how to make this effect in Photoshop

[adlabs6]

Hi,

That reflection effect does, at least to my eye, appear to be an active element in the texture (such as an alpha layer or some sort), rather than a static, painted-on effect.

I know that all the recent flight sims can do this reflective highlighting, FS2004, FSX, and XPlane 10. I have only ever done environment/reflection maps in FS2004, and that was so long ago that I've mostly forgotten how!

First thing I would check on here, is contact whoever made the aircraft model (and/or texture) and inquire as to whether the model and it's textures supports or includes these effects in your sim.

[Serval]

piacaptain,

Making textures is not something you just do. You have to grow into that.
Like Blowhard pointed out, we do have a tutorial on reflection mapping, though for another simulator. But reflectionmaps is not the first thing people start with when they start skinning.

Basicly a reflectionmap is another (black and white) texture (file) which contains information on how glossy an area is. This is explained in the tutorial.

But learning to make textures is a step by step process.
Take a look at the video tutorials. They do show a lot on how to make a texture/repaint/skin.

The tutorial on creating 3D objects shows how you make highlights and shades to simulate 3D.
They are found here: http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/foru...m37-photoshop/
Basicly most of our tutorials are small steps in the process of making computer art, rather then explaining the whole thing.

Also browse the forum for profiles. There you find a lot of tips on creating highlights and shades. You just don't have to do it that strong, since you want the game engine to do most of the work. For example a shadow at the underside of the wings looks ridiculous when the aircraft is flying upside down.

Then you have to know a bit more about the graphics in the game you make textures for. Every game works in a different way and does or does not support certain effects. Since most people on this site are mostly focused on making profile drawings, we are not the best to help you with that.

Unfortunately I lack the time to fire up Photoshop to make a more specific example. But you could download the templates for IL-2 sturmovik.

They are PSD files that contain layers with various effects. Those of Jester are often of a good quality and for example my Fokker D.XXI also is quite complete.
If you examine them and watch at least the video tutorials, then you might learn the first steps into making skins.

I know the feeling that you want to make those special effects, but start simple. Do what you know, and then make the next step while searching the whole internet for tips that might be helpfull to you.