dirtspray files moding?

[cata]

Guys looking to try change the color of the dirtspry graphic. I note there are 3 files named dirtspray 1,2,3. dirtspray 3 appears to be the arty impact, 1 looks like the small arms impact with ground, is 2 the effect of rounds hitting walls and tanks?

I note when I view the dds files in photoshop channels, there are 4 layers what would I need to do to change the colors? I am trying to turn the round strike into a light gray color. Having been looking over videos, this seems to be the most common effect, a light gray puff of dust or dirt. thanks

[SeanPatrick]

I'm guessing there's an RGB layer, some others and an alpha. You would want to modify the top (RGB) layer. Try selecting all on the top layer then Image>adjustments>brightness/contrast. You can then adjust the lightness to your liking. When done, save it as the third (IIRC) option. (The one that says "explicit alpha".) The alpha needs to be saved as part of the image to display correctly. Also, do not try to modify the shape of the cloud without making exactly the same adjustments to the alpha. The alpha needs to be exactly the same shape as the effect.

[cata]

There are only channels not layers, the channels don’t seem to be adjustable, nothing I do seems to change anything. When you open the DDS file its just white, the shape or Alpha 1 channel is hidden, when not hidden the shape is white the rest is pink. Do I need to do something to make the channels adjustable? thanks

[congo]

There are only channels not layers, the channels don’t seem to be adjustable, nothing I do seems to change anything. When you open the DDS file its just white, the shape or Alpha 1 channel is hidden, when not hidden the shape is white the rest is pink. Do I need to do something to make the channels adjustable? thanks

You can work with the image as you normally would and just save as the correct dds file or you can make a new layer and spray in the color you want for the dirt but flatten image when done and save with explicit alpha in dds format DXT 3 ARGB 8bpp.The alpha determines the invisibility from the graphics perspective of the skin for that particular sprite. If you look at the alpha layer you will see the shape of the explosions, dust etc. during the sim are the same. You should be able to highlight the alpha channel and turn off the rgb,s and work in black and white if you would like to change basic shapes used during the animations. The same holds true for trees, shrubs and grasses and the overlay for roads and such. Just be aware that some dds files need to have an explicit alpha in order to display correctly in the sim.

[cata]

Ok, opened DDS files in Photoshop.

Went to channels, highlighted the Alpha channel, un-highlighted the 4 RGB channels.

Went to layers, added a layer, painted it light gray, flattened the image.

Saved as DDS checked Explicit Alpha and DXT3

Did this to diertspray1 and 2, removed other versions of the file from image folder

Fired up SB Pro…..no change! the graphic and color is the same, a dark brown????

can anyone see where i am going wrong?

[congo]

Ok, opened DDS files in Photoshop.

Went to channels, highlighted the Alpha channel, un-highlighted the 4 RGB channels.

Went to layers, added a layer, painted it light gray, flattened the image.

Saved as DDS checked Explicit Alpha and DXT3

Did this to diertspray1 and 2, removed other versions of the file from image folder

Fired up SB Pro…..no change! the graphic and color is the same, a dark brown????

can anyone see where i am going wrong?

I think you need to work with the rgb channels and not the alpha which is the opposite of what you did.

[Splash]

I don't have GIMP installed on my new machine yet, so I can't try this for myself, and I'm just kind of spitballing here but ...

I opened the referenced sprites, and they don't seem to have color ... they just look like whiteish/grayish puffs. That makes me wonder if maybe the color you see in-game comes from something else. It's coded, maybe, to take its color from the terrain tile? It's just a hunch, but maybe one of the devs could chime in here with a clue.

Anyway, going on that theory, making the sprite more transparent would make it less "dark-brown." So you would want to darken just the alpha. The darker the alpha, the more transparent the sprite. A completely black alpha would make it invisible, right? -- that's the way I understand it, anyway. I could be wrong, but maybe it's worth a try.

[cata]

nop, still cannot get it to work, if i adjust the channels in any way the file will not save, for some dam reason. bummer! someone posted a ZSU-23-4 video on this form rescently, note the color of the strike dirt, thats what im talking about, its almost always light gray.

[Arma3]

I'm pretty sure that the color is defined in the code for the particle effects, so you can't change it. Usually a game will use monochrome effects and then rely on the particle system to determine the opacity and color. That is why the visible layer is white.

[cata]

Roger that, thanks guys!