[Doolittle81]

Could someone please provide a simple (S I M P L E) explanation on how to add/replace Photos (girlfriend/PinUp) in the various cockpits? I have the Unified Install package with its included aircraft and cockpits...nothing else.

I have tried Search function....found some piecemeal references to such photo replacement, often linking back and forth to other threads...etc... also comments like, "Watch out for Alpha Channels..." which is meaningless to non-experts, non-MODders...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...

[db605-A/S]

Hi, I had to figure this out myself too but I am familliar with Photoshop and other photo editing applications. I you are not familliar then you should probably do so.

Find the file that has the picture, you need to open this file in the photoediting software that is capable of opening the type of file that is used in this pourpose. I have Photoshop CS3 Extended so there are a lot of options.

Once that file is open and you are looking at the picture, open the picture that you want to use (wife, girlfriend or favorite pet) and place them next to each other ..compare size, angle and aspect ratio and edit your photo to very closely "match" the original. this is important other wise you will get odd error's.

Cut out original using the polygonal lasso tool (PS) I selected the exact (up to the pixel) and cut out the original. Then doing the same with the replacement. then pasting onto the file. Don't forget to merge and save as a copy. Be aware you will get it wrong the first few tries and strange things could occur when you go to fly that plane. I had big black panels that I had to work out. IT is important to look at the existing file information as to the size, bit depth and such first because your photo needs to match in all of these aspects. As for the alpha channel its a photoshop term and if they say don't mess with it then don't. I have included my wife in this and the file names. hope this helps.

Another thing you could try first is editing the pilot, by placing your picture (wife, girlfriend or favorite pet) as the pilot it is a little easier in that is is more forgiving, meaning if it is done wrong you will have a funky lookin pilot. but the a fish or a dog would be funky lookin too.

File is in the Files>3do>cockpit>109-xx>bf109P2PanelDMG this was the only file I edited....MAKE COPY of original. If this does not work on your machine I claim no responsibility. you must be cognizant of your own abilities and claim sole responsibility if you kill you game /plane.

After a little tweeking I got it though!


I will post a pic of my work as soon as I figure out how.

Good Luck, let me know how you do.

[Doolittle81]

So I should resize my desired TGA photo to the small size of the tiny orginal photo in the lower left corner of the original (MOD) tga file "Bf109P2PanelDMG.tga" (I'm using the Bf109K4 cockpit files), then paste that small tga image over the original photo image? Since the original has a large black 'field', it is difficult or impossible to tell where the precise edges are of the lower corner photo.

My desired photos (WWII Pinups) are TGA files but show zero "0" for alpha channels, whereas the "Bf109XXX.tga" file shows One "1" channel. I don't know how to change the # of channels to match.

By the way, I use PaintShopPro so anyone who can help me using that program to accomplish this 'project' will be appreciated.

[db605-A/S]

OK I have paint shop pro 5 I will try it. In PS it cut it out of the layer and there was a checked background for aligning.

[db605-A/S]

If you have version PSP 5 you need to go to layers>properties >blend and change to "screen" you will then be able to rescale and fit to paste because you have changed it to present a checkered background I had to fiddle with this for some time but eventually got it. (size and position) AS far as the alpha channel in paint shop pro I don't know. I did not have that problem because the image I used aparently has an alpha channel I did not attempt to change. My version of PSP 5 does not have that option. I reworked the image and placed it the k-4 using PSP5 but I did not take care to size and position properly (I should have saved the edited files) but the same kind of problems occured indicating that PSP5 would work, using an image with an alpha channel. Like I said trial and error.

good luck

[fly_zo]

Could someone please provide a simple (S I M P L E) explanation on how to add/replace Photos (girlfriend/PinUp) in the various cockpits? I have the Unified Install package with its included aircraft and cockpits...nothing else.

I have tried Search function....found some piecemeal references to such photo replacement, often linking back and forth to other threads...etc... also comments like, "Watch out for Alpha Channels..." which is meaningless to non-experts, non-MODders...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...

Ok, here's the deal ......

Before even starting with this you'll need :

1 all cockpit files extracted from SFS files ( SFS extractor )
2 all tga files converted to editable form ( Tga converter)

* both tools available at AAA tools section

Cockpit pic can be placed in various ways .... depends how cockpit mapping (applies) texture files on meshes ( parts). For example on certain cockpits you can place pic directly on the panel ( tga) but certain cockpits have panel tga's mirrored when applied so you'll end up with your pic showed on both sides of cockpit. In that case you need to identify on which other part of cockpit you can place your pic and find tga file for that part .

Once you've decided where you like your pic placed and you have that tga file converted and ready for editing :

1 load tga into Photoshop ( or your graph. editor)


2 resize it to 1024x1024 so your pic won't get to much stretched when displayed in game


3 place your pic as new layer


4 in layers window click on channels tab and enable last channel displayed ( if there is any) below RGB channels . That is alpha channel: it determines transparent areas for that tga file


5 click on layers tab and you'll notice black frame around certain parts ( like a mask)


6 make sure your pic is placed in visible area of tga ( if you manage to do this go to step 6a if not go to 7)

6a save file as 32 bit tga RLE compression unchecked


7 If your pic must exceed visible areas then you need to edit alpha channel to include shape of your pic in visible area . So make your pic layer active ( click on it in layers tab).


8 Choose magic wand tool and select your pic :

a)click anywhere around your picture ( so surrounding area gets selected)

b) in select menu >>> choose select inverse ( so only your pic gets selected)


9 in select menu >>> save selection>>> as alpha channel>>>>choose "add to channel" or "subtract from channel" depends on changes you need


10 see if your pic gets properly displayed while other parts hasn't changed

a) if not go to history window and return to magic wand step ....adjust what's needed and repeat procedure


11 once you've got it right : save file as 32 bit tga alpha checked ,. RLE compression unchecked




here is example for managing alpha channel :


- make sure you make proper alpha channel here :

a) select visible areas
b) under select menu : save selection .... as alpha

alpha01.jpg (The link is inoperative)

alpha02.jpg (The link is inoperative)


Hope that is little clearer now .....

Z

[Doolittle81]

Thanks very much for the detailed explanation(s). I may give it a try.

I was hoping to see if some sort of simple batch program would work, but it seems that each case of Photo substitution must be individually manipulated.

In my Silent Hunter 4 Sub sim, there is a photo/file (TGA) which puts a photo in a frame on a desk in a Menu-type screen (the "Office" ). There are packages of photo images prepared by a MODder, and some by myself, which contain literally a thousand-plus or more WWII pinup style photos all pre-formatted as TGA and in the correct/standard file size and aspect ratio. It is possible to run a batch program to randomly swap out the TGA files/photos so that each time you start out the game/sim, you see a new/different photo on the desk. I'd wondered if something similar could be created for the cockpit photos, but seemingly not...

Again, thanks for the help and clarification. Hopefully this thread will be helpful to others, as well.

[fly_zo]

Thanks very much for the detailed explanation(s). I may give it a try.

I was hoping to see if some sort of simple batch program would work, but it seems that each case of Photo substitution must be individually manipulated.

In my Silent Hunter 4 Sub sim, there is a photo/file (TGA) which puts a photo in a frame on a desk in a Menu-type screen (the "Office" ). There are packages of photo images prepared by a MODder, and some by myself, which contain literally a thousand-plus or more WWII pinup style photos all pre-formatted as TGA and in the correct/standard file size and aspect ratio. It is possible to run a batch program to randomly swap out the TGA files/photos so that each time you start out the game/sim, you see a new/different photo on the desk. I'd wondered if something similar could be created for the cockpit photos, but seemingly not...

Again, thanks for the help and clarification. Hopefully this thread will be helpful to others, as well.

yeah, difference between IL2 and SH is that IL2 originally doesn't have pics in cockpits so there is no default file for it .

Anyway , if you not succeed ..... PM me and specify which cockpit you need altered and i'll come out with some kind of psd template for you ( layered photoshop file)

Z

[db605-A/S]

Wow! I am so backwards..... :?

That's the expert opinion. I have a better understanding of it now.

Thanx

[db605-A/S]

[fly_zo]

Wow! I am so backwards..... :?

That's the expert opinion. I have a better understanding of it now.

Thanx

well, my offer applies to everybody ( PM) .... it's just that i'm not using PSP , but if Photoshop file works for you , feel free to contact me ....

regards
Z


EDIT: i see you've managed it ..... so disregard above post .... nice work BTW

[Henry Skyler]

Hey guys,

I have a very dumb question.

Is this "MOD" just for planes, being downloaded from AAA or can you do this mod with every plane????

Thx guys

Beule^^

[fly_zo]

Hey guys,

I have a very dumb question.

Is this "MOD" just for planes, being downloaded from AAA or can you do this mod with every plane????

Thx guys

Beule^^

any plane which have cockpit in game ( modded or stock).... if some mods are using same cockpit, pic will be present in all of them ( like with b25 cockpit for example ...)


reg
Z

[Henry Skyler]

so it won't be possible for the Me-262A 1-a or HGII, isn't it?

[zulu64]

Is there a way to remove these pictures from the particular pit ... a stock graphic file or something ?