WIP : Improve/rework of the exterior textures in 8K

Hello !

 

Since a month i'm "improving" the Mirage 2000C texture. In high definition (8K) ;)

But first, please, sorry for my bad english !

 

So, i choose to work on a "dirty" texture, not exagerated, but i wanted to make a plane that look like in OPEX (EO). Mean dirty with more contrasted joins and flayed paint. I also wanted to add details. So, i "remade" lot of things on the "old". I speak about it later in this post if that interest you.

 

I know this doesn't seem to change that much the appearance of the plane, but it is better than nothing, i think. I know this in not pro-quality work, i'm lacking skill and knowedge about texturing, but i propose it ;)

 

These screens are .GIF in HD, they will appear blurry at first then clear when loaded 100% / It compare original textures and improved ones :

 

 

 

 

I project to make some parts little better this summer by taking photos of the real Mirage by myself to fix my problem about finding photos/datas/textures without perspective (and direct shadow). So, this will increase the quality and details, and it will also be my pleasure :)

 

For now, in a first time, i made the front plane and the below. Im working now on the rudder wing and and the top of the plane need also more work. That part will take a longer time. Sadly, i lake datas for this part (top).

 

 

 

So, much of the time im painting manually on the original texture, adding clearness and drawing joints, adding dirt and scratch effect, drawing parts, etc. I work in 8196px in case of the 4096px original size.

Im trying my best to add details and offer a real work (limited to my skill and knowedge). As all the SERVAL RWR antennas (even if the result is not super clean :( ), the Jammer antenna, the SPIRALE chaff dispenser (not superb also, but i did my best...), the exterior jettison canopy system texture, the formation lights textures, landing and taxing lights textures, refueling light texture, etc...And puting by hand almost all the bolts ! I also painted manyally some erosion and paint chips. I use original dirt and personal dirt (textures or painted).

 

Much of the decals are also remade from A to Z.

 

 

I still have work even on the "finished" parts. For exemple to fix errors, balance contrast of some joints/details (too visible) and arrange some symmetry effect.

 

Optionally (all next will maybe never be done, i'm not sure if i can do it) :

In a third time, and if i can make it, i want to rework the roughmet maps...But not sure, i maybe will need the layered original files to make all that clean. And it's not accessible.

I aldready modifiate the roughmet colorimetric balance for a better reflexion rendering (here : https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3303479/ ).

But now, i must to make it with this new textures (diffuse), so i will maybe need a layered PSD Roughmet file (i will try without). If not, i will add my last correction of roughmet maps. It will be better than nothing.

 

Then, im not sure at all if i can do it also, but i hope that i can creat and add normalmaps. Not sure because i d'ont know if i have the skill to do it, first...And secondly, i don't know if it's possible with the Mirage to add normalmaps (they are not exisiting yet in exterior textures with this module)... If anyone think theire is a way to add normalmaps to this plane, i'm earing you ! :)

 

Hope you will enjoy ;)

 

++

Edited January 11, 2020 by Mav783

Some others screens (wait for entire loading) :

 

Sensors are reworked on all the wings :

 

 

 

 

Landing gear hatches with their bolts and dirt:

 

++ ;)

Edited January 11, 2020 by Mav783

Can't see them.

 

 

EDIT: Looking awesome

Edited January 12, 2020 by joey45

Ho ok thx ! I can see them but not with an other computer :s . I will try an other way to publish it with an other services.

 

EDIT : ok, i modifiate the status of the photos, i think it was the issue, it stay heavy to load but can you see it now ?

If no, i will simply change the website where i uploaded it.

Edited January 11, 2020 by Mav783

This is excellent work, congratulations for the results and thank you for the time you spent on those textures.

 

However, did you know that at some point the external textures will have an overhaul by Razbam to catch up on the latest modules released ? Just to let you know, in case you weren't aware of the information.

This is excellent work, congratulations for the results and thank you for the time you spent on those textures.

 

Thank you ! :)

 

However, did you know that at some point the external textures will have an overhaul by Razbam to catch up on the latest modules released ? Just to let you know, in case you weren't aware of the information.

 

Yes and no, i asked Razbam (on Facebook) and they answered (basically) "that will be hard work"... (because i think they want to improve the 3D models also, even if i'm not sure about this, but it will be logical).

They will do that that for sure with the 2000-5, and for the 2000C, surely, but i don't know when.

But im sure theire work will be much more better and precise than what i'm doing :

I don't remember but they spoke about scanning...Mean photogrametry...That mean it will be super good quality. I'm for sure wainting for it ! :) But i wanted to work on retexturing it by myself also, so i did it, knowing that the work of Razbam will be necessary much more better, but will not come now ;) I think...But if it come soon i will love it, i can not wait the 2000-5 :D (my work was little like a personal aim in a way also, i wanted to do it and propose it :D ).

Edited January 11, 2020 by Mav783

Hi !

 

Project progress:

 

Center fuel tank:

 

More detail about the fuel tank, adding welding effect.

 

The Magic, but i must add a roughmet (metal effect) ! But i don't know how to add this on an object that did not originally have one[/i][/b] :s :

 

Brightening of the nozzle :

 

Brightening of the radome:

 

Ladder :D :

 

;)

nice

looks good.

 

if you want to add roughmet, just add it to the name.

 

example

 

filename_RoughMet.dds <--- that should add the ability to have roughmet. it's all naming conventions.

nice

 

Thanks Gascan :)

 

---

 

looks good.

 

if you want to add roughmet, just add it to the name.

 

example

 

filename_RoughMet.dds <--- that should add the ability to have roughmet. it's all naming conventions.

 

Thank you Timghetta !

 

And thank you so much for the roughmet tip :)

Need help again.

Do adding normalmaps will work also ?

 

I found my description.lua file have numbers in orange color. For exemple :

{"Material #2034", 0,"M2KC_9T",false};

{"Material #2034", 1,"M2KC_9T_normal",false};

It does not work.

I maybe don't find the good number to make the normalmap work (i tought it was "1"), or maybe my file don't have the good name (it is Normal, or maybe "nrm" ?) ?

PS : if i put "0" with the normal map, it remplace the diffuse map :D

 

Thanks :)

Edited January 15, 2020 by Mav783

Normals are set in the model material via 3dsmax.

 

Only Roughmets are naming conventional.

 

What part are you having an issue with the normal maps?

 

Here is the naming of texture channels in liveries:

 

DIFFUSE = 0

NORMAL_MAP = 1

SPECULAR = 2

Decal = 3

DIRT = 4

DAMAGE = 5

PUDDLES = 6

SNOW = 7

SELF_ILLUMINATION = 8

AMBIENT_OCCLUSION = 9

 

BTW We didn't make the Magic's 3D model. Also when I had visited Orange the Magic's had a foggy white seeker glass.

Thank you for your answers Timghetta :)

 

Normals are set in the model material via 3dsmax.

 

Only Roughmets are naming conventional.

Ho ok, it's maybe the reason.

 

What part are you having an issue with the normal maps?

The ladder :D (on M2KC_9T) , i wanted to make it for fun (and train/try). But it's not big deal at all.

 

Here is the naming of texture channels in liveries.

Ok thank you ! :)

 

BTW We didn't make the Magic's 3D model.

Yes i suspected. It's used from the Mirage 2000-5 AI (?).

 

Also when I had visited Orange the Magic's had a foggy white seeker glass.

Yep, it depend the version maybe, on DCS it is black, on the web theire is multiple versions, in black (wikipedia or other websites) and white also, but yep :, the "classical" R550 is white and foggy. I will maybe do it this way !

 

Edit : and the 2/5 Squadron use it as you confirmed to me, so in fact i must make it white.

Edit 2 : Tried to add a Roughmet map on the Magic also, it don't seem to work, probably because the native 3DSMAX model.

 

Thank :)

 

 

++

Edited January 15, 2020 by Mav783

I'll check it out it could be disabled in the max file. will check it out, but I am working other things right now so don't know when i can get to it.

Ho ! That so cool from you, but your not obligise ! :)

Be cool, it's not a big deal if you do it or not. After, if you do it, thank you in advance :)

 

PS : the head seeker part of the Magic have such "issue" also. In fact, even if i put a white texture on it (on the magic.dds AND the magicocul.dds), it stay mettalic and dark (in diffuse map...I think that come from the 3D file also).

 

++

The job of a pro :thumbup:

Mate, that looks amazing. With the new pilot and your work, the mirage is gonna be super hot.

 

 

Don't suppose you wanna do the same with the Huey do you?

Very impressive work :surprise: :thumbup:

The job of a pro :thumbup:

Very impressive work :surprise: :thumbup:

 

Thank you guys ! ;)

 

 

Mate, that looks amazing. With the new pilot and your work, the mirage is gonna be super hot.

Don't suppose you wanna do the same with the Huey do you?

Thank you so much :)

 

For the Huey, it's true that this module deserve some new texturing. But it's not in my plan to redo that right now. I wanted to make the Mirage because i have some free time and because this plane is in my heart :D

But why not if the urge takes me back to replace rivets on something that flies, some day ;)

Edited January 16, 2020 by Mav783

Hi,

 

Keep working and it's almost done. It will be uploaded soon, hope during next week. In fact i would need much more time to fix somes errors and others stuffs but i will update the package online step by step.

 

Waiting this, some screens:

 

Adding the bolts bump and dirt on the roughmet maps to the landing gear doors:

 

Wing top (need some fix, and i'm not super happy with this part, i also lack datas theire):

 

 

 

Here is the reworking of the refueling light, taken from a real photo. And yes, the fuel dirt is wayyy too dark (i will fix that later by leaving the effect only on the rougmetmap :smilewink: ):

 

 

Footsteps dirt :D Adding details of the auxiliary inlet / Reworking and adding detail on the "vortex generator" :

 

 

 

See you ;) ++

Edited January 19, 2020 by Mav783

:surprise:

wow stunning work! razbam should hire you!

8K, stunning. But is that even usable to fly with? What does impact on framerates and loadtimes look like?

Thanks guys ! :)

 

For the FPS, i made some test already. The texture is longer to load than the original. But when it's loaded, it does not impact any FPS (on my configuration). Even when i'm in a low fps situation, changing the texture will not touch the FPS more than 2/3 seconds for the time to transfer the texture to the V®RAM (and go back to normal).

 

For information, most of the planes in DCS are using 4K texturing, but the textures are separated in multiples zones...(2 to 4 and sometimes more). That mean this rework in 8K stay lighter than much of recent planes. Even to load.

Loading will take more time than the original Mirage's textures, little less time than the JF-17 (almost the same), and much less than the F-14 (in my configuration the F-14 take almost 30 secondes to load completely all the parts, this 8K Mirage take 5 to 10 secondes max...But i can not say how this will answer with other configurations).

 

After, the folder will be aroung 500Mo (after unziping). I will try to upload that on ED User Files section this week if i find the time (i'm on the 2000L fuel tanks right now).

 

++ ;)

Edited January 22, 2020 by Mav783

Some really nice work you’ve done there.