New factions

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Has anyone solved the problem of new factions shields on the strategic map?

The black backgrounds on the right side of the small shields?

Is that a ReadBif related problem? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[Kaatar]

I thought you already figured out that it was Kievan or whatever. ... ?

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] ]I thought you already figured out that it was Kievan or whatever. ... ?
Well, that problem was related to the in-battle flag of the Kievan faction. This problem is something else. It occurs in the strategic map and, although not a playbility problem, it distracts the player. This is because the new faction's shields (FN_factionname_lge and FN_factionname_sml) are viewed with a graphical anomaly that doesn't exist with the standard faction's shields.

I'll post a picture tomorrow to show you what happens...

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

As I said the other day here are the pictures of the problem.

Compare the right shadow of the new faction's shields with the default ones:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/story/Aymar%20de%20Bois%20Mauri%20-%20Shields%20Anomaly1.jpg


here you can have a closer look at a new faction shield:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/story/Aymar%20de%20Bois%20Mauri%20-%20Shields%20Anomaly2.jpg

Compared it with a default faction shield:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/story/Aymar%20de%20Bois%20Mauri%20-%20Shields%20Anomaly3.jpg

My question is:

As anyone solved this problem? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[Duke John]

This has been discussed before: Read your solution here. (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=5;t=13389;hl=black+and+dots+and+bif) Thank Re Berengario I for his good thinking.

Moderators
I think the linked topic is important enough to be stickied. This problem is pretty annoying and the solution is there apparently but it isn't that obvious.

I shall also put this into my unitguide.

Cheers, Duke John

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Thanks, Duke John http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

Really apreciated... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

All hail, Re Berengario I. The one and only... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/ht_bow.gif

He really solved the problem My shields are perfect now http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

[Solo]

Is there several versions of purpgrab ? mine keep cuting transparent border if shield doesnt fit the picture size
ex: it cuts my 18x20 TGA to a 16x20 BIF
any idea please ? :p

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Yes. I thought my shields were perfect when I posted that last message. Happens to me too. I still have to see how I will solve the problem... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[Duke John]

As far as I know there is only 1 version of purpgrab. I think the program has been written in such a way that it always makes the smallest size possible, so it will cut any leftover background colour.
The only solution would be to make sure that your content touches all edges.

Cheers, Duke John

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] ]I think the program has been written in such a way that it always makes the smallest size possible, so it will cut any leftover background colour.
The only solution would be to make sure that your content touches all edges.
Then it is impossible to make shields as good as the original ones. They will be too large...

[Duke John]

Quote[/b] ]Then it is impossible to make shields as good as the original ones. They will be too large...
Why is this impossible? I have done this myself and there is nothing wrong with my custom shields. Why would they be too large?

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Because on the Generals and Kings panel they get aglomerated without any space between each shield. This quite different from the original ones. I can show you a picture of this tomorrow.

[Duke John]

Which file are you talking about? In my WotR mod the colour shields and faction shield located in campmap\shields\ are giving no problem at all.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

The small ones (Faction_sml) in the campmap\shields\ folder.

[Duke John]

Now I see, you're right about that. I wonder wether we can solve that.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

I think we'll have to copy a single pixel of the background, to each side of the shield image. Then merge layers in a retouching prog like Photoshop. I'm going try that out.

[Solo]

What i tried is to put a single background color pixel in the top left and bottom right. Works great for loyalty shields but info windows got a shield in the top left with darker background which looks crap now.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Hi, Solo http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif


Quote[/b] ]Works great for loyalty shields but info windows got a shield in the top left with darker background which looks crap now.
With just two pixels? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-confused.gif

I still had no time to try it. I'll have to check that out...

[Solo]

worked on something better than just black pixels. Found a solution, looking way better ingame.

I made faction shields 18x22 instead of 16x20, converted with purplegrab with a grey border surrounding the shield. Like this :

http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/armoiries/bif/exemple.jpg

Download for test :
Bohemia (http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/armoiries/bif/bohemia_sml.bif)

Navarre (http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/armoiries/bif/navarre_sml.bif)

Genoa (http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/armoiries/bif/Genoa_sml.bif)

All i need is to convert all shields now )

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

I've tried it. Looks nice but not perfect. I want to have it perfect... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-bigcry.gif
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Never mind, it's just stress... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-sad.gif

[Solo]

Hi aymar, I've found a way to avoid black spots but its too long to explain in a post, so im posting the shields ive made. I can also correct some if extra faction needed.

sml shields (http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/sml.rar)

since im posting again for gfx i also link my GA pack if someone is interested. ive made them for vikinghorde MTW XL mod but i still hope anyone else will find them any use.

GA pack (http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/GA.rar)

[Solo]

prebat pack and global preview

Prebat Shields (http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/mtw/pb100.rar)

Preview of Glory

http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/mtw/previewGA.jpg

Preview of Prebat

http://www.ifrance.com/solonis/mtw/previewES.jpg