[TEC]Needle/pointer texture

[AVGWarhawk]

Does anyone know what file the needle texture for the rudder gauge is located?

[jimimadrid]

Look in Data\Menu\Gui\Layout\indicators.dds

Another needles are in Data\Menu\Gui\Layout\Dials_us_imperial.dds and Data\Menu\Gui\Layout\Dials_us_metric.dds

Hope it helps.

[AVGWarhawk]

Dials-metric has some needles but not the one I need. I will look at the other spot:up: Thanks!

[ReallyDedPoet]

You've crossed over to the dark side :yep::lol:


RDP

[AVGWarhawk]

The indicator.dds are all white and I suspect for the gauges in the interior of the boat. Still no luck finding this bugger.

[jimimadrid]

The Needles in the Indicator DDS are for the command gauges. There are four needles, and from the lower ones, the left one is the Needle of the rudder.

In the Menu1027 it gets will get black painted instead of the white color.

Here could be the solution. Try to pla with the color values

[G3F I45]
Name=Crt val
Type=1031;Stat bmp array
ItemID=0x3F1C0002
ParentID=0x3F1C0000
Pos=37,-10,16,70
Zone= 796 110 16 70 0 1 0x3F1C0000 0.5 -0.5 0x3F1C0002 -0.5 0.5 0 0
Color=0xFE
Materials=1
Display=5;Linear&rotation
Mat 0=data/menu/gui/layout/indicators.tga
Crop 0=0,0.996094,0.8125,-0.34375
MatFlags=0x29
TexFmt=0x0
Drag=false
BmpState=1
NeedFocus=true
SelOne=false
IdGroup=0
StatesColors=0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF

[G3F I46]
Name=New val
Type=1031;Stat bmp array
ItemID=0x3F1C0003
ParentID=0x3F1C0000
Pos=37,-10,16,70
Zone= 796 110 16 70 0 1 0x3F1C0000 0.5 -0.5 0x3F1C0003 -0.5 0.5 0 0
Color=0x969696C8
Materials=1
Display=5;Linear&rotation
Mat 0=data/menu/gui/layout/indicators.tga
Crop 0=0,0.996094,0.8125,-0.34375
MatFlags=0x29
TexFmt=0x0
Drag=false
BmpState=1
NeedFocus=true
SelOne=false
IdGroup=0
StatesColors=0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF

[jimimadrid]

That should be.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4575/nadelvq7.jpg

Line to change in the menu1024 is:
[G3F I45]
Color=0x969696C8

Or let JTxE do the work: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=123521&highlight=jtxe

Needed ini File:
Targetfile=Data\Menu\menu_1024_768.ini
[G3F I45]
Color=0x969696C8

[AVGWarhawk]

Great! I will give this a go! You said to play with color values. Do you know the letters/number to change so it will show white in color?

[DrBeast]

Hex code would be #FFFFFF, but that damn thing is not in hexadecimal code! I can't for the life of me figure out that format. I did manage to remove the black color from my home-brewed dials, but unfortunately I don't have the menu_1024.ini file here at work.

[jimimadrid]

You have to paint a new Indicator.dds with white needle. I suppose that the number only put a black layer over the image. Lowering the number of the color the alphachannel of the layer will be reduced and the original image appears.

This is how it works with the "new value" and "value" needles. "Value" needles are the original image, an "new value" are darker copies of the originals.
Therefore you should darken the new value needle:

[G3F I46]
Color=0x?????????

You should play a little around with this value.

[AVGWarhawk]

The Dr is in! I just want that one needle as white. If you could find out if you get a chance. Currently I have all the dials as clean black faces. These boats were new and so were the gauges. Making them look old is the wrong way to go IMHO. Anyway, the dial on the rudder gauge is now black with the white numbers (not yellowed like it has been around for 60 years). As a result, the black needle is hard to see and really needs to be white.

[AVGWarhawk]

You have to paint a new Indicator.dds with white needle. I suppose that the number only put a black layer over the image. Lowering the number of the color the alphachannel of the layer will be reduced and the original image appears.

This is how it works with the "new value" and "value" needles. "Value" needles are the original image, an "new value" are darker copies of the originals.
Therefore you should darken the new value needle:

[G3F I46]
Color=0x?????????

You should play a little around with this value.

This is what I did, the texture for the indicator.dds is basically the shadow of the actual needle. In other words, if you click on the dial to have the rudder swing, there is a ghost white needle that shows up were you clicked. The hard color needle will swing around to were you clicked thus covering up the ghost needle. It took the indicator.dds texture and blackend in this needle for the rudder. When I tried it in game, all this did was make the once white ghost needle turn black. So, I'm guessing this is the wrong texture to fool with.

[skwasjer]

Hex code would be #FFFFFF, but that damn thing is not in hexadecimal code! I can't for the life of me figure out that format. I did manage to remove the black color from my home-brewed dials, but unfortunately I don't have the menu_1024.ini file here at work.
0x... format is hex format, just not 'html'. The '0x' is a hex specifier in programming languages like C++/C#.

Unfortunately I am no menu.ini guru so I don't know what order the hex data is written (the game reverses several other data as well (also in .dat files)).

So it could be:
0xRRGGBBAA or 0xBBGGRRAA

I'm sure one of the other menu guru's has the final answer.

One way or the other, 0xFFFFFFFF is white.

[DrBeast]

You have to paint a new Indicator.dds with white needle. I suppose that the number only put a black layer over the image. Lowering the number of the color the alphachannel of the layer will be reduced and the original image appears.

This is how it works with the "new value" and "value" needles. "Value" needles are the original image, an "new value" are darker copies of the originals.
Therefore you should darken the new value needle:

[G3F I46]
Color=0x?????????

You should play a little around with this value.
This is what I did, the texture for the indicator.dds is basically the shadow of the actual needle. In other words, if you click on the dial to have the rudder swing, there is a ghost white needle that shows up were you clicked. The hard color needle will swing around to were you clicked thus covering up the ghost needle. It took the indicator.dds texture and blackend in this needle for the rudder. When I tried it in game, all this did was make the once white ghost needle turn black. So, I'm guessing this is the wrong texture to fool with.
No, the indicator is right. There are two values in menu1024 for defining "go-to" and active needle position.

[G3F I45] stores current needle position, [G3F I46] is the "go-to" position. So what you need to do is also tweak the Color=xxxxxxxxxx of I45. I thought this case was resolved, so I didn't bring along my home-brew. I have found the perfect (to me) color conditions.

Hex code would be #FFFFFF, but that damn thing is not in hexadecimal code! I can't for the life of me figure out that format. I did manage to remove the black color from my home-brewed dials, but unfortunately I don't have the menu_1024.ini file here at work. 0x... format is hex format, just not 'html'. The '0x' is a hex specifier in programming languages like C++/C#.

Unfortunately I am no menu.ini guru so I don't know what order the hex data is written (the game reverses several other data as well (also in .dat files)).

So it could be:
0xRRGGBBAA or 0xBBGGRRAA

I'm sure one of the other menu guru's has the final answer.

One way or the other, 0xFFFFFFFF is white.
Cheers for that. It was the last two figures that eluded me. Now, if only I could figure out what AA stands for (as obviously RRGGBB is for Red Green Blue).

ETA: Never mind, did a google search and found it. AA is for alpha channel transparency; 00 is for fully transparent, FF is for fully solid. Well, glad to have this nut cracked!

[DrBeast]

OK, AVGWarhawk, let's summarize. If I understand this correctly, you want a fully white needle for your rudder, correct?
Here's what to do: leave the texture as is (you might as well paint it pink, it won't matter!).

Go to [G3F I45], change Color=0xWhatever to read

Color=0xFFFFFFFF
That will make the needle white.

Now, to differentiate the needle of your current rudder position from the "go-to"position (i.e. the one you get when you click somewhere on the gauge to have the rudder swing there), we're gonna make that second needle a bit grey.

Go to [G3F I46] and change Color=0xWhatever to

Color=0x999999FF

If it seems too dark for you, try

Color=0xCCCCCCFF
Hopefully, it'll work.

Below is a random internet site with hexadecimal color codes:

http://www.johncfish.com/bggallery/otherchart/index.htm

[AVGWarhawk]

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/SH4Img2008-02-20_205401_828.jpg


This is how I handled it for now. Note: removed the silly colors (red and green) and also the RIGHT and LEFT. Come on men, sailors know there right and their left. So those two words were dumped. I put in P for port and S for starboard. Of course the white background so the back needle shows up.

I'm guessing I need a HEX editor to do the value changes? This is all new to me on that. Heck, I just started fooling with textures:roll:

[AVGWarhawk]

Here is something else I have been working on. I used Oakgrooves textures but changed the colors. Cleaned them up. These boats were brand new. Oakgroove made his textures look like the boat does today. It turned out great also:rock:. But, to me we need to keep the looking somewhat new. The numbers on the dials are now white and not off white/yellowish in color. I made the red lines on the TDC clean and the numbers under the tubes clear. Removed the scratch and changed the colors on all to grayish instead of the rosey looking color. Currently this is for my own personal use. If any are interested in playing with these changes let me know. I need to let Oakgroove know I did some changes and credit him for his fine work in the original mod of his. I also changed the interior common gauge numbers/letters to white. The yellowed numbers and letters look old. Again, these boats were brand
spank'in new. Note: I did leave some wear on them!!!!


Note: this is not the orders bar. I'm using the original game orders bar but changed the color and cleaned it up. The orders bar I'm using is in the picture above with the new rudder gauge texture.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/SH4Img2008-02-18_204436_000.jpg

[DrBeast]

*snip*

I'm guessing I need a HEX editor to do the value changes? This is all new to me on that. Heck, I just started fooling with textures:roll:
Sorry, you lost me. Need a HEX Editor to change what values?

ETA: Nice work on that Oakgroove HUD. Looks pretty crisp!:up:

[AVGWarhawk]

*snip*

I'm guessing I need a HEX editor to do the value changes? This is all new to me on that. Heck, I just started fooling with textures:roll:
Sorry, you lost me. Need a HEX Editor to change what values?


The values you stated above. What file? Do I need a program to open the file to make this change?

[DrBeast]

*snip*

I'm guessing I need a HEX editor to do the value changes? This is all new to me on that. Heck, I just started fooling with textures:roll:
Sorry, you lost me. Need a HEX Editor to change what values?

The values you stated above. What file? Do I need a program to open the file to make this change?
Aah! No, that's in menu_1024_768.ini. Ye Olde Notepad will do. Search for [G3F I45], make the change I mentioned, repeat for [G3F I46].

[kriller2]

Nice work Hawk! :up: ...you have come over to the dark side:rotfl:

[AVGWarhawk]

Nice work Hawk! :up: ...you have come over to the dark side:rotfl:

Thanks Kriller! Oakgroove did great work and his intentions were to make the textures as the boat looks today. I just wanted it to look newer as these boats were new. As many gauges and panels I cleaned on the Torsk, eventually you get through the grime and to find the letters/numbers are white. Next thing I know, I'm coloring this and changing that, etc. I used the original orders bar and made it gray. I got rid of the greenish color that was in the textures.

[AVGWarhawk]

*snip*

I'm guessing I need a HEX editor to do the value changes? This is all new to me on that. Heck, I just started fooling with textures:roll:
Sorry, you lost me. Need a HEX Editor to change what values?

The values you stated above. What file? Do I need a program to open the file to make this change?
Aah! No, that's in menu_1024_768.ini. Ye Olde Notepad will do. Search for [G3F I45], make the change I mentioned, repeat for [G3F I46].


10-4 will do!!!

[AVGWarhawk]

That was it good Dr. Thanks a million:up: Houston, I have white needle:D

[AVGWarhawk]

OK here it is:

Added nice clean rivets to the faces. Here is the kts gauge.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/SH4Img2008-02-21_201924_984.jpg



Depth gauge with clean rivets.


http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/SH4Img2008-02-21_201911_281.jpg


My new white needle thanks to Mr Beast! Some nice clean rivets!!! No right and left written on it. You know your right and left correct? I'm sure the crew did also!

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/SH4Img2008-02-21_201854_812.jpg


Note the rosey red color is now grayish and has some wear on it. Of course these are darker at night time. Also, the letters are nice and white...new as it was. The red line on the TDC is good and clean, easy to read. I do like the original buttons on the orders bar and made them gray instead of the greenish brown color. I'm thinking of changing the yellow lighted buttons to red and leave the green light buttons when in use the same.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Very nice work AVG :yep::up:


RDP

[AVGWarhawk]

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/SH4Img2008-02-21_212022_421.jpg


What do you think of the read buttons instead of the yellow? I need to clean them up but this gives you an idea.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Not bad, maybe tone them down a tad, but they look pretty good :yep:


RDP

[AVGWarhawk]

I have made them darker. What other colors might look good?

[ReallyDedPoet]

I have made them darker. What other colors might look good?
Good question, let me think on that one AVG :yep:. The red does fit in with the existing scheme. Are you going to add it to the Torp. Selector as well?


RDP

[DrBeast]

Lookin' good, AVG! :up: Extra LOLs for the SHH! description of Silent Running! BTW, Jimimadrid has made a set of green/red buttons, check that out if you like for proper color saturation. Been ages since I used it, but I'd still recommend it ;)

[AVGWarhawk]

I have made them darker. What other colors might look good?
Good question, let me think on that one AVG :yep:. The red does fit in with the existing scheme. Are you going to add it to the Torp. Selector as well?


RDP


What torp selector are you talking about:hmm:

[ReallyDedPoet]

I have made them darker. What other colors might look good?
Good question, let me think on that one AVG :yep:. The red does fit in with the existing scheme. Are you going to add it to the Torp. Selector as well?


RDP

What torp selector are you talking about:hmm:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/SH4Img2008-02-21_201854_812.jpg
Just the coloring of the lettering, but in looking closer :roll: it prob. would not look that great with the arrow being a similar color.


RDP

[AVGWarhawk]

Lookin' good, AVG! :up: Extra LOLs for the SHH! description of Silent Running! BTW, Jimimadrid has made a set of green/red buttons, check that out if you like for proper color saturation. Been ages since I used it, but I'd still recommend it ;)



Thanks Dr Beast. The change in the .ini did the trick for the white needle. Thanks a million. I have saturated the buttons darker. I'm still not sold on the red over the yellow color. The picture above was just a quick try to see what it might look like. I'm still learning to use Paint.NET. It is a great program and the price was right....free:up:. Again, it seems to be to much red and more imposing then the yellow color. I plan on trying other colors that are less imposing then the read. Really , my main purpose was to make the textures look newer then 65 years old. Next thing I know I'm toying with colors. :roll:

[AVGWarhawk]

@RDP,

I looked at the textures for the torp door loading/ready indicators on the panel. I got to thinking that the bulbs that light up these indicators were 1940 technology. Not the super bulbs we have today creating white light as opposed to the yellowish light these old time bulbs generated. I decided to leave the lettering that is supposed to look like a lightbulb is behind it that is light up. Oakgroove did a great job creating this effect. However, I might just clean them up a bit to remove some of the wear they do show.

[ReallyDedPoet]

What about a lighter shade of Blue, seems to go well on a greyish background, little easier on the eyes.


RDP

[AVGWarhawk]

I was thinking blue last night also. Less imposing. I will toy around with colors.

[ReallyDedPoet]

I was thinking blue last night also. Less imposing. I will toy around with colors.

It's a process isn't it, you are doing well with it :yep: Also, thanks for the clarification regarding the lighting (bulbs), makes sense as it relates to the technology of the day.


RDP

[AVGWarhawk]

Luke pointed out the new orders bar for the add on. It is nice but again they did the rusty look. I do not understand why?

[AVGWarhawk]

Swdw has a good Idea. Gray out the buttons not being used and the buttons being used colored red. Dark read for night time etc. Remove the green all together.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Swdw has a good Idea. Gray out the buttons not being used and the buttons being used colored red. Dark read for night time etc. Remove the green all together.

That is a nice idea :roll::yep:, to many colors run the risk of making things look a little to busy.


RDP

[DrBeast]

Swdw has a good Idea. Gray out the buttons not being used and the buttons being used colored red. Dark read for night time etc. Remove the green all together.
That is a nice idea :roll::yep:, to many colors run the risk of making things look a little to busy.


RDP

Or maybe, make a colorful HUD just for Christmas! :D

[ReallyDedPoet]

Swdw has a good Idea. Gray out the buttons not being used and the buttons being used colored red. Dark read for night time etc. Remove the green all together.
That is a nice idea :roll::yep:, to many colors run the risk of making things look a little to busy.


RDP
Or maybe, make a colorful HUD just for Christmas! :D
Heck, why not :lol::lol:


RDP