Dtxbmp problem

I've been using Dtxbmp for years but it has just started saving 1024 x 768 bitmaps to 1024 x 1024. I've done nothing to it. How do I get it to revert to saving as 1024 x 768 bitmaps like it used to ?

Thanks.

I have the same problem & couldn't fix it, if the textures need to be saved as 24bit bmp then just use Microsoft Paint.

DXTBmp has never saved to 1024x768 because that size is not recognized by FS.

 

DXTBmp will always resize to a compatible pixel count, which is one that is a power of two.

 

32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096

 

24 bit color depth has nothing to do with pixel count.

 

peace,

the Bean

I've been using it for 7yrs or longer & load from FS9, edited via paint & saved it straight back to the texture folder I got it from with no problem. The bitmaps in a A320 panel are 1024x768 & have always been saved as that.....................

StringBean is right, DXTBmp will always convert a 1024x768 bmp to 1024x1024 if you open the bmp with it.

You've probably associated all bmp files with DXTBmp so that when you double-click on them, they open with DXTBmp automatically. I've done the same and it catches me out from time to time!

If you right-click on the bmp file and then select Open with/Paint, it will stay 1024x768 size.

No, I been using dtxbmp for years to make bitmaps usable in fs9 & I do use paint a lot. I've made 25 or so WW2 airfields & have never come across this particular problem.

I've run a texture through dtxbmp 2 or 3 times to rectify the fault that cropped up & that seems to have done the trick..

Hi,

 

Panel BMP files ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from any other BMP file used in FS. They can remain 24 bit (unlike all the others) and do not need to be a power of 2. Thus they do not need to be run through DXTBmp (and shouldn't).

 

Hope this helps,

HI,

 

I've found that to get rid of these black marks round the window edges I can do so by running the texture through dtxbmp at least twice to get rid of them.

That kind of problem is generally caused by reducing to too few a number of colours. Change those notchy bits to completely black and not dark grey and you will not see them.

 

John

I got rid of the black areas (they were black not dark grey) after running it twice through dtxbmp.

True black textures are effectively transparent in panel bitmaps. Anything other than black displays; that is what you are seeing.

 

The other thing that can cause that effect is using dithering during conversion.

 

John

well, they looked blacked. 2 runs with dtxbmp got rid of them.

I've no idea what 'dithering' as you use it means. I just clicked 'save as' & left the rest paint.

I've no idea what 'dithering' as you use it means

All explained in gory detail here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dither

 

John

Any pixel on a 2D panel bitmap that is true black (RGB 0,0,0) will be transparent in the sim. Any other value, even 0,0,1, will not be transparent and will look black in the sim.

 

When you process these images with BXTBmp I suspect the color palette gets shifted, eliminating some near black colors and replacing them with true black. This is the wrong way to fix the problem.

 

In addition to fixing your problem, I suspect you are also losing detail elsewhere in the image. You are, in effect, repeatedly compressing your images and every time you compress an image you lose detail.

 

The correct way to fix your problem is to paint those pixels true black (RGB 0,0,0) in your painting software.

 

I doubt dithering has anything to do with this as I believe DXTBmp only uses dithering when saving an image with mipmaps, and there is zero reason to use mipmaps on a 2D panel bitmap.

 

In fact, as has been stated, there is no reason to use DXTBmp for 2D panel bitmaps at all.

 

peace,

the Bean

I'm late catching up.......the tip about black being transparent is useful because it explains a problem & had some time ago go with a hut window....I must have got grey paint on it by accident & wonder why I could see through spots on both. Now I know!

Thanks.