Editing/Reskinning loco's with GIMP.

[Gishank]

So, I decided that seeming as the relevant locomotives that I need for my SE suburban route don't exist I'd take to reskinning some already existing loco's in order to make them fit in on the route, even if they don't actually exist there in real life. Now, I'm no stranger to reskinning and modding having worked on many projects for many games in the past but it seems I'm in a pickle, I can't seem to edit existing textures and import them back without turning them in to a artifacting mush. As such I'm asking if anyone knows what I'm doing wrong?

Step by step this is what I did;

1) Found the file I wanted to edit using RS-Tool's viewer and converted it from TS2012's default format to DDS using RS-Tool's conversion tool.
2) Edited the file in GIMP with some random black brush just so I could see if it works or not.. (there was only one layer in the image so I doubt that's the issue)
3) Imported it back using RS-Tools again.
4) Opened the file in RS-Tool's viewer to find it is an artifacting mush.

[StefanSchmidt]

I use allways RS-Bin-Tool. Please have a look here: http://www.uktrainsim.com/filelib-info. ... leid=17703.
The picture at this download is wrong, showes the ACE-Tool, but the tool itself and the descripion is not wrong, but it was for the old Railsimulator.
When your read the Item 2 select the .bin file, select the TgPCDx file and export a .DDS file.
The follow the further steps, Import is in the TGPCDX file again.
Dont forget to save the changes in RS-Bin-Tool, Click first on the disk symbol. Then close the window. You will be ask Save? Save it again. It is a little bit funny, but it works.
Do first backups from your file and try first a little modifikation.
Download is possible here without waiting: http://rail-sim.de/railsimnew/index.php ... -rsbintool
Stefan

[Gishank]

Thanks, that tool seems to have done the trick. I now have a functioning reskinned 380 in-game. Oddly enough although it's a simple test paint-job it looks quite nice.

[mikesimpson]

Just to comment on the above, RS_Tools was intended for use with Rail Simulator, for use with RailWorks, you do need to use RW_Tools.

RW_Tools will work with any .TgPcDx file which is up to 1024*1024 pixels in size. It will not work with 2048*2048 pixel pictures because RW_Tools uses the file Serz.exe as supplied by RSC to recompress the texture files and Serz.exe will not accept files of that size. (I have no idea why this restriction is enforced by RSC).

RS_Bin Tools works on the 2048*2048 pixel textures because the author was able to write a custom .dll which could handle these pictures without the use of Serz.exe

Mike

[Gishank]

Just a clarification I was refering to RW Tools when I made my original post, managed to get RW tools to import the texture back now without it destroying the image.. Although from now on (seeming as I've got it working properly now) I will be using RW Tools, I must ask as to why you say it should be used instead of RS-Bin? If the engine can handle it surely higher res textures are a good thing?