FC New Skins Submission Thread

[Klaiber]

@Gabi - I noticed two things about your single zip.

First, your Nieuport 17 skin name has "copy" in it: v_!_JG1_Nieuport17_Gabi - Copy.dds

For the version I'm going to prepare for the paint pack, I've removed that.  It is now: v_!_JG1_Nieuport17_Gabi.dds

Second, your zip doesn't seem to have the v_!_JG1_AlbatrosD5_late_Gabi.dds skin you submitted.  I have it.

[Gabi]

21 hours ago, Klaiber said:

@Gabi - I noticed two things about your single zip.

First, your Nieuport 17 skin name has "copy" in it: v_!_JG1_Nieuport17_Gabi - Copy.dds

For the version I'm going to prepare for the paint pack, I've removed that.  It is now: v_!_JG1_Nieuport17_Gabi.dds

Second, your zip doesn't seem to have the v_!_JG1_AlbatrosD5_late_Gabi.dds skin you submitted.  I have it.

Thanks Klaiber.  I'll fix the file.

[Gabi]

I updated the file to include the correct N17 file as well as the missing Albatros D5 late.

[Heinrich]

Hello Gabi,

I've downloaded your zip file and noticed some things.

Because you are working on the files, please add the folders where they belong, as mentioned in the IL2 game. That way, anyone who downloads the package, only has to drop it in e.g. E:\IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles\data\graphics\Skins. All files will be copied to the correct folder. This will save anyone a lot of work and prevent mistakes.

Another thing is that your skins are in 4K (4096x4096), while we use 2K (2048x2048) as size, as laid down in the Paint Policy (see our Dicta). This reduces each skin to 5.33 MB instead of 21.3 MB. This had to do with the total amount of data in the official package as not everyone has a huge drive in the game PC. 

Lastly, have you added mipmaps to each file? A normal DDS file in 4K is 21.3 MB, your files are 16 MB. 

No rush as you have until 5 March to complete them 

[Gabi]

Five more skins- HalberstadtCL2 and CL2au, Spad7 early and late, and the Spad 13.

 

 

 

GabiWWI-2.zip

[Gabi]

I have updated most of my skins and added skins for bombers as well.  I'm posting them here now mainly so other JG1 members will have them when we start the FIF campaign.

 

Gabi Skins.7z

[Vonrd]

I keep getting a corrupted download (and the DL keeps getting interrupted and says "Check Internet Connection" but my connection is good and fast). Can you post to a cloud server?

[Gabi]

3 hours ago, Vonrd said:

I keep getting a corrupted download (and the DL keeps getting interrupted and says "Check Internet Connection" but my connection is good and fast). Can you post to a cloud server?

OK here you go:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PWNsQdUAq0V20in7MHNFtxCid7yWvyRt/view?usp=drive_link

[Vonrd]

MUCH better... Thanks!

[Klaiber]

On 5/15/2025 at 6:32 PM, Gabi said:

OK here you go:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PWNsQdUAq0V20in7MHNFtxCid7yWvyRt/view?usp=drive_link

Thanks!  I'll add them to the growing pack.

(Which I promise to post soon)

[Gabi]

I have updated my skins -  They are now all 2K instead of 4K and I have added mipmaps and put them in the directory structure.  Just unzip and drop the Data folder into your IL-2 root directory.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o29Xb5KgOl_Y1rdY4xVdjTnae9wjOZrA/view?usp=drive_link

[Hans von Freden]

49 minutes ago, Gabi said:

I have updated my skins

@Gabihelped me with how to import custom skins into IL-2 after last nights practice. I now have all her skins. Is there a depository of the rest of JG1?

[Vonrd]

Here: 

 

[Klaiber]

5 hours ago, Gabi said:

I have updated my skins -  They are now all 2K instead of 4K and I have added mipmaps and put them in the directory structure.  Just unzip and drop the Data folder into your IL-2 root directory.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o29Xb5KgOl_Y1rdY4xVdjTnae9wjOZrA/view?usp=drive_link

Hi Gabi, thanks so much for updating them!  I really appreciate it.

I've asked for access to the skins (it's locked behind a sign-in).  No rush.

[Gabi]

1 hour ago, Klaiber said:

Hi Gabi, thanks so much for updating them!  I really appreciate it.

I've asked for access to the skins (it's locked behind a sign-in).  No rush.

You should be able to download now.  

[Hans von Freden]

o7

I have finished my 1st skin. Should I submit them 1 by 1 or a bunch at a time?. Since it’s my 1st one. I’m wasn’t sure if I should get them ok’d 1 by 1, or if I should just send them in a bunch at a time. Thanks.

Regards, 

von Freden

 

[Klaiber]

On 2/7/2026 at 8:11 PM, Hans von Freden said:

o7

I have finished my 1st skin. Should I submit them 1 by 1 or a bunch at a time?. Since it’s my 1st one. I’m wasn’t sure if I should get them ok’d 1 by 1, or if I should just send them in a bunch at a time. Thanks.

Regards, 

von Freden

 

One at a time is okay.  But a bunch is fine too.  Whichever is easier for you.

[Hans von Freden]

I attempted to get my skin down sampled from 4K to 2K. It ended up just looking like mud. Does anyone one know the exact process to do that? Thanks.

Regards,

von Freden

o7

[Vonrd]

36 minutes ago, Hans von Freden said:

I attempted to get my skin down sampled from 4K to 2K. It ended up just looking like mud. Does anyone one know the exact process to do that? Thanks.

Regards,

von Freden

o7

Are you using Photoshop or Gimp? I only know Photoshop but Gimp should be able to do the same.

In Photoshop, I would do all the skinmaking in 4096 x 4096 Pixels which is the 4K size. When ready to save the final version for submission, I go to Image>Image Size (or Alt+Ctrl+I) and change the size to 2048 x 2048 Pixels and save as a DDS. I should be a file size of 5462 KB which is the 2K size. I use BC7 compression.

If you want to keep your template as 4k, just click No when it asks if you want to save changes when you close the template (or change it back to 4096 size before closing).

[Klaiber]

1 hour ago, Hans von Freden said:

It ended up just looking like mud.

Brown is good camo. 

 

[Hans von Freden]

36 minutes ago, Klaiber said:

Brown is good camo. 

lol, I figured it out. Here is my 1st submission!

v_!_JG1_AlbatrosD3_Late_von_Freden.zip

[Vonrd]

Great first skin!

Please take the following in the spirit of constructive criticism...

That red is much to saturated. I'm pretty sure it will glow like neon in the game. I would desaturate it by 30% or so.

I like the graphics but why on the underside only? Maybe you're trying to blend in with the ground when low but realize that most players other than JG1 will most likely not have our skins loaded and will just be seeing the default skin anyway. The primary purpose for our own JG1 skins is for ease of ID by ourselves when things get crazy. I can easily pick out Mox or Maus by their particular graphics. Maybe duplicate the graphics on the bottom of the upper wing on the top.

[Hans von Freden]

3 hours ago, Vonrd said:

Please take the following in the spirit of constructive criticism...

Here is rev. 1 including my insignia for the web site

v_!_JG1_AlbatrosD3_Late_von_Freden.zip

[Vonrd]

That's better. Red might still be a slight bit oversaturated and dark. Take a look at Gabi's D3 for red comparison. Here are the colors: 

We stick to them as closely as possible in order to have a uniform appearance across the squad. Note the red is Hex: 9d0a0e

It looks like you don't have an Alpha layer. The alpha is how you adjust matte to gloss in IL2. It is included in the template and you can see it in "Channels". How are you saving to DDS? I use the Nvidia tool for Photoshop as seen in my post several lines above. I save as Format: "BC7 RGBA 8bpp explicit alpha". Be sure to also generate mipmaps. 

Have you looked at our Paint Dicta? https://jg1.org/richthofen/dicta/paint-policy/

I lost most of my IL2 / FC templates and skins a few years ago when an external drive bit the dust. I just noted that my D3 skin is in 4K and needs to be re-sized.

I'm going to be reviewing our paint packs and moving inactive players to an archive in order to reduce the size of the folders and maybe updating some of the skins.

[Hans von Freden]

8 minutes ago, Vonrd said:

How are you saving to DDS?

My brother who is a graphic designer offered to do them for me as a favour. I’ll pass on what you’ve suggested.