Newbie Question - Reskins

Ricke82

Member
Am I correct that there is no way to actually reskin a mesh? You have to use the existing texture file for the mesh and edit it in a program like Photoshop, etc.
 
I believe your are correct in your assumption. Correct me if I'm wrong fellow Trainzers, but I think normally, the original mesh stays the property of the original creator.... unless he or she wishes to make it available.
 
That's the standard way to do it with most flight simulators and train simulators, if the original model maker has given permission to reskin, you "clone" the model (make a copy of it with a different name), then open the textures and repaint those. Trainz is actually easier than MSTS or railsim/railworks because most textures are already in TGA format, no need for a conversion program. What I haven't figured out yet is these .texture extensions, [SIZE=+1]Images2TGA [/SIZE]from http://members.optusnet.com.au/~villaump/pevsoft.htm will convert those to TGA, but how do you get the model to skin with TGA instead of TEXTURE after that, or is there some way to convert TGA to TEXTURE? I'm getting senile in my old age, but I thought I remember reading somewhere that these compressed binary texture files weren't supposed to be used in Trainz any more?
 
Thanks. I don't want to change the mesh (that's way beyond my skill level). I was just hoping there was a way to reskin it, other than just editing the texture file. I'm trying to come up with a 40' USRA Caswell Composite Drop-Bottom Gondola. I've found a mesh that is close, but there's only one image for the ends in the original texture. It's used for both the inside and outside of the A and B ends. That means that if I put reporting marks on the outside ends they will also appear on the inside. I guess I'll just have to keep looking. Anyway, thanks again for the confirmation.

As for the image conversion. PEV's Image2TGA creates two files from the xxx.texture file - xxx.tga and xxx.texture.txt. The xxx.texture.txt is what tells Trainz to use the xxx.tga. The xxx.texture file is no longer needed.
 
QR MAS Reskinning is not working

G'day G'day

I've made a thread bout repainting the stock, but what I'm finding is I'll open the .texture file in Images2TGA and use GIMP to colour it, and hit "save as" using GIMP, but GIMP doesn't do .texture files. Then I'll just hit Save and it recolours the picture in Images2TGA. When I save it there under whatever the filename is, it doesn't work. When I commit the file and load Trainz, I put it on the tracks and it comes up as a bare skin, no livery. Then I go back to Images2TGA and the .texture file is either missing or back to its original colours.

I've tried everything...renaming the asset, changing the file extensions and it does no good. I'm getting really annoyed, and I'm trying everything on the Forums, but there must be some small peice of something I missed.

Please, if anyone knows whats wrong can they help?

Andy.

Ps...this asset is built in
 
G'day G'day

I've made a thread bout repainting the stock, but what I'm finding is I'll open the .texture file in Images2TGA and use GIMP to colour it, and hit "save as" using GIMP, but GIMP doesn't do .texture files. Then I'll just hit Save and it recolours the picture in Images2TGA. When I save it there under whatever the filename is, it doesn't work. When I commit the file and load Trainz, I put it on the tracks and it comes up as a bare skin, no livery. Then I go back to Images2TGA and the .texture file is either missing or back to its original colours.

I've tried everything...renaming the asset, changing the file extensions and it does no good. I'm getting really annoyed, and I'm trying everything on the Forums, but there must be some small peice of something I missed.

Please, if anyone knows whats wrong can they help?

Andy.

Ps...this asset is built in

Good news, a new QR MAS is coming your way in Maroon and Blue livery aswell as a, LAL, LBL, LAR and more.


I know this does not solve the reskinning problem but I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Bill.
 
YOU BEATAY!

Good news, a new QR MAS is coming your way in Maroon and Blue livery aswell as a, LAL, LBL, LAR and more.


I know this does not solve the reskinning problem but I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Bill.

Oh mate! You are an absolute legend! I cannot wait until they are ready...I drive Sunlanders and the old Queenslander on a short "Caboolture to Landsborough" route which I've extended to Eudlo, and those would be great additions! I download your stock everytime there is something new. :p

I also collect the Wuiske Promotions H0 scale ones as well.

Thank you so much for that update!

Andy C.
 
G'day G'day

I've made a thread bout repainting the stock, but what I'm finding is I'll open the .texture file in Images2TGA and use GIMP to colour it, and hit "save as" using GIMP, but GIMP doesn't do .texture files. Then I'll just hit Save and it recolours the picture in Images2TGA. When I save it there under whatever the filename is, it doesn't work. When I commit the file and load Trainz, I put it on the tracks and it comes up as a bare skin, no livery. Then I go back to Images2TGA and the .texture file is either missing or back to its original colours.

I've tried everything...renaming the asset, changing the file extensions and it does no good. I'm getting really annoyed, and I'm trying everything on the Forums, but there must be some small peice of something I missed.

Please, if anyone knows whats wrong can they help?

Andy.

Ps...this asset is built in

Use pev's tool to break out the .tga from the .texture.txt file then edit the .tga file in GIMP.

When you are reskinning remember you don't need to keep to the original .tga file size, sometimes to add detail I'll double the size in both directions. With TS2009/10 doing 4:1 texture compression and more memory on the video cards you can get away with tricks like this without impacting the performance too much.

Cheerio John
 
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