===========================================================================
  DeltaGlider-XR1 Paint Kit Version 1.3

  Release Date: 6.8.2008
  
  Copyright 2007-2008 Douglas E. Beachy and Marco G. Jansen
  This software is FREEWARE and may not be sold!
  
  web:   http://www.dougsorbiterpage.com
  email: dougb@dougsorbiterpage.com
  Orbiter Forum (http:www.orbiter-forum.com): 
    Douglas E. Beachy: dbeachy1 
    Marco G. Jansen:   dutchpirate
    
  Requirements:
    Orbiter P1 060926
    DeltaGlider-XR1 1.2 or newer
    Photoshop or other paint program

===========================================================================

1.3 VERSION UPDATE:

Version 1.3 of the XR1 Paint Kit features some new and updated Photoshop layers from Marco G. Jansen, including new scorch mark layers.  

SUMMARY:

This paint kit was created to make it easier for artists to create custom skins for the DG-XR1.  To install it, simply extract the installation zip file to a directory of your choice (you may use your top-level Orbiter directory if you wish).  The following files will be installed:

XR1PaintKit\XR1PaintKit-readme.txt                  : this file
XR1PaintKit\redist\XR1-MyCustomSkin-readme.txt      : template readme.txt file for your new skin that you should edit!
XR1PaintKit\redist\Textures\dg-xr1\Skins\MyCustomSkin\dgxr1_1.psd    : Texture #1 in PSD format (includes layers)
XR1PaintKit\redist\Textures\dg-xr1\Skins\MyCustomSkin\dgxr1_2.psd    : Texture #2 in PSD format (includes layers)

NOTE: the above 'redist' directory and its subtrees are designed to be a template structure that you should zip up when creating your custom skin's redistributable zip file.  Your new skin's zip file should be extracted to the user's top-level Orbiter directory; e.g., C:\Orbiter.

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SETUP
-----

Before beginning, if you will be basing your custom skin on another author's skin you should email him and obtain permission to use his skin as a basis for your new skin.  (Note that you do not need to obtain permission to use the XR1 template skin included with this paint kit.)  Once you obtain the author's permission, be sure to credit him in your skin's readme.txt file that you will create later.

For editing, Adobe's Photoshop CS is recommended; you can download 30-day trial copy here: http://www.adobe.com/downloads/.  Other versions of Photoshop should also work, but they have not been tested.

To load and save files in DDS format, download and install the free nVidia '3ds max .dds Plug-ins' for Photoshop here: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html

------------------------------------
EDITING AND TESTING YOUR CUSTOM SKIN
------------------------------------

The default XR1 skin textures included here are in Photoshop PSD format; if you are using a different paint program you will need to convert the PSD files into a format your paint program can use (preferably one preserves the individual layers).  This readme assumes you will be using Photoshop.

Open the PSD files in PhotoShop; you will notice that all the sections, decals, and text are in their own layers, which will make it easy for you to customize.  When you are ready to test your skin, save both files in DDS format with the following settings:

    DXT1  RGB  (No Alpha)

    * No Mip Maps

(If your paint program cannot save DDS files, save your textures in BMP format and use DxTex.exe to convert them to DDS format.)

Then copy your two DDS files (dgxr1_1.dds and dgxr1_2.dds) to this directory:

    C:\Orbiter\Textures\dg-xr1\Skins\MyCustomSkin\
    
...where MyCustomSkin is the name of your custom skin.  NOTE: do not use spaces in the skin name or Orbiter will not be able to load it!

To see your new skin in Orbiter, you need to tell Orbiter to load your custom XR1 skin by creating/editing a scenario file.  If you haven't created a custom scenario file for your skin yet, go to C:\Orbiter\Scenarios\DG-XR1 and copy one of the existing scenarios to your custom scenario; e.g.,

    copy "DG-XR1 ready for takeoff to ISS.scn"  "My Custom Skin Test.scn"

Now edit "My Custom Skin Test.scn" and add the following line at the end of the 'XR1-01:DeltaGliderXR1' section, right above the 'END' line:

    SKIN MyCustomSkin

You can find a sample scenario with the SKIN line already added here: redist\Scenarios\DG-XR1\My Custom Skin Test.scn.  Be sure to rename/edit or replace this file before creating your new skin zip file!

Now load your new "My Custom Skin Test" scenario and take a look at your custom skin. 

=======================
PACKAGING YOUR NEW SKIN
=======================

Once your new skin is ready, you need to package it up into a zip file so other people can download it (I recommend WinZip for this).  To make packaging easier, there is a 'redist' directory included with this paint kit that you can use to create your new zip file.  Here are the steps to packaging your new skin:

1. Once you are finished testing your skin, copy dgxr1_1.dds and dgxr1_2.dds to redist\Textures\dg-xr1\Skins\MyCustomSkin\ (if you weren't already editing them at that location, of course).  If you were editing the files "in place", be sure to delete or move any extra files beyond the four files that were originally installed to that directory.  

2. If you want other people to be able to use your skin as a baseline for new skins of their own, you should include your dgxr1_1.psd and dgxr1_2.psd files as well.  If you do NOT want people to use your new skin as a baseline, move the psd files out of that directory and be sure to update your skin's readme file to state that your custom skin may NOT be used for other skins without your permission.

3. Rename redist\XR1-MyCustomSkin-readme.txt by replacing 'MyCustomSkin' with your skin's name.  Then edit it and, at a minimum, replace all items in <ANGLE BRACKETS> with appropriate values for your new skin.  Feel free to edit the new skin readme as desired -- this is your skin, after all.  The only caveat is that if you used any of the DG-XR1 default skin textures or logos in your custom skin, you must state in your readme file that any default XR1 textures and logos may only be used for other XR1 skins; i.e., they may not be used for other ships without permission (this is already stated in the template readme file).  Of course, you are free to license any textures that you create as you see fit.

IMPORTANT: Don't forget to REANAME and EDIT the template skin readme file here: redist\XR1-MyCustomSkin-readme.txt

4. Create a new zip file using WinZip and zip up all the files under XR1PaintKit\redist.

5. Before releasing your new skin, be sure to TEST IT IN A CLEAN INSTALLATION by:
    a) Installing Orbiter to a new directory
    b) Installing the XR1
    c) Installing your skin by following your readme.txt steps.
    d) Loading up each of your new scenarios and making sure the skin loaded OK.
    
To release your new skin, you may simply host it yourself on your own Web site, or you can send an email to dougb@dougsorbiterpage.com and I can put your skin up on my Orbiter page.  I can either host the file for you or I can just link to the skin on your site (it's up to you).

Once your skin is uploaded and you have downloaded it to make sure everything is working, you should make an announcement in the Orbiter add-on forum to let everyone know about your new XR1 skin.

----------------
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
----------------

This software and all bundled files are FREEWARE and may not be sold or distributed for a fee under any circumstances.

All files included with this package copyright 2007-2008 Douglas Beachy and Marco G. Jansen, and may not be sold or reused in any Orbiter add-on or other product without express written permission signed by both authors and sent via a hardcopy letter or fax; i.e., an email is NOT sufficient to grant permission.

You are free to create your own custom skins for the DG-XR1 using these skin textures as a starting point (i.e., as a "baseline skin"), provided that 1) they are released without charge as freeware, 2) they are released as DG-XR1 skins and not as standard DeltaGlider skins, and 3) the original author of the baseline skin is credited.  

You are of course also free to use any other baseline skin for your new XR1 skin and license it as you see fit; however, the above copyright still applies to any default XR1 logos or textures used in the new skin.

You MAY NOT use the DG-XR1 skin or its custom textures for another ship or product without express written permission from the author as stated above.

-- end --
