlooaded for this aircraft?

Any help would be appreciated very much.

Rob

[FreqE1]

The solution has been found. When saving from PS I was saving as a 24 bit bitmap. I had tried 32 bit but by the time I got it into FSX I'd end up with an all light blue plane like a non DX10 plane loaded with DX10 on.

By going into advanced mode while saving and selecting the 32 bit A8 R8 G8 B8 option it loaded up fine in FSX. I believe this was due to my alpha channel.

Also, I unchecked the "include mipmaps" box in DXTBitmap when saving there.

Looks much better now. (click to resize or it looks terrible)


The file came out at 16,385 kbs. i hope this can help any other beginners that may read this.

Rob.

[AGNT_Matt]

looking good keep it up (been painting since fs2000), i know how hard it can be at times but stick with it....

[adlabs6]

I added some tags to this thread to assist those who may search for it in the future.

Cool looking scheme BTW.

[FreqE1]

Thanks for the encouragement AGNT Matt.

I'm not all that skilled with PS so learning it is a challenge. I've made my own decals for models and skinned the original Win Amp and that's about it. Figuring out how it all works with FSX just adds to the confusion but now that I know how to get it all to FSX I can concentrate on the painting.

Thank you adlabs6 for adding the tags, I wanted to edit the title to make it easier for others with the same problem to find this but couldn't. I didn't think of the tag thing. Also thanks for the compliment, the theme I'm going for is a hot rodding Reno Racer. I know the P-47 "Jug" is completely impracticle as a low altitude agile racer but this is fiction and requires a little imagination.

The first two skins I started are a captured P-47 in german colours and a P-47 named Zombie. Both were completed by others before I could get them done. this is why I decided to go fictional. I'm going to go back and finish them anyway for the experience.

[adlabs6]

Good point about the thread title, I edited that just now.

[AGNT_Matt]

FreqE1 if you need a bit of tutoring be glad to help out, just adding rivets to Mike Stones old catalina to make her look better... anyways my msn/ICQ and whatever is on my profile page, so if ya want a bit of help just ask.

[FreqE1]

Thanks for the offer AGNT Matt, I'm sure I'll take you up on it eventually. I am very new to this and am reading/watching tutorials and articles. Also just experimenting with things. Right now I'm still at the stage where I have to do my own research before I start asling too many questions.

I don't like bothering people with too many questions that a quick Google search would answer but sometimes my Google Fu fails me. So I'm sure I'll come to you for help at some point but I won't be a pest.

First Question though;

If I paint racing stripes on the default ultra light, will it go faster? Just kidding!

I'll be talking to ya,
Rob

[rudyz]

The solution has been found. When saving from PS I was saving as a 24 bit bitmap. I had tried 32 bit but by the time I got it into FSX I'd end up with an all light blue plane like a non DX10 plane loaded with DX10 on.

By going into advanced mode while saving and selecting the 32 bit A8 R8 G8 B8 option it loaded up fine in FSX. I believe this was due to my alpha channel.

Also, I unchecked the "include mipmaps" box in DXTBitmap when saving there.

Looks much better now. (click to resize or it looks terrible)


The file came out at 16,385 kbs. i hope this can help any other beginners that may read this.

Rob.

Hi Rob,

I am having this exact same problem...which is how I found this forum.

Now when I try to follow the steps you mentioned, the A8 R8 G8 B8 option in advanced mode is greyed out and not clickable. The only 32 bit option is X8 R8 G8 B8. This results in a yellow image through out. Any ideas what I may be missing?

BTW I am using DXTBMP and I have tried with and without the alpha channel being sent to Photoshop CS3.

Thanks!

[Baron von Blutwurst]

It is definately the Mips m8...those things are Loathe to good paints.