Repainting

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:07 pm

I just downloaded the BB_AC4400_WB.zip from the engines building block thread and am trying to repaint it. To do that I need to get into the FPK file to get to the dds file right? if so how do I open an FPK file? then I have DDS converter to to get into and out off the dds files, after I figure out how to use it. Then the engine should work, right?
Thanks

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:24 pm

Yes, that is where it is.

You want to use PakBuild and read this:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=4592670

Attached is the folder for that Engine.

DDS Converter 2 is a good program for converting to and from DDS files.

As to it working, be sure to change the name on the DDS file, the NIF and the KFM, and the names inside those files. NifSkope is the program to use for that.

Look thru the forum for Tutorials. Those are probably Stickies.

If you run into a rock, ask for help!

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:48 pm

Thanks

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:16 am

I just converted one of the the dds files to a bmp now the file has been blended together which file should I convert to?

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:40 am

If I understand you, you converted DDS to BMP, edited it and need to know what to convert it to ? You always need to go back to DDS. You should have a single layer for converting to DDS tho others may work.

From there you rename the KFM, the NIF (not the dummies) and the diff.dds files to something like ac4400_sp_01. You then go into the NIF file and change the diff'dds to match. You then go into the KFM and change the 'NIF file name' to match the NIF file name (

). Be sure to save each time, and when you do the KFM save, ignore the statement that it didn't work, it does!

Edit the XML file and place all the goodies where they belong. When you get it running in the map, you might want to do a screen shot to use as an event DDS. And to post here for us to see.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:18 pm

I have not edited the bmp and I know it needs to be a dds when i am finnished, I just want to know if i should edit the file as a bmp, and thanks for the clarification on the name changes to the KFM, NIF and diff.dds, was going to ask about those.

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:28 pm

Well, I just prefer to cover all bases when giving info and not assume a person knows things.

As to file types to use, TIJER says a TGA or a PNG are best because they don;t loose as much detail. It can also depend on what the program you're working with can handle. I've always used GIMP myself, but that's just me.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:39 pm

Also, where is the fuel tank mapped too?

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:00 pm

I've had problems like this before when editing some DDSs. All you can do is place a mark in the gray and load it into NifSkope to see if you found it, and go from there. It can be time consuming, but if you want to change a color, you have to do it.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:17 am

Where is nifskope?

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:24 am

Here:

http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/NifSkope

and Here:

http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/NifTools

Will give you data, programs and tutorials.

Of course you can ask here also

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:06 am

What file do I load into nifskope: AC440bwarbonnet_santafe, AC440bwarbonnet_santafe.kfm or AC4400_dummies?

snoopy55 · Post by **snoopy55** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:20 am

For your graphic editing, just load the NIF file. That will give you a 3d view of the Engine.

Later when you have it the way you want it, you will have a few other things to do. You need to gather all the files used in the AC440bwarbonnet_santafe for when you do name changes on them. I'll look into it and do a short set of instructions for you.

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:00 pm

Thanks

Burlington_Northern_3140 · Post by **Burlington_Northern_3140** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:20 pm

I'm still having trouble with Pakbuild and didn't really find or understand the directions where the link led. I would like to try repainting something smaller like the GP38 and see if the GP38 is simpler, although I can't get to the dds files to see.