Importing Alpa Channels

[Sheriff88]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

If i take following steps:

1. Take an existing 109 E-4 skin dds. file. and open it in DXTBmp 

2. Save it as a bitmap file.

3.Then open that bmp file and edit the file in GIMP

4.After edit export the new skin as a dds file.

I should be able to import alpha channel from original E4 skin and the resulting skin should have transparent prop hub tip as did the original. Right?

[Rocket_Knut]

@Sheriff88 Still struggeling??? 

1. Using the original E-4 template, you shouldn´t have no issues at all. Zero adjustments needed, prop hub transparent.
2. Using an already existing skin, make sure, the respective Alpha-layer is aligned properly.
3. GIMP is perfectly capable of opening dds-files no problem.
4. If the issue is "How to use GIMP?", I can highly recommend a quick search on the old forum. There is an excellent thread, explaining the use of GIMP and another one  explaining the basics of Alpha-ing in GIMP.

[Sheriff88]

Thanks,RK

I've been using GIMP Forever but alpha edits still a challenge when editing specific points. Still you think if I am using the same dds file as my start point and importing from that file, the Alpha should be aligned properly. If it wasn't correctly aligned the wrong part of skin would be transparent.

[Rocket_Knut]

@Sheriff88 Which skin you´re having trouble with? Care to share it here? The original template works fine, just tried it out.

[Sheriff88]

i'm not working from template. I thought I could circumvent all the small area Alpha  channel editing. I found an E-4 skin{ let's call it "Skin A")  with early high margin camo scheme with minimal markings. I cloned out squadron badge and number.Then repainted camo borders and added new Gruppe badge. Saved as a dds. and imported Alpha from "Skin A". But prop hub not transparent. 

[Sheriff88]

Another example.

I took Julian's Jabo E-4 https://forum.il2-series.com/topic/70-skins-bf-109-e-4/page/2/#findComment-2325 

I edited with different Unit badge and name plus slight color shadinng

Here's Julian's

 

 

Here's mine

Edited March 31 by Sheriff88

[Hanu]

6 hours ago, Sheriff88 said:

i'm not working from template. I thought I could circumvent all the small area Alpha  channel editing. I found an E-4 skin{ let's call it "Skin A")  with early high margin camo scheme with minimal markings. I cloned out squadron badge and number.Then repainted camo borders and added new Gruppe badge. Saved as a dds. and imported Alpha from "Skin A". But prop hub not transparent. 

If you bring a new layer from another image, make sure the layer size is same size you are pasting to as new layer... To make sure it is pasted exactly the same position.

I usually enlarge the layer size in source image to image size, select all, and the copy it. Then switch to image I am pasting it to, select a layer that is full 4096x4096 (and usually resize it to image size to be sure) and the paste it. 

IDK if this is your problem, but it sounded like the same kind of problem I've had occasionally when I have not been careful enough.

---------

Also as a workflow... If I'm to use alpha channel from a completed skin, I open it in Gimp, switch to channels tab, drag the alpha channel to layers tab. Then I can edit the alpha channel as I like. When it has been edited, I drag it back to channels tab and apply the channel.

Edited March 31 by Hanu

[Rocket_Knut]

13 hours ago, Sheriff88 said:

"I took Julian's Jabo E-4 https://forum.il2-series.com/topic/70-skins-bf-109-e-4/page/2/#findComment-2325 

I edited with different Unit badge and name plus slight color shadinng"

 

@Sheriff88 Provided, the creator of the skin, you´re modifying, is fine with what you´re doing, your workflow seems doable. Well, sort of.

Tried it with the original template, i.e. created a skin from it first. Then opened this very skin in GIMP again, modified the skin layer and exported it as a skin/dds-file again.

Doing this, I noticed that the Alpha-layer looked very unusual to me. Not the various shades of dark grey but much brighter. Why? No idea. Not my usual workflow anyway.

But there is your answer why that cap on the prop hub isn´t transparent anymore. The areas, the creator made black in order to become tranparent, aren´t black anymore and therefore visible. So, whether you like it or not, you need to deal with the Alpha-layer and darken these areas.

Also, the badges and stuff you added to Julians skin, they are just on top of all the shadowing-, weathering-, panel lines-, rivets/screws- and details-layers since using your method, you only get one layer. Not sure about the looks...