Simviation Forum - Two Questions

Apr 9^th, 2007 at 11:11am

JonMich Offline
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Hey everyone,

I have two questions:

-How do I make glass that looks like the glass that is on the default FSX aircraft? Over the past month, I have been trying to make glass and I have tried everything that I can think of like all the settings in the Gmax material editor and diffuse, spec and alpha colors with little success at making something that even comes close to the default aircraft. Cry

The information that comes with the SDK while ok does not help me, as it only confuses me more. Roll Eyes

I have also read several posts about glass but it seems like I am getting different results than others are. Also, the glass that I am talking about on the default aircraft is the glass that can be seen from the exterior of the aircraft.

-The second question that I have is how do I remove the background color from the gauges in the VC? I have a HUD that is supposed to be transparent but the background color that is listed in the panel cfg VC section still shows up.

Cheers,
Jon

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Reply #1 - Apr 9^th, 2007 at 11:18am

Brett_Henderson Offline
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I've been struggling with glass in FSX too. I'm getting close, but I know what you mean. To get the WHOLE galss effect (like default planes).. you need all those pesky bitmaps.. not just a material (or bitmap with alpha).. I'm sure the specualr bitmap adds to the glass effect, and the bump map might too.

I for one, wouldn't mind if this thread became lengthy and informative Wink

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Reply #2 - Apr 9^th, 2007 at 8:18pm

JonMich Offline
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Posts: 135

Brett_Henderson wrote on Apr 9^th, 2007 at 11:18am:

I've been struggling with glass in FSX too. I'm getting close, but I know what you mean. To get the WHOLE galss effect (like default planes).. you need all those pesky bitmaps.. not just a material (or bitmap with alpha).. I'm sure the specualr bitmap adds to the glass effect, and the bump map might too.

I for one, wouldn't mind if this thread became lengthy and informative Wink

Hey Brett,

This is as close as I have come to getting glass that looks like the default.

I have tried playing with the Spec map and alphas and also the bump map which does not seem to make much difference. Changing the blend settings can result in some interesting glass….but nothing I have done has a perfect result.

And the quest for the elusive glass begins……as I look in the mirror to see if I have any hair left. Sad

Cheers,
Jon

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Reply #3 - Apr 10^th, 2007 at 12:10am

CAFedm Offline
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Your glass looks very good as it is! Although not the exact shade and specularity of the default aircraft, here is an effect I settled on...working in FSDS3 it seems fairly uncomplicated, as tweaking the part properties, texture and specularity are all it takes. Again, I don't know if this would be helpful for GMAX projects, but anything's worth a try. It might be a good idea to download Martin Wright's MDLmat. This is a material editor program that permits manipulating alpha channels and specularity of part properties after a model has been built, but before compling in Makemdl, so you can make adjustments quickly and test them out without much effort.

As for your HUD question - is your background colour PURE black? If not it won't be rendered as transparent. Once you get your HUD operational, if you have a free moment to post a quick how-to on making it, I would really appreciate it.

Brian

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Reply #4 - Apr 10^th, 2007 at 12:48am

SkyNoz Offline
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Keeps looking better after each update Jon, I would work with more color in your alpha, I haven't done much testing with FSX but I know for sure in FS9, if you have a window texture which is for example green or any color, it will show on the object, with the alpha it should add a metallic property well anyways. I hope I make sense for you.

Project Kfir!&&&&My Gmax page&&Aircraft modeler/Aircarft painter&&&&Aye the key!&&[GeneralEngineData]&&//0=Piston, 1=Jet, 2=None, 3=Helo-Turbine, 4=Rocket, 5=Turboprop

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Reply #5 - Apr 10^th, 2007 at 1:59am

JonMich Offline
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I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

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Thanks for the replies, I think I found something that might work for me. Smiley

Here are the settings that I used.

Diffuse = 75, 73, 64 / Alpha = 0, 0, 0,

Specular = 168, 248, 239 / Alpha = 255, 255, 255

And these settings in Gmax material editor

And there is more!!!

Just a little more tweeking and I think it will work.

CAFedm wrote on Apr 10^th, 2007 at 12:10am:

As for your HUD question - is your background colour PURE black? If not it won't be rendered as transparent. Once you get your HUD operational, if you have a free moment to post a quick how-to on making it, I would really appreciate it.

[img]

As for the HUD, I did not make it, but I think I know the problem with it. I just need to contact the designer and see if I am right.

Cheers,
Jon

(Running to the store to buy some supper-glue to glue hair back on head.......forget the super-glue.....and the hair.......just get a case of beer. Smiley

)

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