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Lighthouse Transparency

SoloWing

SoloWing

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152
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unitedstates
I've spent the past two days browsing a number of Z-Test Alpha threads, and threads on general transparency, but haven't found the answer I've been looking for yet. To be brief, the alpha channel on my texture appears in ImageTool, but not in the sim or in MCX. I've tried separating the alpha and combining it with the PSD, to the same effect, and DXT3 or 5 doesn't help the matter. Multiple Z-Test Alpha settings are also bust. I have attached screenshots of what this looks like. Anyone spot what I'm doing wrong?

Also, side problem, my specular is black in 3DS, but shows anyways in the sim. I'll work that out later, the alpha is my only concern of the moment.
 

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You build for FSX !?!

I had two objects made.

One the Lighthouse and One the Glas.
I had the glas opacity set in 3DDesign Program and made a lonely Texture for that glas.

In FS2004 this will work funny.

Edit:

I have Use your Texture - build up the Lighthouse from the scratch - I use 2 Hour.

Here it is in FS 2004.

Lighthouse.jpg
 
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You seem to do everything right. I don't know either why the transparency does not appear.
Would you mind sharing your model and texture? By using archive in gmax, everything will be zip together. I can take a look and tell you later what's wrong.
 
I'm using 3DS Max, so those of you who have GMax might not be able to utilize these files. I have attached the zip with the Lighthouse MAX file and the PSD for the texture work.

As I understand it, using a separate, second sheet just for the glass would allow direct control over the alpha, but I want everything on one sheet to keep it orderly. I'm developing this as a small set of freeware for a multiplayer server which asked for some VFR objects. I've gotten most everything else done, except for this and one other lighthouse, both of which display the same issues. So solve one, and I figure the other will follow. Babi, your work there is pretty nice, but if I can't get the transparency working over here, it won't do me much good. I don't know what, if any settings, are not correct.

Any guidance from here is appreciated.
 

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Hi,

Looking at your settings it should be fine. So my guess would be that something went wrong when exporting the texture.
 
SoloWing said:
As I understand it, using a separate, second sheet just for the glass would allow direct control over the alpha, but I want everything on one sheet to keep it orderly. I'm developing this as a small set of freeware for a multiplayer server which asked for some VFR objects. I've gotten most everything else done, except for this and one other lighthouse, both of which display the same issues. So solve one, and I figure the other will follow. Babi, your work there is pretty nice, but if I can't get the transparency working over here, it won't do me much good. I don't know what, if any settings, are not correct.

Any guidance from here is appreciated.
Click to expand...

I don't thik separate sheet of texture for the glass is the way to solve the problem. It will make another drawcall.
I use 3dmax too. But I save as 3ds to export from gmax. I don't get use to 3dmax export.
I gree with Arno that export is the problem.
 
It is the export process of your 3dmax that caused the problem.
I did export from 3dmax to 3ds and import to gmax. Then I export to mdl from gmax.
Welcome you lighthouse to Phuket, my current project.
The first one is you original texture, pure dark for the glass alpha.
lightHouse01.jpg


The second one I change from pure dark to grey. The transparency is under control, sir.
lightHouse02.jpg


Let someone else help you with 3dmax export. I found it is too confusing for me. Too many 3dmax versions and plugin from the SDK cannot be used. So I export to 3ds, get it in gmax and export to mdl. Make my life easier.
 
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Hmmmm, very, very nice. Question! Might my exporting to X first, and then using the GMax XtoMDL tool to convert cause the issue? I ask because the 3DSM9 exporter in the FSX SDK was bugged from the get-go, and I have had to use this workaround up till now.

Thanks, jtanabodee, good to know it actually works, and is just the exporter!

EDIT: Knowing this is even more important now. I just tried to re-install GMax and it keeps cancelling the installation with an error.
 
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