Window Banners

[Squee]

I have been having a lot of issues with the window banners on a 550 I am trying to skin. This is my first, so as much could be expected. Anyways, I am trying to change the strip of tint at the top of the windshield. With my 550, this is in the file CPIT03.dds. I followed the same steps as I did with the windows.dds file - I saved it as targa, reopened it, saved as .dds at DXT5 interpolated alpha. After all that, I was still able to see the old banner. The best I could do was DXT1 1bit alpha.. in which I was able to see both new and old banners at the same time.

Could someone please inform me of the correct, step-by-step, procedure for modifying the window banner?

Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Squee

[Squee]

I knew I should have just held off a little longer and I would have figured it out. It turns out that I overlooked an alpha layer. Whoops!

[snowy]

I knew I should have just held off a little longer and I would have figured it out. It turns out that I overlooked an alpha layer. Whoops!

Could you elaborate on that Squee as I too am having problems with banners in rFactor and GTR2. Perhaps your solution will help me. When you say you over looked an alpha layer what exactly did you overlook? How did you overlook it? Do you have to generate it or what?

Many thanks in advance Snowy

[snowy]

Squee answer me :cry:

[FBlue]

In the window file there is 4 layers. Red, Green, Blue and the Alpha. If you change the Red, Green and Blue but leave the Alpha as it was you will still see a faint image from the Alpha layer.

[snowy]

Ah ha I think I'm a step closer to understanding you. However doesn't the alpha layer change when you edit the image as a whole?

[FBlue]

I am not that great with photoshop. There might be a way to do it all at once. But every time I made a blank banner I had to do the alpha layer by it's self.

[snowy]

Thanks for that FBlue :up: I am going to have to read up on alphas :uhm: 'cause that's the only way I can see of getting my head round this. Wish I wasn't so dim :P

[Squee]

Sorry for the delayed response. FBlue nailed it on the head. In photoshop, I had changed the Red, Green and Blue layers.. but overlooked the "alpha" layer. To edit the alpha layer, simply hit Control+4. To see the different layers ,hit F7 to bring up the Channels Window(F7 again if a window just disappeared!) and then select the Layers tab.

I hope this helps!

[snowy]

That is very helpful thanks Squee, I'm just adding the finishing touches to a Saleen and that will come in very handy. :up:

[JMSpeed]

I am having a problem too with the Porsche RSR. The directions helped me edit the alpha channel so that I could add a name on the side windows.

But, the window banner is giving me some trouble. I play on cockpit mode, so I see the inside part of the banner. I was able to replicate how the outside looks on the inside, but the old "Proximus" decal is still present [before I saw this thread]:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TopSecretFC/untitled.jpg

So, I try again. This time, after seeing this thread and knowing about the alpha channel. I clear the alpha channel and paint it all black, hoping to reduce the transparency to zero, or very little if at all.

I save the image as a DXT5 interpolated file and import it back into the GTR file. I go to check it out, and the banner is totally gone now. I extract the file to see what the problem is, and now the alpha channel is totally gone, while the RGB, red, green, and blue channels all still remain.

How do I go about this?

[sunalp2]

How do I go about this?

Make up a brand new banner. Just select NEW in photoshop, and then make the template size 36.12 x 4.52 cm. (these dimensions are for the 996. You could just extract one from the car you are doing and copy those dimensions). Then do the first colour fill, and set the opacity to 45% and do the same with whatever you write on it. You can play around with the opacity until you get it see through as you like it. And save it as DXT5.

Then just swap it into the GTR file.

If you want me to send you my one, just PM me with your email address, and I'll send it.

EDIT:

The word NEW went missing.

[JMSpeed]

Make up a brand new banner. Just select in photoshop, and then make the template size 36.12 x 4.52 cm. (these dimensions are for the 996. You could just extract one from the car you are doing and copy those dimensions). Then do the first colour fill, and set the opacity to 45% and do the same with whatever you write on it. You can play around with the opacity until you get it see through as you like it. And save it as DXT5.

Then just swap it into the GTR file.

If you want me to send you my one, just PM me with your email address, and I'll send it.

Thanks :up: I will try this and let you know incase I need to get your file :)