WIP CN SD40-2W DLC Reskin Projects

[Chacal]

I feel stupid, but I don't know what this is or how it is useful.

[Kali]

It's for repainters when you're working out where model parts are; you turn it into a texture & load the model up.

[Chacal]

*And there was light*
Last night I was looking at the chart and failed to see that squares from left to right had different colors.
I guess eyes work better when rested.

So I put numbers on this texture so that they show on the model.

[PapaXpress]

Wow this going to be handy! Thanks

[arizonachris]

Last night I was looking at the chart and failed to see that squares from left to right had different colors.

Heck, I still can't see the difference. Guess it's a good thing y'all do the designing and I just do the driving.

[roinuj]

Kali, the texture map you shared is a great idea and will come in hand on future projects.

Another question to throw out there..... how do we control the DXT setting when creating a texture?

I'm trying to make a texture for a new child object decal for another exCN but just can't seem to get the child object texture set to anything but DXT1. My first created child object (the one used on the DEXS unit ) the texture was set at DXT3 but I can not for the life of me remember how I did this. What I'm doing is:

1.) Creating the map texture in 3DC which saves out as a BMP (no option to change the compression or file format)
2.) Export to Railworks using the 3DC export plugin where I can set the image to uncompressed, lossy and lossless. I go with uncompressed.
3.) Manually convert the BMP to ACE (no option to selection compression)
4.) Create asset blueprint.

The DXT1 is driving me crazy because the 1 bit alpha channel is causing nasty colour fringing on my decal text. I didn't notice this on the DXT3 texture.

[PapaXpress]

That is not entirely correct. In 3DC you are able to load up your own textures. I tend to use PNG for mine.
Please read over this tutorial to get more ideas.
viewtopic.php?p=38349#p38349

[Kali]

The DXT conversion is done by the blueprint export. I've never made a DXT1 file with 1bit alpha, every time I've added an alpha channel and saved as Ace it's exported to DXT3 ( although I don't actually tend to pay any attention to the save-as-Ace dialog, given I usually replace the texture contents after exporting to dds anyway ). I do alphas for non-blending alpha textures using copy channel->threshold.

If you want ARGB you need to use _nm on the end of the texture filename ( logo_nm.ace ). Obviously the material has to be set up to reference that particular name too.

[roinuj]

That is not entirely correct. In 3DC you are able to load up your own textures. I tend to use PNG for mine.
Please read over this tutorial to get more ideas.
viewtopic.php?p=38349#p38349

What I was referring to was the unwrap texture template created in 3DC. I used that to create a texture template that wont get distorted because of the text in my decal.

The DXT conversion is done by the blueprint export. I've never made a DXT1 file with 1bit alpha, every time I've added an alpha channel and saved as Ace it's exported to DXT3 ( although I don't actually tend to pay any attention to the save-as-Ace dialog, given I usually replace the texture contents after exporting to dds anyway ). I do alphas for non-blending alpha textures using copy channel->threshold.

If you want ARGB you need to use _nm on the end of the texture filename ( logo_nm.ace ). Obviously the material has to be set up to reference that particular name too.

Thanks Kali, that was it. What I did the first time (which I didn't do the second) was add an alpha channel to the BMP template texture and then saved it in ACE format. Once I did that, it exported to DXT3 when the blueprint was updated. Now the only thing that I don't understand, and probably never will, I set the ACE file for 9 mips (to match the base model textures) yet the texture gets exported as DXT3 Mips 1. Don't know why but at least the alpha works and looks good. Getting closer to finishing my exCN pack. Just have to clean up the decals.

[roinuj]

Was wondering if ya got a chance to throw together one of them ELS units of GATX????

Not yet. I am working on my ex-CN SD40-2W Pack right now. Its on my to do list.

[roinuj]

Look what I found on the Eagle Ridge route. Looks like WIP Ex-CN 5315, now NHRR 5315 getting tested.

Hope to have the exCN Pack uploaded to the library next week.

[Csxgp38-2]

Looks great! Maybe you could do a fictional repaint for my future shortline. HSM Co Transportation, reporting marks HSMX. Thanks, Harrison.

[roinuj]

Just wanted to let everyone know I've announced my EX-CN Zebra Package.



Link to Freeware Forum Thread

[imnew]

Just wanted to let everyone know I've announced my EX-CN Zebra Package.



Link to Freeware Forum Thread

Awesome work !

[xianggang]

This is really nice!