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FSXA Recipe for specular maps

euroastar350

euroastar350

Resource contributor
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us-delaware
Hi everyone,

What is the preferred method when creating specular maps and the corresponding alpha channels? This is one area I cannot seem to get right, although I did get the bump maps to work properly now. Any help is appreciated.
 
There really is no simple answer to your question. If you open the diffuse and specular bitmaps for any of the default a/c and compare them, you'll note that MS/ACES chose to "desaturate" a copy of the diffuse bitmap, then created an Alpha channel to modulate the "spot size" of the specular reflections.

On the other hand, you can achieve some pretty spectacular effects with the specular map by simply darkening the diffuse bitmap (brightness/contrast), so that the "specular color" is simply a darker version of the diffuse color.

Another method is to create a specular map using contrasting colors (such as yellow) to create the illusion of sunlight reflecting on the diffuse color's surface.

Yet another method will create the effects of "chromalusion" paint.

The possibilities are endless! :)
 
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