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SimCity 4 General Discussion and Tutorials => SimCity 4 General Discussion => General Custom Content Discussion => Topic started by: Naufragus on June 13, 2007, 07:15:33 PM

Title: Having an issue with "grey" Metals
Post by: Naufragus on June 13, 2007, 07:15:33 PM
I have tried a few textures but get the same result when working with grey metals (silver, steel, chrome, tin, aluminum).  It looks fine in the bat window but when rendered it turns to a dingy beige color.  I have tried some lighting tricks but that just makes it too white.  Any tips?
Title: Re: Having an issue with "grey" Metals
Post by: kwakelaar on June 14, 2007, 01:38:22 AM
Maybe show some pictures of what happens.
Gascooker made a tutorial about calibrating Photoshop for making textures for gmax. You can find it on ST here (http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=140&threadid=76232&enterthread=y)
That might be something that can help you out.
Title: Re: Having an issue with "grey" Metals
Post by: Naufragus on June 14, 2007, 11:28:46 AM
Both buildings have basically the same attributes and are examples of what I am talking about.  The one on the left has a metal texture but looks flat.  It could be concrete or marble depending on how you choose to look at it.  The one one the left is what I have gotten on most of the time.  The grey metal turning biege. It looks like the texture didnt render but its there.  If you zoom in close you can see it in the pixels.  This was an experiment before I did another project that was going to use a lot of galvenized steel. 

I see in the tutorial that the grey he posts goes to the same biege so that might be it.  My only problem is my monitor konked out a while back and I am stuck using a really old one that has bad gamma so calibrating is a touchy thing and right now wouldnt be so accurate.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm2.static.flickr.com%2F1173%2F548568451_3f84905cec_m.jpg&hash=5400918915c4b843d4a78b2b28e0046f332954af)

Title: Re: Having an issue with "grey" Metals
Post by: callagrafx on June 14, 2007, 11:37:27 AM
If you have Photoshop and follow Gascooker's tutorial step by step, it will not matter that your screen is uncalibrated, as it relies on taking colour measurements.  Also, the BAT lighting is overbright to match the game, so you need to tone down all textures otherwise they will fluoresce.
Title: Re: Having an issue with "grey" Metals
Post by: Naufragus on June 14, 2007, 05:05:23 PM
Quote from: callagrafx on June 14, 2007, 11:37:27 AM
Also, the BAT lighting is overbright to match the game, so you need to tone down all textures otherwise they will fluoresce.

lol.. yeah.  There is an omni right next to that one building.  It was feeble attempt to make it look metalic and reflective.  I was trying to correct the beigeness with lighting that render.  It was supposed to be the sun reflecting off.