Military AI Works

Hi guys, before i dive headlong into my first attempts at repainting some AI, i wondered if I could trouble you with possible a daft question ? I wish to repaint some of the F-18's, but want to try out on a full size one first. The subject being the Aerialfoundary one, my question is how, if it's possible do I reduce the overly shiny textures please ? It is something that has always bothered me about that aircraft. Especially when you see the textures on the VRS model.
I know this is not an AI spercfic question, but with the wealth of talent on this forum and the help that is always readily available, I thought it was worth a punt......

Many thanks in advance,
Regards,

I think it can be done with a program called DTXbmp, but somebody more experienced will definitely tell you more!

You should use DXTBmp to open the texture file.
Then click on 'Alpha' at the top of the GUI.
Send alpha to editor.

Remember the whiter the alpha channel is the less 'shine' you will see. So change to a lighter color.


Refresh alpha. You will see the preview panel in the upper right change.

Save it ...and you're done.

You may have to do this a few times to get the reflection as you want it.

OR......

Simply open the file, send alpha to editor and then save without alpha.
This will completely do away with any reflection.

Fastair,
Look over at flightsim for the Spanish AF photoreal repaint for the AF Hornet. In the read me, there is instructions on how to remove this. There is an additional program you will have to download to remove the shine from the model itself, not in the textures. I have used this on all my AF models to get rid of the unrealistic shine. Sorry not at my home cpu so not sure of the filename.

*UPDATE*, the F18 is under f18photo.zip and the program is called MDLMat.

Good luck on the repaints, I just started myself on some AI stuff, but not up to MAIW standards yet!

Thank you very much Kevin and Victory........I'm off to give it a plucky stab now. I shall no doubt report back with an issues, fingers crossed.......
Good luck with your paints to Victory.....

Best regards,

Ok, followed the tutorial for the MDL edit program, and I can see no difference with my textures, still far too shiny......... Getting both confused and cross now......Did you have any problems with this program at all Victory ?

Thank you,
Regards

I used this program and I was very happy with the results - no shiny no more!

Awesome, so that just makes me hopeless then ! I'll try again but I can't see what I did wrong, the instructions are very straight forward, even for me ........
Maybe try again tomorrow with less wine in my system...

Thanks so far..
Regards

Actually I must mention I had a member of my VA that does repaints talk me through the MDLMat program to get the rest of the AF F18 models without shine. He experimented with the program first and just passed the info. I only touched the "specular" zone.

Hi, interesting, well I'm following the instructions, saving the new mdl, load the aircraft and it is still just as shiny as before.....I'll keep trying, hoping I don't have to end up begging for somebody elses mdl's ........

It is getting frustrating though..

Regards

Try turning off 'aircraft reflections' in the sim itself....

Thanks Kevin, but no joy........I can only assume I'm missing something stupid !! Woldn't be the first time ..

Edit : I was indeed missing something stupid, I'm a fool.......But sorted now, thank you all for your help again.

Kind regards,