Question on material swaps

[amokrun1]

When you upgrade the armor on power armor from Model A to B or higher, the visual of the armor changes from the rusty default to a more polished look. What I want to know is how this is achieved. I thought it was a material swap but when I open the OMOD, there is no material swap entry in the record. There isn't even a model entry! The only thing I saw which I could understand as changing the look is color remapping on Model A, which seems to return the look to the default rust if downgraded.

[Thirdstorm]

Which Entry are you looking at?

Some of them have a "Color Index" which can effect how a GreyScale Texture is rendered

[amokrun1]

Hey Thirdstorm, nice! You do excellent work, mein Freund.

 

So I've been looking at the ARMO and OMOD records, and pretty much any entry that might involve a texture/model. So, taking T-45 as an example, I would compare Model A and B OMODs based on properties under DATA, in addition to whatever model they use(of which they don't). I would also look at the model the ARMO record has entered, and the Models section containing Addon Index and Armor Addon. I should point out I am mostly working from xEdit for this.

 

When you say GreyScale texture, does that refer to the change in color from Model A to B(where it looks more refined)? If so, why can't I find it as a material swap?

[Thirdstorm]

Thanks, I really need to fully come back to modding ;)

 

First, XEdit or CK?

[amokrun1]

Information in relation to xEdit would be better.

[Thirdstorm]

Ok good, much of this is easier to see as a "whole" in Xedit...

 

 

Let start with:

PA_T45_Arm_Lining_A "Model A" [OMOD:00077D3E]

Inside that record is a Float/Set/Color Remapping Index of 0.66 which would be the "Rust" color...

 

Following that:

PA_T45_Arm_Lining_B "Model B" [OMOD:00182D06]

The Float/Set/Color Remapping Index was removed, resetting it to what would likely be the default "gunmetal"

 

If you have the files extracted......

Check out the Directory.. (X=Install Directory)

X:\WHERE_EVER_YOU_HAVE_THEM\Fallout 4\Data\Textures\actors\PowerArmor\

 

Once there load up (if you can) T45arm01_d.DDS

 

It's a GreyScale Texture, that uses a secondary "Index" texture and numbers to determine what coloring to use..

 

 

[amokrun1]

Could not find T45arrm01_d.DDS, but X-01 has it, same difference I guess.

 

So then once I found the file I want to use, how do I point the OMOD to it via xEdit?

 

And what exactly is the difference between _d, _n, and _s before the .dds extension(eg. X1Arm01_d.dds vs X1Arm01_s.dds)?

[lilkandeekid]

 

And what exactly is the difference between _d, _n, and _s before the .dds extension(eg. X1Arm01_d.dds vs X1Arm01_s.dds)?

_d = Diffuse map, _n = normal map, and _s = specular map.

Each are needed to determine the textures depth, lighting, etc. There's even more maps for other stuff, like _g for the glow/glowing textures and _m that does something I cant remember (environmental refraction maybe).

Edited January 16, 2020 by lilkandeekid

[Thirdstorm]

@lilkandeekid,

Thanks!

 

@amokrun1,

Depends on what you want to do, but honestly if all you want to do is make the "A" not look rusty you just need to make an override in a plugin and remove the ColorRemapping index entry completely.

Compare the "A" lining and the "B" lining in XEdit and you should see the difference

[amokrun1]

Actually to be honest, I am just trying to learn more on how this all works, and the mod I am working on is a kind of practice for me. I am basically mimicking the vanilla records to see how I can pull it off by creating something without copying the records directly. It's a bit long to explain what my "experiment" mod is doing, but long story short, I'd like to know how I can set the Greyscale texture as a material swap in the OMOD. Can this be done?

 

lilkandeekid, thanks for the info!