Tue Apr 15, 2003 2:59 am
** Tutorial ** - Transparent Windows
I was just reading through and I noticed someone commenting about not knowing how to do transparant cockpits, so I figured what better way to explain than make a small tutorial that's probably already been done.
This is real easy to do. All you need to do is make a texture specifically for the window. To do this load up a program capable of making transparent images, for instance I use Photoshop 7.0 and follow this procedure. If you have Photoshop 7.0 you can follow along and it will basically make itself. If you don't have Photoshop then you should be able to modify this procedure for whatever program your using, it's really self-explanatory.
First, make a new image that is a fare size, say 400X300. When you create it be sure you move the dot under the CONTENTS heading to "Transparent" from whatever it's on. Now, you should have a blank image that's transparent, something like this;
It should be noted that Photoshop will automatically create a new layer when you do this next procedure. If your not sure if yours will I suguest making a new layer that we can paint on. Some programs call it a layer, some call it a Raster Layer, depending on what your using.
Now, go to your paint and select a color that you want for the glass. If you want it to be black, choose something a little bit greyer than total black. If you want white choose something a little greyer than white. The off-black/off-white will give it a sence of texture when it's put on the glass. Now click the FILL tool and click anywhere on the picture. You should endup with something like this;
This next step is for Photoshop only. Other programs will be diferent. Basically all your doing is adjusting the new layer's opacity. Some programs have it under Layer Properties but any program that does layers will have a properties somewhere for that layer.
Now, under the LAYER menu there is an option there for LAYER STYLE. Put your mouse on that and a side menu will appear. Select the BLENDING OPTIONS command and what we're now looking for is the slider in the GENERAL BLENDING box that's labeled OPACITY. Slide it back 1/4 of the bar, or to where the shading is to your liking, and then hit OK... Now you should have your transparent texture looking much like this;
Now all you have to do is go to FILE, SAVE, and save it as a TGA. It will "yell" at you saying it can only save a copy of the image, just ignore that. Now all you have to do is open your MAT file and add the texture there. Oh, and don't forget to add the texture in Milkshape as you normally do. Here's an example, my Lambda shuttle, of how the transparancy will look.
BTW, now that your cockpit is transparent, you might wanna add a pilot and a few more details.
~Jay~
Fortune favors the strong mind.
Edited by - Stinger on 2/14/2004 7:47:40 AM
This is real easy to do. All you need to do is make a texture specifically for the window. To do this load up a program capable of making transparent images, for instance I use Photoshop 7.0 and follow this procedure. If you have Photoshop 7.0 you can follow along and it will basically make itself. If you don't have Photoshop then you should be able to modify this procedure for whatever program your using, it's really self-explanatory.
First, make a new image that is a fare size, say 400X300. When you create it be sure you move the dot under the CONTENTS heading to "Transparent" from whatever it's on. Now, you should have a blank image that's transparent, something like this;
It should be noted that Photoshop will automatically create a new layer when you do this next procedure. If your not sure if yours will I suguest making a new layer that we can paint on. Some programs call it a layer, some call it a Raster Layer, depending on what your using.
Now, go to your paint and select a color that you want for the glass. If you want it to be black, choose something a little bit greyer than total black. If you want white choose something a little greyer than white. The off-black/off-white will give it a sence of texture when it's put on the glass. Now click the FILL tool and click anywhere on the picture. You should endup with something like this;
This next step is for Photoshop only. Other programs will be diferent. Basically all your doing is adjusting the new layer's opacity. Some programs have it under Layer Properties but any program that does layers will have a properties somewhere for that layer.
Now, under the LAYER menu there is an option there for LAYER STYLE. Put your mouse on that and a side menu will appear. Select the BLENDING OPTIONS command and what we're now looking for is the slider in the GENERAL BLENDING box that's labeled OPACITY. Slide it back 1/4 of the bar, or to where the shading is to your liking, and then hit OK... Now you should have your transparent texture looking much like this;
Now all you have to do is go to FILE, SAVE, and save it as a TGA. It will "yell" at you saying it can only save a copy of the image, just ignore that. Now all you have to do is open your MAT file and add the texture there. Oh, and don't forget to add the texture in Milkshape as you normally do. Here's an example, my Lambda shuttle, of how the transparancy will look.
BTW, now that your cockpit is transparent, you might wanna add a pilot and a few more details.
~Jay~
Fortune favors the strong mind.
Edited by - Stinger on 2/14/2004 7:47:40 AM
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