A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

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jmacnamara
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A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by jmacnamara »

When my massive re-skinning project reached the plane stage, it hit a snag. Dwights Camo Sprayshop doesn't support planes in its current incarnation. Frustration quickly gave way to problem solving and within a couple of minutes I had a solution.

Split plane images files into a format supported by DCS, use DCS to apply the skins and finally reassemble the split files into a file that Panzer Corps could use. Now to code it. There were a couple of minor obstacles, mainly the position of the small icon when DCS applies a skin and when DCS fills its units combobox, but some repositioning solved that easily enough.

Here's a screenshot of the program:
PcPlaneIconTool.jpg
PcPlaneIconTool.jpg (33.92 KiB) Viewed 4092 times
Here's a screenshot of the before images. Basically, my program processes a folder indicated by the user. It takes all plane image files and splits them. The split files can then be used by DCS.
split_files.jpg
split_files.jpg (81.66 KiB) Viewed 4092 times
Here's a screenshot of the after images. DCS has rendered two files and my program has joined them into a single file, ready for use within Panzer Corps. Again, my program processes a folder of the users choice, in this case my DCS output folder.
joined_files.jpg
joined_files.jpg (69.81 KiB) Viewed 4092 times
Included is my program, including the source folder. Feel free to change or just look. See the post below.

[Edit: Crappy Rapidshare link removed]

I hope some of you will find this of use.
Last edited by jmacnamara on Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jmacnamara
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 251/1
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:27 am

Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by jmacnamara »

This post will always contain the most up-to-date versions of the program and the source code.

The program:
PcPlaneIconTool.rar
(65.54 KiB) Downloaded 173 times
The source code:
PcPlaneIconTool_Source.rar
(122.78 KiB) Downloaded 175 times
All airplane graphics (*) will be correctly split into DCS compliants formats, and after rendering by DCS, the program will rejoin all files into a Panzer Corps compliant airplane image. Please note, you will have to supply the Masks yourself, just as before with only DCS.

(*) The exception is the flying V1 graphics, whose original contains a transparent ghost pixel that triggers my program's check if a wing goes out of bounds. Just delete any file that has no corresponding mask file split. Only the V1 as far as I'm aware, although I have only tried German units.
Last edited by jmacnamara on Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jmacnamara
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 251/1
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz  251/1
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:27 am

Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by jmacnamara »

The Me323 Problem has been fixed. I'll wait a day before I re-upload the latest version, in case other silly bugs pop up.
Me323_Gigant.jpg
Me323_Gigant.jpg (17.07 KiB) Viewed 4055 times
iceFlame
Staff Sergeant - Kavallerie
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Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by iceFlame »

Wow! Sounds very promising. This should help a lot of people... Thanks for taking the time to develop a solution for planes. :)
Image
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McGuba
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Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by McGuba »

+1 big thanks. It will truly make custom aircraft icons easier to make. I remember I took quite a while when I tried to redraw a plane icon manually.
ImageImage
slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=147&t=47985
slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=147&t=36969
jmacnamara
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 251/1
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz  251/1
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:27 am

Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by jmacnamara »

All done now. :-)
iceFlame
Staff Sergeant - Kavallerie
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Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by iceFlame »

jmacnamara wrote:All done now. :-)
Nice. Thanks for the update. :)
Image
Go deep here: slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=147&t=49469
rezaf
Colonel - Fallschirmjäger
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Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by rezaf »

Ah well, I didn't know people were still using my old piece of software.
I had an improved version prepared which also was capable of supporting aircraft skins ... I'll try to remember digging out the sourcecode and see if I can post it.
In the meantime, thanks for expending the effort JMacnamara. 8)
_____
rezaf
jmacnamara
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 251/1
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Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:27 am

Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by jmacnamara »

rezaf wrote:Ah well, I didn't know people were still using my old piece of software.
I had an improved version prepared which also was capable of supporting aircraft skins ... I'll try to remember digging out the sourcecode and see if I can post it.
In the meantime, thanks for expending the effort JMacnamara. 8)
The sooner my program becomes obsolete, the better. :-)

But if you're considering requests... :wink:
- Implement batch processing. One skin & all units and All skins & all units.
- Change the output file name and location.
NOW: ..\SELECTEDFOLDER\UNITNAME_SKINNAME.png
PROPOSED: ..\SELECTEDFOLDER\SKINNAME\UNITNAME.png
- Have the select folder dialog auto-select the last selected folder.

Anyway, thank YOU, Rezaf, for that wonderful tool you gave us.
rezaf
Colonel - Fallschirmjäger
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Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by rezaf »

jmacnamara wrote:Anyway, thank YOU, Rezaf, for that wonderful tool you gave us.
You're welcome. :)

I uploaded a new version of DCS in it's own thread - it should be able to skin aircraft icons, but I have included only a single mask as a proof-of-concept. I hope some of you guys can help me out a bit and provide additional masks.
While I was at it, I threw rudimentary batch processing in there - give it a try and let me know what you think.
_____
rezaf
jmacnamara
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 251/1
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:27 am

Re: A Fix Program for skinning planes in DCS

Post by jmacnamara »

Thank you. I've uploaded additional masks in your own thread.

As this thread no longer serves a purpose, I will ask a moderator to close it.
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