Car Skins

[KG04GT]

I very new to this sim. I have a few flight sims and have created and modified skins in them but I don't seem to have what it take to do that on my computer. Can anyone tell me what prgram or programs I need to do this.

Oh and has anyone thought about old Trans Am cars?

Thankx KG04GT

[SuperPask]

Hello, welcome aboard!

As a (modest) skinner myself, I've already give a hand to someone with the same needs as you in a previous thread here on this forum :

http://www.nogripracing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6172

Read well this thread and all the links I've listed. All the main information you would need are in there. If you have any further question please let me know. Been into flight simulation too, and I've also a little perwonnal experience on plane repainting and scenery designing. You'll see that skinning in GTL is a bit simmilar.

Good luck!

[KG04GT]

Thank you I can now see them but can not mod them. I do not have paint shop nor photosshop so Im still kind of lost

[KG04GT]

Ok I have the dds converter now but I don't know how to convert the templet to a gtl file pleas help

[SuperPask]

Originally Posted by KG04GT

Thank you I can now see them but can not mod them. I do not have paint shop nor photosshop so Im still kind of lost

Originally Posted by KG04GT

I have a few flight sims and have created and modified skins in them

You said you've already made so repaints in your flight sims. How did you do without any photo or paint design software? :confused:

Whatever :

1. You don't need Paintshop Pro or Photoshop exclusively for skinning, other softwares, even freeware like The Gimp can go well. It's just that with Paintshop Pro or Photoshop, you'll be able to do finer things because they got more functions.
2. Paintshop Pro or Photoshop are basically sharewares. Therefore you can use the free demo version for skinning.

Originally Posted by KG04GT

Ok I have the dds converter now but I don't know how to convert the templet to a gtl file pleas help

I said :

Originally Posted by SuperPask

Read well this thread and all the links I've listed. All the main information you would need are in there.

I'm very kind, so I'm gonna answer this question, even if it is written in the links I provided... The DDS converter is a plugin, which means that it doesn't work alone. If need a photo/paint software to make it work into it.

By the way, it's not aimed at you, but I'd like to take the opportunity of your thread to make things clear. You're not the first one to do so, and I hope others will read that, just because I'm getting fed up with a few things :

I do like to help but if people don't take the time to have a look at all the info I've given to them, then I'd feel like repeating myself. When I started skinning, I first looked for information by myself, tried things here and there. Then when I really got stuck I asked for questions.

No problem to give a hand, but if it's to make job for others whereas they got all the info they need in front of them then it wouldn't be worth asking me. Nowadays we got the internet which gathers more information that a man could ever get in his whole life just 40 years ago. It is easy to use (type "GTL car skinning" in Google and you'll see) and most of the time you end up with too many information, even more than expected or needed. Of course sometimes you can't find exactly what you are looking for. And then this is time to ask people who know.



Just take time to look how it goes by yourself with all the links I've given to you. I've already came across people that looked in need like you but who were actually very lazy, asking me questions whereas I had already told them answers! In fact I guess that if I kept answering them, I would have even made skins for them, and they may also have uploaded them under their name, who knows? So, here's my warning to all of lazy guys : if you keep this way, I will just stop helping. And that would be a pity for those who really need help in their own work.

[KarlosDaJackal]

Well said Pask,
I'm not that interested in skining, but i thought I'd have a look to see if I could do it with the guides out there, and even using the GIMP instead of photoshop.

In the last 20 mins of web browsing I've figured out
1. All pasks guides sofar are very informative
2. The GIMP can be used with psd files
3. You don't need to get photoshop to use the plugin, you can do the conversion from TGA to DDS with a command line switch
4. There is a plugin for the GIMP that can OPEN and SAVE DDS files directly :cool:

Who knows I might download it all and try make a car completely with some FLOSS software, or if number 4 works out well, I could just draw a smile face on the Saleen as a test

Heres some links for those so inclinded.
http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/topic.php?t=88&start=1 (see last post)
http://registry.gimp.org/plugin?id=4816 (The DDS plugin)

[SuperPask]

Thanks for your message Karlos! This is what I call further more info indeed! And good info that I even didn't know myself! :p

[KarlosDaJackal]

Woohoo.
So I managed to paint a smiley face on my porsche with the GIMP.

This is how it happened.

1. I realised I need a car to paint so I'd have to make one
2. I copied a exsiting car in the GTR2\GameData\Teams\NGT\Porsche 996 GT3 RSR folder the car/folder I copied was "Autorlando Sport" and I renamed it "Karlos Sport"
3. I edited the .car file inside to change the car number from Number=04066 to Number=04067
4. I also changed Team="Autorlando Sport" to Team="Karlos Sport"
5. I checked in game and my car showed on the list as car 67 but obviously look the same as the original.
6. I then renamed all the other files in the folder that started with 04066 to start with 04067
7. I went into the game thinking my car would look the same but instead it had gone completely blue. Something was wrong.
8. I read a post in the GTR2 Mods thread (thanks JesterGT) that said basically the .GTR (or .GTL) is just a container for the .DDS files. So I'd have to export the .DDS files hidden inside the .GTR file, rename them 04067 instead of 04066, and then import them back into the .GTR container (what a pain )
9. After all that my car now had proper textures again (no longer blue)
10. I re-exported the body.dds file from the .gtr file, and opened the .dds directly with the GIMP
11. I painted a smiliey face on the roof and saved it (i got an error but it did save)
12. I re-imported my edited DDS file into the .GTR file
13. I opened up GTR2 and behold my graffiti Porsche (see attachement)

Like pask said all the info is out there, on this great site and any questions that need answering are a quick search away. I'm not that interested in skining and even I figured it out. I even manged to do it without ever touching photoshop.

If I was going to become a skinner I'd probably download the photoshop templates or create some GIMP ones, but I can't draw

I leave the skining to the pro's, but even the noobs can have easily have a go, its not hard. It took me less than 90 mins to download and install everything, change all the files, search no-grip when I had an issue and graffiti up my car.

Wannabie Skinners don't be lazy, go for it

[KG04GT]

Well thank you for the info. The skining for my flight sims don't use dds file or any thing like that . I just use the window picture and fax viewer or microsoft digital image and save as a bmp. These for this game are alittle more involed but thank you for the help and sorry for the trouble

[KarlosDaJackal]

Originally Posted by KG04GT

Well thank you for the info. The skining for my flight sims don't use dds file or any thing like that . I just use the window picture and fax viewer or microsoft digital image and save as a bmp. These for this game are alittle more involed but thank you for the help and sorry for the trouble

I wish it was that easy
Give it a go anyway, its not that hard it just takes a while to setup yourself up to the point where you can start to think about actually painting.

[SuperPask]

Originally Posted by KG04GT

Well thank you for the info. The skining for my flight sims don't use dds file or any thing like that . I just use the window picture and fax viewer or microsoft digital image and save as a bmp. These for this game are alittle more involed but thank you for the help and sorry for the trouble

You're right indeed, here it's DDS textures and not BMP. And you did not cause any trouble at all! The one who should apologize is me actually : I've been bugged too many times by other guys who are very lazy, so that your questions arrived at the bad moment. I just took advantage of it to say loudly my opinion. But I don't think that you belong to this category of buggers

Sure that working on BMP files can be done by many more means than DDS, and I confess that I had a bit of pain myself when I started skinning for GTL. But with time I realized that it is quite similar actually. For example, DDS and BMP compression : DXT compression is used like for Flight Simulator, at several levels as well (DXT1, DXT2...). You can see that by opening GTL files : when you click on a DDS in GEditor, you can see what kind DXT has been used, and the level of mip maps too (like in FS here also). This is what I advice you to do at first before starting your first skin : look into files of default cars or standalone cars that you have downloaded. A good start to study how it goes. It's true that reading posts and documents is way good, but sometimes you can get bored or lost. Just take it step by step

By the way, about repainting in Flight Sim, I had never thought of your method. So you see, you also got some knowledge to share. That's why you're welcome here Well done : you've taught me about something! Sharing knowledge and experience is the best way to learn together.

@Karlos : well done mate! your tuto is way nice and easy to understand

[KG04GT]

I guees the part that confusses me is the converting from a tga to the dds. I try the save as and I don't have that option. With my flight sim I don't get to involed. I just mod exsisting skins or add things to them. and save as and there ready to go. And the commands are really simple also. I just type what I want into the note pad and its set.


example[AirToAir]
Loadout[05].WeaponType=SUU23
Loadout[05].Quantity=1
Loadout[06].WeaponType=AIM-7E-4
Loadout[06].Quantity=1
Loadout[07].WeaponType=AIM-7E-4
Loadout[07].Quantity=1
Loadout[08].WeaponType=AIM-7E-4
Loadout[08].Quantity=1
Loadout[09].WeaponType=AIM-7E-4
Loadout[09].Quantity=1
Loadout[10].WeaponType=AIM-9P-3
Loadout[10].Quantity=1
Loadout[11].WeaponType=AIM-9P-3
Loadout[11].Quantity=1
Loadout[12].WeaponType=AIM-9P-3
Loadout[12].Quantity=1
Loadout[13].WeaponType=AIM-9P-3
Loadout[13].Quantity=1


[AircraftData]
AircraftFullName=F-4S Phantom II
AircraftDataFile=F-4S_data.ini
CockpitDataFile=F-4S_cockpit.ini
HangarScreen=F-4S_hangar.bmp
LoadingScreen=F-4S_Loading.bmp
LoadoutImage=F-4B_loadout.bmp
LoadoutFile=F-4S_loadout.ini
AvionicsDLL=Avionics60.dll
AvionicsDataFilename=F-4S_avionics.ini

[LOD001]
Filename=F-4S.lod
Distance=8000

[Shadow]
CastShadow=TRUE
ShadowLOD=F-4S_shadow.shd
ShadowType=1
ShadowCastDist=10000
MaxVisibleDistance=400

[DamageTexture]
DamagedPostFix=_holes.tga
DestroyedPostFix=_shredded.tga

[TextureSet001]
Directory=301Ferris
Name=VF-301 Ferris
Nation=USN
Squadron=VF301
Specular=0.300000
Glossiness=0.750000
Reflection=0.000000

[TextureSet002]
Directory=USMCGrey1
Name=USMC Grey
Nation=USMC
Squadron=VMFA333
Specular=0.300000
Glossiness=0.750000
Reflection=0.000000

[TextureSet003]
Directory=USNGrey1
Name=USN Grey
Nation=USN
Squadron=VF31
Specular=0.300000
Glossiness=0.750000
Reflection=0.000000

[KG04GT]

Ok Sorry for being a pain. I have done every thing that the threads have said to do but my skin still does not work. The only thing I can think of is that Im not converting correctly. I have the DDS Converter 2 and followed the steps from the thread but my converter is a little diff but I did what I could. So I am still a little confused

[KG04GT]

Ok never mind I finaly got it. Man this is aloy more involed than my flight sim. BUt I got it now. THanks for all the help guys

[KarlosDaJackal]

Originally Posted by KG04GT

Ok never mind I finaly got it. Man this is aloy more involed than my flight sim. BUt I got it now. THanks for all the help guys

Good Stuff, So when do we see a picture of your work?

[SuperPask]

Originally Posted by KG04GT

I guees the part that confusses me is the converting from a tga to the dds. I try the save as and I don't have that option. With my flight sim I don't get to involed. I just mod exsisting skins or add things to them. and save as and there ready to go. And the commands are really simple also. I just type what I want into the note pad and its set.


example[AirToAir]
Loadout[05].WeaponType=SUU23
Loadout[05].Quantity=1
Loadout[06].WeaponType=AIM-7E-4
Loadout[06].Quantity=1
Loadout[07].WeaponType=AIM-7E-4
Loadout[07].Quantity=1
Loadout[08].WeaponType=AIM-7E-4
Loadout[08].Quantity=1
Loadout[09].WeaponType=AIM-7E-4
Loadout[09].Quantity=1
Loadout[10].WeaponType=AIM-9P-3
Loadout[10].Quantity=1
Loadout[11].WeaponType=AIM-9P-3
Loadout[11].Quantity=1
Loadout[12].WeaponType=AIM-9P-3
Loadout[12].Quantity=1
Loadout[13].WeaponType=AIM-9P-3
Loadout[13].Quantity=1


[AircraftData]
AircraftFullName=F-4S Phantom II
AircraftDataFile=F-4S_data.ini
CockpitDataFile=F-4S_cockpit.ini
HangarScreen=F-4S_hangar.bmp
LoadingScreen=F-4S_Loading.bmp
LoadoutImage=F-4B_loadout.bmp
LoadoutFile=F-4S_loadout.ini
AvionicsDLL=Avionics60.dll
AvionicsDataFilename=F-4S_avionics.ini

[LOD001]
Filename=F-4S.lod
Distance=8000

[Shadow]
CastShadow=TRUE
ShadowLOD=F-4S_shadow.shd
ShadowType=1
ShadowCastDist=10000
MaxVisibleDistance=400

[DamageTexture]
DamagedPostFix=_holes.tga
DestroyedPostFix=_shredded.tga

[TextureSet001]
Directory=301Ferris
Name=VF-301 Ferris
Nation=USN
Squadron=VF301
Specular=0.300000
Glossiness=0.750000
Reflection=0.000000

[TextureSet002]
Directory=USMCGrey1
Name=USMC Grey
Nation=USMC
Squadron=VMFA333
Specular=0.300000
Glossiness=0.750000
Reflection=0.000000

[TextureSet003]
Directory=USNGrey1
Name=USN Grey
Nation=USN
Squadron=VF31
Specular=0.300000
Glossiness=0.750000
Reflection=0.000000

Yeah I know what you mean. I don't know how it goes in other softwares, but in Photoshop, you use the DDS pluggin when you save you work : you click 'save as' and then choose the file format you want to export to - DDS here. When you click 'save', then the plugin window is displayed.

About car configs, you got a similar file in each car folder which is a .CAR file. It works a bit the same as flight sim ones, but features are listed differently though. The original CAR files are encrypted, but you can download them without encryption here in the download section (NoGrip home / Downloads / GTL / Misc files). Open this downloaded files with notepad and look at them. There's a line called 'genstring', wich is the key for texturing. Genstring is a bunch of numbers, which amount vary from a car to another (115 for one, 14471 for another one etc). For each car, each number corresponds to a parameter (color of pilot's helmet, wheels textures etc). I'm not that keen on genstring. I've found, with the help of another skinner that if you change a number it changes a parameter. But I don't know more for the moment. I came across a webpage talking about it, I just have to find it again and then I'll let you know about it.

About texturing, you got 2 options with DDS : simple skin or standalone. For the first one, you will just put new modified DDS in the car folder and that's all. The probelm is that this car won't be displayed with original skins anymore. You keep that car and just change color in a way. For a standalone, you change skin but also GTL files, which gather all textures of the car. In fact, you create a copy of an existing car (with different number) with your new skins inside new GTL files and new CAR file as well. By this way you got a new car of that type that is available and that you can buy in game, and your original cars are kept safe.

GTL folders and files for cars

Here's in th pics below how GTL folders are put together and especially car folders and files (pic 1). Let's take for example the Shelby GT350 (folder name highlighted in blue in pic 1). By clicking on the folder named Shelby GT350, we can see what is on pic 2.

First, there are folders named with numbers. The default numbers for the GT350 are 807 and 880, which would be the only numbers you got if you haven't add any standalone cars downloaded here at NoGrip or elsewhere. In my GT350 folder, you can see that there 2 other number folders : 11MD and GL01. They are addon standalone cars. 11MD is the folder for Mark Donahue's GT350 (one that I've made and available here) and GL01 stands for General Lee GT350 (by YTANGUY, available here). We'll see how it goes in number folder later on.

So here in the GT350 root folder, you can also see files : SVM and GTL files (maybe you've noticed that my pcs are in French by the way hehe). SVM files have nothing to do with skins, so don't pay attention to them here - I guess there rely on tracks where this type of car have raced so far. The files that are important for you are GTL files. Maybe you don't have any icon related to these files. If you have installed GEditor like me, you should see the same program icons than mine on the pics. Take a look at these GTL files (their name are enugh explicit). You can see that they are in the root folder, which means that they stand for common stuff for all GT350 cars. If you got GEditor, click on one of them and then you should see DDS textures.

Now click on 807 folder (we'll take this car as example). You got what's on pic 3 below. You can see then 4 types of files : GTL (car model data as we've already seen), BIK (the little trailer video you see in game when you choose a car), CAR (config file of the car, for default cars there are encrypted but you can have them readable with notepad if you download the ones here) and TGA (stand for car icon when you choose or buy a car in game). For any car in game, default original ones and addon ones, you always have these basic files.

Each GTL gathers data for specific parts of the car, and also same parts but with different resolution for textures. Open the GTL files with GEditor and you'll understand. You'll see that there always are DDS (textures) and GMT (model data). If you only make a new skin for the GT350 #807, you will just put your new DDS (keeping same names that the origianl ones) in the 807 folder. On the other hand, if you want to make a standalone GT350, you'll need to create a new number folder and modify all the files (GTL, BIK, CAR, TGA). And, using GEditor, you'll put your new DDS in the modified GTL files). But no need to go farther for the moment. I advice you to make just new skin for a default car of your choice first, just to understand well how it goes.

This is all for the moment, I think you got enough material in my little tutorial above to get started well I guess that with this tutorial plus all the links we gave you and a few tries you should find by yourself how it goes to make a whole standalone car

Also, if you want to make skins, you should download car templates here for TC-65 cars, here for GTC-65 cars and here for GTC-TC--76 cars.

Last tip : download a few addon standalones/skins and see how cars are made, it's good learning.

Good luck, good work, and remember : take your time, don't rush and it's gonna be alright

[KG04GT]

Thank you very much. I did my first one last night. I modified one and its pretty cool. So thanks for all the help again and when I can get some good pics of the shop I'll post them. I just have to be carefull not to take any that I might get in trouble for. Top secrect thing you know ha ha.

[SuperPask]

Originally Posted by KG04GT

Thank you very much. I did my first one last night. I modified one and its pretty cool. So thanks for all the help again and when I can get some good pics of the shop I'll post them. I just have to be carefull not to take any that I might get in trouble for. Top secrect thing you know ha ha.

Good to know about it Keep up this way, and yes you're right, don't tell too much, we all like surprises!