Tutorial for convert SH3 ships to SH4?

[fitzcarraldo]

Hi, mates: I´m searching a tutorial for convert SH3 ships to SH4. I use S3D for all those porpouses, but I have problems with textures (SH3 TGA vs. SH4 DDS).

Simply I must convert the TGA to DDS, or it needs other operations?

Many thanks and best regards.

Fitzcarraldo

[keltos01]

open with photoshop , then save as dds 3

that's it

note that a lot of shiii stuff like textures are in the .dat

keltos

A few things I've learned while converting some Italian ships for the Med campaign:

The main problem is with sensors and equipment. Open SHIPNAME.sns and SHIPNAME.eqp with notepad and give them proper SH4 equivalents (you can check a similar ship to get the names).

SH4 will read the .TGA textures inside the .dat with no problems, but you can export it, convert it to DDS and import again if you wish. I use DXTBMP for conversions.

You can also make a model use external textures editing the .dat file with S3D. Check this image, it's from a SHIII ship:



First step is deleting the Embedded image field. The index name will change to "<empty>". Then tick off the Enable explicit texture mark (a warning will pop up. Just click OK). Lastly, change the name of the index number 5 (which will have converted into number 4 after deleting the image) to cfg#TXR_NAME OF THE EXTERNAL TEXTURE (in this case I used cfg#TXR_NDD_Soldati). This way, your model will accept any external texture named NDD_Soldati_whatever, as long as you use it in the roster file for that unit. Cool for having different camos .

This is what I've learned by checking previous work by others. Hope it helps you. Try it and let us know the results.

[fitzcarraldo]

Originally Posted by keltos01

open with photoshop , then save as dds 3

that's it

note that a lot of shiii stuff like textures are in the .dat

keltos

Originally Posted by JapLance

A few things I've learned while converting some Italian ships for the Med campaign:

The main problem is with sensors and equipment. Open SHIPNAME.sns and SHIPNAME.eqp with notepad and give them proper SH4 equivalents (you can check a similar ship to get the names).

SH4 will read the .TGA textures inside the .dat with no problems, but you can export it, convert it to DDS and import again if you wish. I use DXTBMP for conversions.

You can also make a model use external textures editing the .dat file with S3D. Check this image, it's from a SHIII ship:



First step is deleting the Embedded image field. The index name will change to "<empty>". Then tick off the Enable explicit texture mark (a warning will pop up. Just click OK). Lastly, change the name of the index number 5 (which will have converted into number 4 after deleting the image) to cfg#TXR_NAME OF THE EXTERNAL TEXTURE (in this case I used cfg#TXR_NDD_Soldati). This way, your model will accept any external texture named NDD_Soldati_whatever, as long as you use it in the roster file for that unit. Cool for having different camos .

This is what I've learned by checking previous work by others. Hope it helps you. Try it and let us know the results.

Great explanations!! I don´t know if OM have all SH3 converted ships, but I like some stuff from OM for my TMO/RSRDC new traffic. And I like some historic ships in SH4, for instance, the SH3 Titanic/Olympic by VonDos. I want to see the Titanic in route to San Francisco...

Many thanks, mates, ever we learn some new tip from both.

Regards.

Fitzcarraldo

[fitzcarraldo]

OK, I´m testing the VonDos Titanic in SH4.

First: I conserve the TGA files. The ship is in the museum, but all white. No textures applied.

Second: I import the TGA files and convert they in DDS (DXT3), then export. The same result: the ship is all white.

No success...

When "Save as" the TGA to DDS with NVIDIA DDS Plugin, (I have an ATI card), there are multiple options for the conversion.

I select the DXT3 with mipmaps, alpha automatic, etc. I don´t know what is the best selection...

Please, I need help for that conversion.

Many thanks and regards.

Fitzcarraldo

Is there an option for saving as DXT1 in that plug-in?. I don't have it, but in the program I use I choose that option.

Still, when you left the TGA it should have shown... Do you get it textured inside S3D?