When i tried to make my ship, i wanted some transparent images which i can use for my transparent bridge LCD "windows" .
I was unable to find texture pack which suits my needs so i decided to create my own.

Boy.. if i knew how hard would be to source any informations about LCD transparency and .DDS format i would never do that.. this tutorial is for every lost soul wandering on broken keen forum trying to make transparent images...

this is how transparent images looks ingame:

Paint. NET editor - it's free, you can download it here[www.getpaint.net]
for some pictures you will need transparency.dll it's a plugin for Paint. NET download it here[sites.google.com]

Photoshop (2020 version recommended)
Nvidia texture tool exporter plugin for photoshop download HERE[developer.nvidia.com]

PNG images / vectors

First, install both plugins.

Transparency plugin for Pain . NET :
copy downloaded transparency.dll to:
C: \ProgramFiles \paint. net\ Effects

now when you open Paint software it will be under Adjustments->Transparency


Nvidia texture tool exporter:
it's .exe installation file, so install it as usual

now we are done here. Pick your transparent PNG image and we can go to photoshop

Now when we have all things we need installed let's move on to Photoshop.

LCD = 512x512px 72dpi
WIDE LCD = 1024x512px 72dpi


I made quick youtube video for how to edit and export your images in photoshop and paint . NET


Full disclosure, i "stole" this from another youtube video, but i added specific export for space engineers and paint . NET steps as if you save it only in photoshop it won't work and you cannot make Channel adjustments in Paint . NET (or i don't know how to do that, i work in photoshop mainly)


You have transparent texture! Now you just need to make simple mod..

This is easiest mod you can create, everyone can do it.
I'm NOT an expert in modding so please correct me if some steps are wrong, i just copied another LCD texture mod and learnt from it

first make folder and two subfolders in it:
it should look like this:


In your mod folder create two folders, named "Textures" and "Data"

create two files

thumb.jpg - (image of your mod )

metadata.mod

in metadata mod should be this text:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ModMetadata xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<ModVersion>1.0</ModVersion>
</ModMetadata>

not sure if it's neccessary or why it's there :D i just copied it from another mod.. (noob here :D )



Copy all of your .DDS textures to this folder



In data folder, create file:

your_mod_name.sbc

Open any text editor and paste this:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Definitions xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<LCDTextures>
<LCDTextureDefinition>
<Id>
<TypeId>LCDTextureDefinition</TypeId>
<SubtypeId>TEXTURE NAME</SubtypeId>
</Id>
<TexturePath>Textures\TEXTURE NAME.dds</TexturePath>
</LCDTextureDefinition>
</LCDTextures>
</Definitions>

This is "code" for one texture
if you want add more textures just add this code after </LCDTextureDefinition> for every texture you want add :

<LCDTextureDefinition>
<Id>
<TypeId>LCDTextureDefinition</TypeId>
<SubtypeId>TEXTURE NAME</SubtypeId>
</Id>
<TexturePath>Textures\TEXTURE NAME.dds</TexturePath>
</LCDTextureDefinition>

and you have to change TEXTURE NAME to actual .dds file names of course!


Now for publishing or trying your mod you have to copy your whole mod folder to this path:

C:\Users\*WIN USERNAME*\AppData\Roaming\SpaceEngineers\Mods
Now start space engineers and try it in local world. You should see it in mod menu with folder icon.

If you want to publish your mod to workshop, click on your mod and hit PUBLISH button (right bottom)


I hope this tutorial will help atleast one person. Because i would really appriciate this yesterday..