AR196 Project in AD2K

[smilo]

another weekend down the tube.

most of today was spent
jumping back and forth
from ad2k to cfs...
testing and documenting
some ad2k animation ranges.
it's basically, for adding prop blur
at higher engine speeds.

i'll have to admit that i was getting
bored and a little aggravated.
but finally, i had a breakthrough
near the high end of the range.

as i mentioned many weeks ago,
i also want the float bottoms
to disappear when on the water.
this is by no means a perfect solution,
but, so far, this is the best i can find.

so, now i not only have prop blur,
but the floats are partially submerged
when she sits on the water.

not to mention a real biggy,
that was giving me fits yesterday,
has been solved and works like a dream.
sorry, i won't tell you what it is.
call it a release surprise.

did i ever mention that this thing is a dream to fly?
i can fly her with the keyboard only.
take off and landings are smooth as silk.
i'm currently on another machine,
cruising all trimmed up
19 ft off the deck, at 129 kts,
heading toward the channel.

side view frames/sec=62.5-66.6
on this old pentium4

we're getting close...sooo very close.

[smilo]

last weekend, i was looking at
PJ Dunbar's stock aircraft textures.
i noticed that the detail was exceptional,
especially on the Ju87a.
for example, the ac panel lines
appeared to be less than 1 pixel wide
and the squadron insignia was very fine.

i thought that, maybe, it was accomplished
by first, painting the bmp 512x512
and then resizing it to 256x256.
my attempt was a failure.
after reducing to 256x256,
the smaller pixels disappeared.

does anyone have an idea how
this effect can be done?

[hubbabubba]

Which paint program did you used?

[Seagull V]

A good site for painting tutorials:-
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/foru...m33-tutorials/

For my repaints in CFS2 I was using PaintShop Pro X2 and then upgraded to X4, utilising layers for each paint effect. For example green camo would be on one layer, brown camo would be on another layer, blue camo on another layer, panel lines on another layer, decals on another layer, weathering on another layer, exhaust grime on another layer, paint chips on another layer, reflective highlighting on another layer, and so on. It is a bit of a pain to get started doing it, but once started and set up it allows you to use all of the layer effects/options to get the paint scheme looking like what you want, and if doing multiple paints speeds up your work.

If you want to see if Paint Shop Pro is something you would like to use you can download a trial version to see if it's your cup of tea.
http://www.corel.com/corel/product/i...id=prod4130078

As regards any special requirements for CFS1 I am unable to help you, if you check out the forum:-
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...nnin-Your-Game!
check out the Tips and Resources post as well, there should be someone who can help with any questions if you do a post.

[smilo]

from what iv'e gathered so far,
layering is not available for 256 colors.
i could be wrong, though.

i use ms paint for the basic stuff.
it's the easiest for drawing lines,
filling an area with color,
copying and pasting selected areas
and stuff like that.

i have psp7 which i use for resizing,
changing the resolution..those kind of things.
oh yeah, and batch conversion
for changing the pallets.
there's a lot more to learn, i know.
i've barely scratched the surface

then there's saint p.
i've been playing around with it,
but i've got a long way to go
before i can really use it.

also have a copy of gimp,
but haven't used it enough to mention.

i guess what it all comes down to,
is finding the time to sit down
and figure out how to use one of them.
for me, time is the valuable commodity
that i seem to be lacking.

it's hard enough finishing something i've started
without getting sidetracked by something else.
happens all the time.
it's a wonder i get anything done.

[smilo]

been busy with the little details.
-wing gun muzzles...done
-bomb racks...done
-pitot tube...done
-antenna...done.
-no wire to v stab, yet.
-left flap realigned with karman...done
-need to do the right flap/karman alignment

i've been putting off doing the interior.
looks like i'll have to get to it, real soon.
need to decide how detailed to get.

might even add some lights.
we'll see.

[hubbabubba]

About resizing, smilo.

Could you send me your original size and your resized attempt(s)?

I'll give it a try, if you want. Not to do it for you, just to find the correct procedure with the correct tools.

One thing you could try on your own is to make the original image a true colors, then resize, then return to 256 colors.

[smilo]

About resizing, smilo.

Could you send me your original size and your resized attempt(s)?

I'll give it a try, if you want. Not to do it for you, just to find the correct procedure with the correct tools.

One thing you could try on your own is to make the original image a true colors, then resize, then return to 256 colors.

thanks for the offer, H.
it is much appreciated.
i know you have a lot going on
and your time is very valuable.

i've tried your suggestion,
along with several other options.
no joy.
oddly, now, when i resize the 512x512 image to 256x256,
the new 1 pixel red lines of the rudder
(see upper right corner of 512 image)
change to 1 pixel, 256 size.

i even tried converting to tiff,
then resizing to 256x256.

i know there is a way to do this.
there has to be,
i've seen the results.

[hubbabubba]

Well, smilo, can't say for sure that I'm following you. The upper right of the 256x256 picture (aftfslg.bmp) appears to be more detailed than the 512x512 (aftfslg512.bmp).

It should be the other way around... at least in my world!

[smilo]

sorry for the confusion.
aftfslg.bmp is the original
aftfslg512.bmp has been resized
and the rudder detail has been replaced
with a couple of red 1 pixel lines.
(in the upper right corner)
notice that they are smaller
than the gray lines close by,
which are 2 pixel lines.

if you open aftfslg512.bmp
with st. p and resize it to 256x256,
the red lines will change to the same size
as the other lines close by.
ie, to 1 pixel, as opposed to the 1/2 pixel
i would like to see.

one other thing,
do the aftfslg and aftfslg512 images
show in the above post #248,
like the stuka bmp in post #242,
or are they just links to attached images?
screwy

[hubbabubba]

sorry for the confusion.
aftfslg.bmp is the original
aftfslg512.bmp has been resized
and the rudder detail has been replaced
with a couple of red 1 pixel lines.
(in the upper right corner)
notice that they are smaller
than the gray lines close by,
which are 2 pixel lines.

if you open aftfslg512.bmp
with st. p and resize it to 256x256,
the red lines will change to the same size
as the other lines close by.
ie, to 1 pixel, as opposed to the 1/2 pixel
i would like to see.

one other thing,
do the aftfslg and aftfslg512 images
show in the above post #248,
like the stuka bmp in post #242,
or are they just links to attached images?
screwy

aftfslg.bmp is the original
aftfslg512.bmp has been resized
and the rudder detail has been replaced
with a couple of red 1 pixel lines.

This is a bit puzzling... loss of details when resizing down I know, but enlarging? Saint Paint has three resizing options; Standard Filter, Alternative Filter or no Filter. I suppose that PSP offers otions as well, or GIMP.

if you open aftfslg512.bmp
with st. p and resize it to 256x256,
the red lines will change to the same size
as the other lines close by.
ie, to 1 pixel, as opposed to the 1/2 pixel
i would like to see.

1/2 pixel do not exist. A pixel is always a one-color square, always.

one other thing,
do the aftfslg and aftfslg512 images
show in the above post #248,
like the stuka bmp in post #242,
or are they just links to attached images?
screwy

Just links...

Paul, I think, was starting with 512x512 True colors and, only for final application in the texture file, was resizing down to 256x256 True colors and, then, would reduce the palette to 256.

[Ivan]

I believe what you are trying to do is "anti-aliasing".
Hubbabubba is right, but with slightly changing shades, you can fool the human eye from a distance.

I had a much more detailed post typed up last night but lost it as the Outhouse went into maintenance.
No matter, you folks have pretty much covered what I was about to describe using GIMP.

In theory with my family out of town, I should be having LOTS of free time.
I believe a lot of events are conspiring to make that NOT happen.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

This is a bit puzzling... loss of details when resizing down I know, but enlarging? Saint Paint has three resizing options; Standard Filter, Alternative Filter or no Filter. I suppose that PSP offers otions as well, or GIMP.


1/2 pixel do not exist. A pixel is always a one-color square, always.


Just links...

Paul, I think, was starting with 512x512 True colors and, only for final application in the texture file, was resizing down to 256x256 True colors and, then, would reduce the palette to 256.

gosh...my mistake. i wasn't clear.
i removed the original gray details
and added the red lines in 512.
sorry about that.

i, pretty much, figured that a pixel is a pixel.
and that a reduced pixel size from 512 to 256
was not possible.
that said, Ivan's idea makes sense
and will most likely do the trick.
it's all about shading that 512 pixel
and, when reduced, it will look like a half pixel.

i'm anxious to give it a go in the next few days.

thanks gentlemen

i can't help but wonder if the attached images thing
is something with my machine
or some new soh feature.
i thought i uploaded them as per usual,
but....who knows?

[smilo]

i guess i should give a short update,
since it's been a few weeks of silence.

the texturing has moved to the back burner.
i contacted an acquaintance to see
if he would be interested in the project.
no reply...zilch.
that was disappointing.
so it goes.

for the past few weeks,
i've been blocking out the interior components.
then, refining each in turn,
while, also, working on the visual sequencing.
there's been a heck of a lot of trial and error.
as with everything else in this project,
i'm over-killing the detail.

this time, i won't bore you with screen shots.

many thanks to Ivan,
for sending some very nice drawings
of the interior components.
....thinking about it, now,
it might have been No Dice.
jeez, i can't remember.
sorry, guys.
very cool drawings, though.

i think i'll take the rest of the day off.
i'm a little tired.
stayed up late and watched
the olympic opening ceremonies
and i've got a dinner engagement in a few hours.

[No Dice]

Nice to hear from you Dude, Hope all is well.

Xmas is coming......AR196 under the tree?

Dave