Photoshop/skin help needed

[nopoop]

Using the original index of the skin alterations come out fine. But you can't add layers, you can't work with it all.

Making a copy in a PSD gives the option of layers etc. After doing some simple experiments with layers I flattened the image and converted it to indexed 8 bit 256 color. I lost "a little" detail in the conversion but it looked good.

Putting it in game this is what I get...



What am I doing wrong here ??

Photoshop guys I know you have the answer.

Thanks

[Citabria]

for layers on default htc skins just go to image and set it to rgb or cmyk.

cant use layers on index color only bmps


http://mysite.freeserve.com/IL2_Skins/Guest/24_bit.zip

program is called bright


(unzip the files anywhere i put em on the desktop)

2 files will unzip into a folder called 24 bit

drop in your 24 bit bmp skin or save it into the 24 bit folder and then click on the dos bat file and the files are smoothly converted into noise free 256 bit bmps that look nearly as good as 24 bit bmps

[nopoop]

Thanks Fester I'll give it a try.

[nopoop]

That was quick. Nice little program, works like a charm.

Now I can do some work.

Thanks !!

[Thunder]

nopoop,

Go to the Hanger in AHII and get the plane you want to start with and left click and save skin. It saves the place file in bitemap .bmp images. Having done this I will give you a quick scenario that should give you everything you need to do in photoshop without any outside programs.

Example:
Open Photoshop and left click on open and brouse to your Program Files\HTC\Aces High II\skins\p51d4 (or whatever folder) and then click on P51DSID and P51DWNG and load them. They are in .bmp format and are in indexed color.
So…. Right click on Image, a pull down appears and click on mode then RGB color. Now you can work and create all you layers and get you colors as you please. This document will still be in a Photoshop .bmp format. Work and have fun. When you are through getting it right then save a copy it to a file folder where you know it will be. Be sure NOT to flatten it or change it and save it in .psd format. That way you can work with it later of use the layers for other works. After saving it and having it up and highlighted, Right click on Image\Mode\Indexed color. A window box will appear that asks you to flatten visible layers and hidden layers, click OK.

A box will appear for Indexed Color….. Make sure these settings are in as follows

Palette: Local (Selective)
Colors: 256
Forced: None
Check in the box for Transparency

In the lower section for Options do the following
Matte: will not show up
Dither: Diffusion
Amount: 72%
Check in the box for Preserve Exact Colors

Next left click on Layers and then Flatten Image
Then left click on File and Save As, when you do this you will need to choose the format and select .bmp
Then brause back to the Program Files\HTC\Aces High II\skins\p51d4\P51DSID.bmp and click over it. (This is the file you are replacing)
Then click and WALLA!!!! It’s done.
Do that for both files and It should work great in the game.

The P-38 files are more difficult and I can help there too if you want. Same thing just a few more tricks that HTC-“NateDog” used to make thing faster, but you have got to know which files and where the specific surfaces are on the .bmp's.

Hope this helped in some way!

Salute,

Thunder:aok