A few steps in GIMP (like removing Alpha/Damage channel) and you can turn that TGA into a BMP skin.
Didn't know BMPs are a thing for a skinner.
If this helps, I could add a straight conversion to BMP to the tool as well.
Just in case: BMPs can ship with or without alpha channel (32/24 bit). Would it make sense to keep the alpha channel (if there is any), or should it be removed, or should this be selectable?
Sorry for asking so many questions, but I ain't no skinner so I simply don't know.
The reason for me to create this tool was rather a 3D modding process issue than a skinning one
Mike
Mike,
I am no skinner that is for sure. I just like to go through some of the older versions of IL-2 and extract the old default skins... at times. And your tool makes that process easier, so my primary use is taking the TGB files and convert them to TGAs. Before I had to use the IMF Viewer, and it took time to convert the files, like sometimes a minute+. Your app seems to speed through the process.
But before I can use the file as a BMP skin, I need to remove the Alpha channel otherwise the bullet holes come with it, which may not be the intended result. So to answer on the Alpha channel, my answer tends to always be... if there is a way to be selectable, that is a better choice because some users may want it, again if it is possible. I would probably vote for removing Alpha Channel as a Default, and let user enable it if they want it.
For anyone interested, after doing some research in the Interwebs, these are the steps I use in GIMP to turn the converted TGB (to TGA) to a usable BMP skin:
* Convert "tgb" file to "tga" format using Mike's new IMF Converter tool
* Rename file (often "skin1o.tgb") to whatever you want, with a "tga" instead of "tgb" extension...
* Open Converted TGA in GIMP (2.10.34)
-- Menu->Colors->Components->Decompose->Color model: RGB->OK (This get rid of Alpha Layer / Damage)
-- Menu->Colors->Components->Compose->Color Mode: RGB->OK
-- Menu->Image->Mode->Indexed->Generate number of colors (Pick 256)->Convert
-- Menu->File->Export As->Name File and add ".bmp" as extension->Export->Under Compatibility Options select "Do not write color space information" (THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT)->Export
* Now place the bmp in correct directory: Something like "[BAT Installation Directory]\PaintSchemes\Skins\Bf-109E-4" (or other Plane)
Viola!