window transparency

[yankeegolf]

To my liking, the front windows are not transparent enough in fs 9 (in fs 10, it is OK). You can assess it when you open the window.Do you know if there is a way to increase the window transparency by tweaking a file?
Thanks

[Brice]

Perhaps with decreasing Brightness of textures (VCP_Gx in fsx) ....

EDIT:
Or perhaps only the alpha channel ...

[yankeegolf]

hi,
oups, I don't know how to use those tools!

[Brice]

For example :
[img]
http://broquere.brice.free.fr/attacheme ... arency.jpg
[/img]

- Open the texture with ImageTool (SDK)
- [View]>[Alpha Channel]
- Take a screenshot
- Paste in 2D software
- Cut and decrease brightness
- Save as bmp (alpha_temp for example)
- Open the texture with DxtBmp (SDK)
- Import Alpha Channel (alpha_temp here)
- Flip Image and Alpha
- Export as dds3
- Import this dds image in ImageTool
- [Image]>[Format]>[DXT5]
- Save (MM_DO27VCP_G1.bmp for fsx)

I don't know how do it shorter.

[yankeegolf]

hi,
thank you for your reply. I guess that this modification applies to what is being displayed and not to the window texture only. Am I wrong?
The ideal modification would be to swap the original window file with a new one.
I am afraid it is too technical for me.

[Brice]

No this modification is valid only for the front windows of the DO-27, the other windows are on different textures (for fsx in any case).

If you want you can post your fs9 file and I will modify it, it's very simple (if it's the same technique).

[yankeegolf]

hi brice
thank you for being helpful.
I may look stupid but which texture file contains the front window texture? and as for being even more stupid how is it possible to upload a file to this forum?
On this forum it is possible to download a repaint kit. Can I use it?
I have read somewhere on this forum that the fsx and fs9 textures are the same but now cannot find it again.
thanks again

[yankeegolf]

hi again
yes I have found the texture file. how come did you know it was this file???
now i have to find the image tool...I am nearly there (not yet!!!)

[Brice]

Hi, Image tool is in ... SDK\Environment Kit\Terrain SDK\.
And then you have to follow the "procedure" that I've given above.
To upload a file on the forum, you have to upload it on an personal web page, otherwise I don't know either.

[yankeegolf]

hi brice,
I succeeded!!!
I used a different method than yours but used it as a basis
I only used dxtbmp which I downloaded. I opened the texture file with dxtbmp. From what I saw there were two "laywers", one for the picture to be displayed and one for the transparency that you want to give to it. I exported the picture into MSpaint and deleted the inside of the window with the rubber tool. I did not modify the transparency. I saved the modified texture file and pasted in the do27 texture file instead of the original file which I saved beforehand of course. Now I have cristal clear front windows (the cracks are still there but I will put up with them for the time being). Much better for sight seeing now.
I have to admit that in reality aircraft windows are not totally transparent but I think that the digital aviation guys overdid it on this one.
Thank you for your help. I am surprised at myself being able to modify an aircraft because I didn't know anything about it before you gave me some tips.
(Now I have another aircraft to modify, the realair s 260 for which the propeller is much too visible to my liking and to what I remmember from real aircraft flying. I asked for their support on that but they said that nothing could be done about it and on top of that that I was the only one to complain... )
thanks again.

[level135]

Hi
I'm would like to have a cleaner windscreen on the Do 27 as well, but I don't really have the time to make it by myself....
And a bit lazy too.
Would you share this modified file ?
Or do you know if it is downloadable somwhere ?

Regards

[yankeegolf]

hi,
I like my new window. It is great for VFR. I made another file in which I only changed the transparency of the Alpha file and I deleted the cracks. The only drawback is that I don't have as many oil stains as before but it is not an issue at all for me.

I could share it but there is a legal issue because I modified the work of the digital aviation guys. I have to get their agreement before uploading it somewhere. We will see what their reaction will be when they read this post. Then I will have to find a site to upload it. Maybe I could sent it to digital aviation and they could make it available on this forum.

[level135]

ok,
thank's for your answer.
I wish they would agree.
So wait and see
regards