Trading Paints is simple. Mine downloads all the new paints that have been uploaded everytime I start. Just make sure to only select the cars you actually race so you dont download paints you will never see.
That's one part I haven't gotten around to actually doing yet, I keep meaning to download stuff as I see the occasional "suspiciously bland" car in default primer white going around the track sometimes but I always forget.
Also Wiz regarding the templates and Photoshop. Each template has a bunch of grouped layers in it including an obnoxiously large iRacing copyright logo, the version of Elements I have doesn't support those grouped layers so I get stuck with two basic layers with the logo blocking part of one. I ended up downloading a separate Street Stock template without the logo before I found out what to do.
If what you use also doesn't support the grouped layers properly you have to open it in a different program that does support the layers then you can remove the logo and resave it. Haven't tried this yet myself but apparently GIMP works and is free.
Oh and with the numbers and stuff you have to leave space for them as the game pulls them from the online paint settings, my Street Stock car was already in a very similar blue / white livery (I think I was using the Peak Performance decals / colours) so it kind of matched by luck. Helps to have a short replay saved to "check your work", I had a heck of a time lining the stripes up down over the hood and front of the car lol.
AddendumOk I downloaded GIMP and opened up one of the templates, DAMN wish I'd done that sooner! It's got a crapton of layers including a wire mesh framework overlay for the 3D model which can help with decal placement, "no paint" zones where the numbers are placed, it's also got all the original online paint schemes as layers so you can modify and use them too if you want. I'm not too familiar with GIMP as a package though so I'll have to ungroup the layers and resave so it'll work right in Photoshop (I figured that much out at least haha!).
Might have to start drawing up some silly fictional and generic sponsor decals to go along with "Tunaco Oil and Fuel" and "Feldstein Shocks".. of course I say drawing up but I actually mean mercilessly plundering the interweb for all manner of clipart and other images to cut / paste together
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