Atomic Systems

Working with the same idea, this weekend I have been building this...



Should be an easy task to take the renders from this model and apply them to a simple (low poly) version of the same model!!!

Andrew, CME.
Bodgit & Scarper Engineering

I've now rendered some of the model and created some textures, when added to the simple model this is the result.



Much more work to do, but I am very pleased with the results so far.

Andrew, CME.
Bodgit & Scarper Engineering

And with the loco on test as a wagon...



Andrew, CME.
Bodgit & Scarper Engineering

Nice

Ben

Continued WIP.



Andrew, CME.
Bodgit & Scarper Engineering

Looks nice, but I would suggest to skip the alpha channel, it degrades the textures horribly.

/Jonatan

Interesting point, Jonatan.
I am using alphas to cut down on ploys (model currently stands at 570) but I did not realise that they degraded in the Sim?
Have taken another screenie, this time with the alpha switch off and the ace saved without alpha.



What do you think of the difference?
You never stop learning with MSTS!!!

Andrew, CME.
Bodgit & Scarper Engineering

Andrew, my advice is too steer clear of gradients, or gradiented surfaces. Whilst they look good in Photoshop or whatever, they generally look horrible in MSTS.

Plus if your model is only 570 polys, i'd recommend you put a few aside for windows and doors, will look nicer.

Looks alot better than with alpha, Andrew. You can use transparency mask instead of alpha mask, it will let you have open windows.

And 570? Heh my models are way up in their 20,000s now... atleast the steamers.

/Jonatan

Hello, Everyone
I've managed acceptable gradients by adding a value of noise to the base color layer then layering various weathering effects (with no noise)over that. A value of 2.51 seems good in Photoshop 7.1. Save a copy as 32 bit tga, then use Tgatool2 to export ace (-trans). It seems to work better with larger texture assignments, but my GE16 tonner was built with 512x512s and came out not too bad.
Best To All

OK, thanks for the advise guys (not really sure that I understand most of it!!!)
This project was started because I had found an easy (and fun) way of making textures. Namely, building the full 3D model, making renders of the model and finally applying the renders to a simplified mesh of the model. This is only because my texture creation is second to .!!!
The need to keep the poly count low was only for the same old reason in MSTS.
My real big question is, what is the difference between the (alpha) and the (-trans) save in TGATools?
tagsdm (???) your model looks absolutely stunning.

Actually, I think that I know the answer to my question. Does the (alpha) save allow for semi-transparent windows (shades of grey)?
The shot below is with the (-trans) save in TGATools.



Andrew, CME.
Bodgit & Scarper Engineering

Thank you, Andrew. Adding a noise value has been the key to minimizing the color banding effect for me. Yes, the (-trans) alpha is either on or off, that is to say there are no levels of transparency. I believe it's a 1 bit alpha. The other choice I think is 8 bit, giving you a few levels of transparency. In another project I made window "glass" with a seperate poly, sandwiched between the inner and outer cab walls using the ace (alpha) - not dxt option. That made the window semi-transparent. Also, TGATools2 has been handling 2048x2048 textures very well for me.
Many Thanks

New post. see below.










Andrew, CME.
Bodgit & Scarper Engineering

And with a the tiny amount of noise added.



Andrew, CME.
Bodgit & Scarper Engineering

Hello Andrew,

Wow, I'd say that's much improved over the earlier color banded textures, wouldn't you? A little practice and makes perfect. It'll be a pleasure to drive that little fellow around when it's ready.

Though you may never choose to drive it, you can get the GE 16 tonner to view in Shape Viewer and use as a reference tool. It's at Elvas Tower,

http://www.elvastower.com/

Click on File Library then navigate to MSTSaddons>Traction>Light Electrics then scroll down to GE 16. I made two versions, one with a shorter trolley pole for those routes with a 6.2 m pole height. You'll have to register, but it's free to do so.

Good Luck!