Nuttz -
It's just that photo-realistic stuff looks odd in a world where everything is "drawn" - At least to me it does. If that makes sense.
Theres 2 examples in game, that I can think of off hand. One is the texture to the new .45, and the other are scans from a Cockpit photo book which are in the B24 cockpit - I think its the autopilot panel, as well as the trim wheel, and some center console stuff.
The photo stuff has that "flat" look like theres a haze over it. And the colors don't match with the surroundings. No matter how fiddling with colors, ect...it will never seem to fit in....
Again - this is just me.
I usually use photos as a guide and paint or draw over them..or use several layers of them with differnt opacity, properties, ect... as well as painting.I guess its all preference.
BTW - have you had any luck getting objects placed on a terrain tile?