Vehicle custom liveries - How to + FAQ

****** PC Only! ******

Sorry, custom liveries for consoles (PS4 and XBOX One) aren't available at this moment.

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Install a custom livery

Just extract and overwrite files under "[your drive]:\[your system]\STEAM\SteamApps\common\pCars\Vehicles\Textures\CustomLiveries"

You can find amazing liveries in the Download Database: here

If you wanna request a paintjob you can do so here

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Livery Creation Guide


What do I need?

1. Photoshop CS (or higher) or any other software (e.g. GIMP) that can deal with PSD and DDS file types.

2. If your software does not support DDS files out of the box you need this plugin: http://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-t...dobe-photoshop

3. A bit of knowledge how to use Photoshop, GIMP or whatever software you chose.

4. Official Paint Templates (Download Here)



How to (Photoshop Guide)

1. Open the Template PSD file

http://i.imgur.com/xTtnlmsm.jpg

2. Do your art in (or closer to) the specific layer

http://i.imgur.com/Xv6wU9Bm.jpg

3. Flatten all layers (better performance when generate the DDS)
* dont forget to hide the Wireframe layer

4. Save your DDS in the proper format (see the "Size & File formats" table below)

5. Overwrite the related custom livery in "[your drive]:\[your system]\STEAM\SteamApps\common\pCars\Vehicles\Textures\CustomLiveries"


* Template file names don't necessarily correspond to the livery names. Change, if necessary.



Size & File formats

FILE NAME	RECOMMENDED SIZE*	DDS FORMAT	VEHICLE PART	RELATED TO
LIVERY_PLAYER	2048x2048	DXT1	Vehicle	Main livery
LIVERY_FRESNEL	1024x1024	DXT1	Vehicle	Livery reflections per angle
LIVERY_SPEC	1024x1024	DXT5	Vehicle	Livery specularity and glossyness
LIVERY_AI	1024x1024	DXT1	Vehicle	AI Livery. If AI uses the "Custom Livery"
PAINT_CHASSIS	256x256	DXT1	Vehicle	Chassi and Roll Cage colors
WHEEL_DIFF	512x512	DXT5	Wheel	Wheel livery
WHEEL_DIFF_BLUR	256x256	DXT5	Wheel	Wheel under rotation
WHEEL_SPEC	256x256	DXT5	Wheel	Wheel specularity and glossyness
WHEEL_SPEC_BLUR	256x256	DXT5	Wheel	Wheel specularity and glossyness under rotation

-> Always all MIP maps

Set the DDS plugin to "create new mip maps".

* 4096x4096px liveries are possible
Your PC performance and memory is the limit.



FAQ
by Jan Frischkorn (SMS Vehicle Art Manager)

Can we just use 1 custom livery per car?
Yes. Only 1 custom livery per car at moment.

There is a 3D viewer?
No. But you can save the DDS while game is running. See the "3D Viewer Alternative" in the "Tip" section of this FAQ.

Where do I find the custom textures?
In your pCARS runtime under "[your drive]:\[your system]\STEAM\SteamApps\common\pCars\Vehicles\Textures\CustomLiveries" you will find default custom liveries for all cars.
They are all white and show a black wireframe.
Simply replace these textures with your own and choose the "Custom Livery" in the GUI selection.

Will my liveries be deleted when I uninstall the game or install a new version?
We've changed the installer to not replace the files if they're already present, or uninstall them if they've been modified from the defaults, so it should be fairly safe.
But if you blindly delete your whole pCARS folder say, you'll lose them.
So you better keep the PSD files of your liveries somewhere safe.

I have problems saving the DDS files. What can I do?
Save the livery as TGA.
Then open the TGA and save the DDS from there.
That will usually always work. Sometimes there are problems saving DDS files from layered PSD files.

What settings do the liveries need to be saved with?
You save them as simple "DXT1" DDS with all MIP maps.
Set the DDS plugin to "create new mip maps".
The DDS file should be saved as a square image, so if a PSD file is not square (e.g. 4096x6144 pixels), you first need to resize it to 4096x4096 before exporting it to DDS).

Are metallic effects possible?
No, only solid paint is possible at the moment.
The shaders for these effects are too complicated to be externally influenced.
However, chrome and matte effects are possible. See specular + fresnel maps at the bottom of these FAQ.

Chrome and Matte Effect
by Jan Frischkorn (SMS Vehicle Art Manager)


What can I do with specular maps for liveries?
Specular maps control the specularity and glossyness of the material.
In the RGB channels (normal painting area) you can control how much light gets reflected and what colour it reflects.
Glossy paint materials usually reflect white light, so it would be 255/255/255 white.
For matte or semigloss paint you would choose a grey tone, something around 160/160/160 works well for matte paint.
For the blue chrome (see below) you would choose a bright blue colour.
The alpha channel controls how glossy the material is, i.e. how blurred the emap reflections are.
Greyscale values: White = glossy (sharp reflections), Black = matte (blurry reflections). 20/20/20 works well for matte paint.
The darker the alpha channel, the more blurry the reflections get.
Specular maps have to be saved as DXT5 (with alpha).
See attached screenshot and livery textures as example!

What can I do with fresnel maps for liveries?
Fresnel maps control the fresnel value of the paint material, i.e. the amount of reflections per angle.
Detailed explanation here: http://www.3drender.com/glossary/fresneleffect.htm
This is actually the effect that makes paint and glass look realistic.
With the fresnel map you are able to create chrome paint effect like on the McLaren F1 cars.
Greyscale values: White = Paint material, Black/Darkgrey = Chrome
Fresnel maps have to be saved as DXT1 (without alpha).
See attached screenshot and livery textures as example!


Attachment 200326

Tips

Avoid RGB pure white and pure black
All bright colous should be 90% brightness maximum, unless you want flourescent neon colours. And pure black can cause transparency issues.
Best RGB values should be around:

Color	R-G-B
White	230-230-230
Black	20-20-20

3D Viewer Alternative
You can save your livery DDS file in the livery folder while the game is running.
ALT+TAB and back to the game. In "My Garage", move one livery left (or right) and back to the Custom Livery to see your updated livery.
You can rotate it and zoom in/out in the "Take a Photo" area.


Wireframe over light colors (Photoshop)
- Duplicate the Wireframe layer (Ctrl+J)
- Invert the layer colors: Image > Adjustments > Invert (Ctrl+I)
- Change blend mode to Darken

http://i.imgur.com/mB2quYXm.jpg



Resources

Logos

www.brandsoftheworld.com
www.logotypes101.com
www.vectorlogo.org

Project CARS Fan Kit: Download
SMS Fan Kit: Download

Is there a size limit of the actual file? Because i tried once to make my own livery and my "LIVERY_PLAYER"-File was like 10-15 times bigger :O

Thanks for your FAQ so far :) :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ToDaYiSmYdAY

Is there a size limit of the actual file? Because i tried once to make my own livery and my "LIVERY_PLAYER"-File was like 10-15 times bigger :O

Thanks for your FAQ so far :) :)

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The size of the PSD file(if using photoshop) doesn't matter. When converted to a DXT1 DDS file it should be about 10meg for a 4096x4096 livery.

For the 3D viewer part:

You can safe your livery DDS file in the livery folder (or safe it elsewhere and overwrite the ones in the livery folder) while the game is running.
ALT-Tab back in the game move one livery up and one down again and you will see your updated livery ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ade Young

The size of the PSD file(if using photoshop) doesn't matter. When converted to a DXT1 DDS file it should be about 10meg for a 4096x4096 livery.

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I use/used GIMP with a plugin for the PSD files. Okay thanks for your fast respond :)

Sticky Thread please. :D

Done :)

Can I ask...Is there a way of having a pack of car liveries per car, or is it still one livery per car?