301 replies to this topic

[goog]

go into your model files,lets say you want the chp charger(for example):
1.find dodge_charger_chp.dds change it to dodge_charger_chp1.V3O(watch spelling spaces and all) when it asks you too change file say yes.
2.open editor choose mod and navigate to dodge_charger_chp1.V3O click unpack
3.go back to your main mod folder and re-name dodge_charger_chp1.V3O back to dodge_charger_chp.dds confirm name change.
4.use dds converter to find and convert (dodge_charger_chp.dds) to a PNG
5.open with gimp2 or paint whatever you use.
this is as simple as it gets hope it helps you....

do this scotia,just swap your unit name in place of other

[ScotiaFD]

ok, i will do that.

[ScotiaFD]

i unpacked the file, where would i find the files from that?

[jsutton]

i unpacked the file, where would i find the files from that?

In the same folder as the file you just unpacked.

[ScotiaFD]

ok, but what would they be in the format of?

[rodneymillerpca]

Sorry on the double. I could not delete this one.

[rodneymillerpca]

In order to Reskin a vehicle from the LA Mod you will have to "unlock" the dds file(s) that are required for the vehicle, for this example we will be asking to reskin one of the many crown victorias. In this example the CHP Vic.
First you must Unlock the dds file, in order to do this you must find the dds file that you wish to alter which would be located in the following folder:
Game Install\Mods\LA MOD 1.8\Models\Vehicles\03 LA Police\cv_chp.dds (some vehicles have multiple texture files)
You have to rename the file to something else and change the extension from dds to v3o, this will allow the editor to unpack the file making it readable by Photoshop or a dds converter.

Due to the fact that most vehicles have the same name for the Vehicle model and the dds Texture file, it is advisable to name it something such as follows:
cv_chp.dds to cv_chpt.v3o

Now, you need to open the editor, load the modification and then select "unpack file" again you will have to navigate to the same folder but the editor shows the folder structure a bit different:
Mod:Models\Vehicles\03 LA Police\
Find your renamed dds which for the example is cv_chpt.v3o and press ok, this will unpack the file so you may edit it.

Now you need to rename the file back to dds, in order for the vehicle model file to recognize the texture be sure to rename it back to what it originally was, which in this example is cv_chp.dds

Once this is done you then have to either convert the dds file using a dds converter (one is available in our downloads section) or import it using Photoshop.

Convert/save the image to whatever format you wish to use, .BMP, .PNG, .TGA, etc. whichever you prefer and open it in the painting application of your choosing and alter it as necessary to do whatever you wish to do to the vehicle skin.

Now you have to take your texture and turn it back into the dds file for the model file which accompanies the vehicle to recognize it's new texture.

Ensure that all of the dds files you have changed are in the folder where they belong and when you load the editor you should see your newly skinned vehicle there now.

I am trying to simple move the aerial ladder from la mod to a private mod and get no image to it. or it's tires. I tried this step as well as the excel trick and neither worked for me. Any ideas? This is the only unit this is happening too.

Is this what it looks like when you go to edit it......if so how you edit it and keep details

Bless you. I had an issue with this one.

[FInn Rescue 12]

I think it would have been a god idea to creat a folder with just plane white skinns of all the modles unlocked. That way you could just go to town reskinning w your own departments this file converting is for the birds....

[Jumbobogen]

hello is there someone who has a guid and a program to make cars

[crsmedic30]

if you make your own moddel how do you get the outline for the textures so you can make them fit

[FInn Rescue 12]

Hello after all this reading on this topic, I was able to figure out what I was doing wrong with unlocking files.
If you have windows vista this is what I did. The easy way is to go into Programs to sixteen stone right click on EM4 edit. Go to properties and look for the tab security, click on it and put your settings on Administrator. Go back and open EM4 file models file rename Dss files too dodge_charger_chp.dds.v3o what ever you want to re-skin. When you rename the file you should get a window that pops up changing the file will be come unsable. Also you need to unchecked file extensions in folder options under control panel.

Go back into the editor and go to LA mod 2.0 unlock the file. Return EM4 folder and rename the file back to the same name as before. Open it with Paint Net and start to re-skin. I wrote this hopefully this will make it easier for someone looking to re-skin good luck thanks to all who posted the information.

[tmurr7886]

So I managed to do the reskin how I wanted in Photshop with a .dss plug in, I save the file as a .dss and rename it to it's original .dss name. I then open the editor and all I have is a black box with wheels and lights. Was I supposed to repack the file or what did I do wrong?

[jsutton]

So I managed to do the reskin how I wanted in Photshop with a .dss plug in, I save the file as a .dss and rename it to it's original .dss name. I then open the editor and all I have is a black box with wheels and lights. Was I supposed to repack the file or what did I do wrong?

If you named the extension .dss then that's the problem. It should be .dds.

[Zach1019]

ok I need help unlocking my vehicles to reskin. First I go to the dds file of the vehicle that I want to unlock the skins for. Then I change it to something different like (cv_lapd.dds-------cv_lapdt.v3o). Once I change that I go to the editor and load my mod, unpack the file and close the editor. Last I go to Paint.net and try to open the file it gives me an error message.

What did I do wrong? Can someone explain this to me?

[jsutton]

ok I need help unlocking my vehicles to reskin. First I go to the dds file of the vehicle that I want to unlock the skins for. Then I change it to something different like (cv_lapd.dds-------cv_lapdt.v3o). Once I change that I go to the editor and load my mod, unpack the file and close the editor. Last I go to Paint.net and try to open the file it gives me an error message.

What did I do wrong? Can someone explain this to me?

After you unpack it from the editor, you need to change it back to the original .dds name. This is a outline tutorial of what you need to do pretty much.

• Unlock DDS Files required for vehicle.
  
• Find DDS file in models folder
• Rename file to something else and change extension from dds to v3o
• Extension change allows editor to unpack file to make readable for programs.
• Ex: cv_chp.dds to cv_chpt.v3o

• Open the editor.
  
• Load mod
• Select Unpack File and navigate to models folder
• Find the renamed DDS and press ok. This will unpack the file for editing.
• Ex: cv_chpt.v3o

• Rename v3o back to DDS
  
• This will allow vehicle model to recognize texture
• Rename it back to original name
• Ex: cv_chp.dds

• Import to photoshop
  
• Convert / save image to whatever format
• Alter it as necessary

• Convert back to DDS
  
• Take texture and turn back into DDS file for the model file.
• Use DDS converter

• All DDS files in folder
  
• All dds files you changed are in folder where they belong.
• Load editor and see newly skinned vehicle there.

[EmergencyFan97]

I'm trying to unlock the LRA files and must be doing something wrong, but I'm not sure what. I renamed the three files to large_rescue_ambulance1t.v3o, with the two others being 2t and 3t. I then load the mod, go under 'unpack file' and then do not see the files. I go into the correct directory, but the renamed files do not appear. Could someone offer a suggestion?

EDIT: I got it to where the files were unpacked, and then renamed them back to .dds. Then I try to open with Photoshop, only to be told that Photoshop cannot parse the file. The same happens when I use paint.NET. Any suggestions?

[Officer Jake]

Help!!!
I tried to edit the models in the la mod 2.1 and additional units submod for re-skinning I did each step and tried several times and every time GIMP 2.8 (yes i have the dds plugin and it works) says that the file is incorrect or invalid, Is there another lock, like a copyright?. Please help, thanks.

[goog]

Help!!!
I tried to edit the models in the la mod 2.1 and additional units submod for re-skinning I did each step and tried several times and every time GIMP 2.8 (yes i have the dds plugin and it works) says that the file is incorrect or invalid, Is there another lock, like a copyright?. Please help, thanks.

Use the dds converter and change it to a png then open it with gimp,after you first unlock the file in the editor.If you follow the above directions there is no reason that this should not work...it's pretty straight forward.
http://forum.emergen...-dds-converter/

[Officer Jake]

Use the dds converter and change it to a png then open it with gimp,after you first unlock the file in the editor.If you follow the above directions there is no reason that this should not work...it's pretty straight forward.
http://forum.emergen...-dds-converter/

Still doesn't work, says that it (the converter) cant open the dds file. It has been doing this for the last few days. It's getting on my nerves because it's like the last part of my private mod. I'm not sure what to do.

Like i said is there something with the LA mod 2.1 w/ the additional units Submod, like a copyright?

[goog]

If it can't open the file it means that it is still locked.Follow every step below,it seems like you're not doing all the required steps below,especially in the editor.

go into your model files,lets say you want the chp charger (for example):
1.find dodge_charger_chp.dds change it to dodge_charger_chp1.v3o (watch spelling spaces and all) when it asks you too change file say yes.
2.open editor choose mod and navigate to dodge_charger_chp1.v3o click unpack,then exit editor
3.go back to your main mod folder and re-name dodge_charger_chp1.v3o back to dodge_charger_chp.dds confirm name change.
4.use dds converter to find and convert (dodge_charger_chp.dds) to a PNG
5.open with gimp2 or paint whatever you use.

this is as simple as it gets hope it helps you....there's no copyright protection thing on the texture files that prevents you from opening it,it only boils down to human error.