Type II Skin Extract Editing and Water Reflections SUCCESS!

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Will the "SH3 Unpacker" also re-pack .Dat files?

Or will it only unpack them?

Just to answer my own question and not hijack the other thread.

SH3 Unpacker by Timetraveller does allow you to re-pack tga files.

However! I have yet to figure out how to pack the extracted tga file into any .dat file other than the original.
Hopefully this application allows for importing dat files of the same nature. I can't seem to find it or make it work. Most likely I'm just mis-understanding the directions readme.

How is this relevant? Well with the wonderful water reflections fixed by Sergbuto... we are limited to the hull texture tga's packed in the dat files he corrected. (for the time being) Other hull skin .dat files for the affected subs lacking water reflection will revert you to the same old problem.

It wouldn't be fair for us to expect Sergbuto to fix every hull skin out there. So I'm tinkering with how to import the tga from Pascal's latest NSS_2D hull skin (extracted with SH3 Un-packer) into Sergbuto's NSS_2D dat file which corrects the water reflection.

Sergbuto's reflection-corrected dat files for the Type II's and conning towers will necessarily be the base for all hull skins moving forward.
If anyone want to pick this up and run with it... feel free to do so.
If you wouldn't mind though... post your findings and/or the process here so I can develop a better understanding of it as well.

EDIT:
We need an "initial" database for them somewhere.... It might as well be here:

Sean's Rusty Camo Type IID (I believe it is Sean's)
http://rapidshare.de/files/5812682/TypeIID_GreenReflect_RustyHullCamo.zip.html

Pascal's Type IID Hull skin with corrected reflectivity:
http://rapidshare.de/files/5883871/Pascal_Type_II_Reflective.zip.html

Sean's Clean-Weathered Type IIA hull skin:
http://rapidshare.de/files/5885713/Sean_Type_IIA_Clean-Weathered.zip.html

Please let me know if you find one that doesn't work right. The process is tedious, desk-top cluttering, and mistakes might be made.

[Syxx_Killer]

Well, it is actually quite easy. You can repack DATs with different TGAs if you use a handy little tool called DatTexExtract. I don't remember the link I got it from, so I uploaded it to Rapidshare. I know some can't use it, but until a better service is found that I like I will have to use it. I have found some other services, but they don't keep track of the uploads. ANywho, here is the file:

http://rapidshare.de/files/5810347/DatTexExtract.zip.html

What you need to (I think this is the easiest) is to copy the DAT you are seeking to change to your desktop (in this case, for example, the IIA reflection by sergbuto). Then, using SH3 Unpacker, extract the IIA skin from the DAT you would like. SH3 Unpacker will then place the TGA into it's folder. Then, find the custom IIA skin TGA and copy that to the desktop. Now, open DatTexExtract. Click "Load a chess set." In the window that pops up, choose Desktop in the Look In drop down box. You should see the DAT for sergbuto's reflections. Open it. You should see some info about it appear in the DatTexExtract tool. Now, click "Replace textures." In the window that pops up, again choose Desktop. You will not see the TGA listed in this window, but it will work. Click Ok. You should see some more information appear in the DatTexExtract window. At the bottom it should say something like it was a successful repack. Now, place the DAT into your game directory and enjoy the reflection for your custom skin! :cool: :up:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Thanks Syxx-Killer buddy :up: I DL'd it and can't wait to try it out.

It sounds a lot simpler than what I was trying to do. :doh:

Maybe if anyone else wants to do the same they can upload them to Rapidshare and post links here. It might cut down on possible duplicate works.

Also just for so... I've used the Type II as an example and haven't accomplished anything yet. By all means if someone beats me to the punch, go right ahead. :sunny:

[Krieg-Schwein]

I too have have had the problem with SH3 Unpacker by Timetraveller .. I got it to work once but it is very very picky on what it will pack, you almost have to have the thing Bye to Bye to make it work, any way I know the tool your talking about Syxx_Killer I use it all the time but there are limitations on it also, sometime you need to have Paint Shop Pro or Similar to make the skin you want to pack the same bit size (16 BITS USUALLY) and also the same Pixel Color Depth, I have been able to put 2048 X 2048 resolution files in place of 1024 X 1024 , but It can be picky sometimes depending on the skin, but usually you can fix the skin simply by making it have right Bit and depth with PSP

[Syxx_Killer]

Also just for so... I've used the Type II as an example and haven't accomplished anything yet. By all means if someone beats me to the punch, go right ahead.

I've already converted the skins I got for use with reflections. I repacked the IIA and IID skins by Sean, and the modern XXI skin by Type941. Boy, I really don't like repacking DATs. :lol: I'm just waiting for sergbuto's update to the IID conning tower issue. If I don't have to repack any DATs, I could zip and upload the reflecting skins.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

I too have have had the problem with SH3 Unpacker by Timetraveller .. I got it to work once but it is very very picky on what it will pack, you almost have to have the thing Bye to Bye to make it work, any way I know the tool your talking about Syxx_Killer I use it all the time but there are limitations on it also, sometime you need to have Paint Shop Pro or Similar to make the skin you want to pack the same bit size (16 BITS USUALLY) and also the same Pixel Color Depth, I have been able to put 2048 X 2048 resolution files in place of 1024 X 1024 , but It can be picky sometimes depending on the skin, but usually you can fix the skin simply by making it have right Bit and depth with PSP

Well, unfortunately if it means I have to go and spend some money I'll have to sit this one out.

However, maybe this is a dumb question... but is it even necessary to re-pack the tga into the dat? Or can you just plunk it into TNormal/Tex?

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Also just for so... I've used the Type II as an example and haven't accomplished anything yet. By all means if someone beats me to the punch, go right ahead.

I've already converted the skins I got for use with reflections. I repacked the IIA and IID skins by Sean, and the modern XXI skin by Type941. Boy, I really don't like repacking DATs. :lol: I'm just waiting for sergbuto's update to the IID conning tower issue. If I don't have to repack any DATs, I could zip and upload the reflecting skins.

Man that's cool!!! :cool:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/544/sh3img210200522748781ud.th.png (http://img384.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img210200522748781ud.png)

Well that wasn't as hard as I thought! Great tool Syxx... worked like a charm inspite of my best efforts to screw it up. :know:

I believe the pic above is of Sean's Rusty Camo. It is definitely a Type IID with a reflective conning tower. Also I didn't expect for the camo itself to reflect on the water... BUT THERE IT IS! :smug:

Can anyone tell me if this was an ACTUAL Type II paint job?

See the original/1st post for Rapidshare download link.

Prost!

Now I wish I could just call in sick to work. See you all Tuesday. What an awesome month this has been for SH3 :rock:
From a personal stand-point. It is good to finally be giving instead of just taking and taking lately.

[Syxx_Killer]

However, maybe this is a dumb question... but is it even necessary to re-pack the tga into the dat? Or can you just plunk it into TNormal/Tex?

For the type II - yes. For some reason the game will just recognise the DAT. I think the XXI is the same way. I don't remember ever trying it, though.

Well that wasn't as hard as I thought!

Cool! :cool: I see you're using the exe file of Sean's skins. I kind of like the stand alone skins better than the type II skins in the exe.

If you are using sergbuto's AI U-boats, it is pretty much the same thing to use custom skins for those. Now that you know how to repack the stuff, all you need to do is find the type IIB DAT. Then, extract any skin from a IIA (IIB model uses IIA skins) DAT. Change the TGA file name from Typ 2A_Hull to Typ 2B_Hull. Repack into the IIB DAT. Place the IIB DAT into the right folder in the game directory. Voila! :lol:

The type II was the easy one. I think the type VII is a pain in the butt. :88) :rotfl:

[Kpt. Lehmann]

As usual, reality conspires to keep me from SH3. I will try to get a couple more reflective type 2 skins done today but will necessarily be slow about it. Suddenly I have a lot on my plate for the next few days.

Please post any requests. Once Sergbuto fixes that last non-reflective type IX conning tower I will get busy with those too.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Added Pascal's Type IID hull skin... can't connect to image-shack for screenshot upload though for some reason.

See original/top post for rapidshare link.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Beery... in RUb, does the Type IIB use the Type A or Type D skins?

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Added Sean's clean-weathered Type IIA skin... still having imageshack screenshot problems.

See top post for DL.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

One last bump here. I had run into some personal issues that cut out most of my "SH3 time" that appear to be mostly resolved.

It seems that quite a few of you have figured out or already knew how to fix individual paint schemes for non-reflective Type II and Type IX sub problems.

If you would like me to fix further skins let me know and I'll be happy to do it for you.

Otherwise, the instructions on how to do it are in this thread.

Cheers! Mates you all rock! :rock: :rock: :rock: