How do you assemble bmp sprite sheets?

[YanBG]

Not sure if i had to continue in my previous topic... But i want to hear the graphic modders methods for building a bmp from many unit frames(not the actual bif making). UM_LoTR doesn't seem to do that, or i just skipped some of the documentation

I tried TexturePacker and if i use png frames it will crop them(otherwise in bmp they won't be placed together) and then in Photoshop i could convert them to MTW's 256 color palette. The trial version puts a watermark on some but there is another free program i could try:


This is a test version with only standing frames, i could have put the weapons and shields at the bottom too. But in the best case it's still making 12 bmps separately

[dimitrios the samian]

Good question Yan .
In all my years here it has never been revealed .
A thread some time ago revealed part of the puzzle .
I will send you a link .
......
but , from my self taught ideas .
You need to use ReadBif but im not exactly sure how , click under Special & Extra & have a look , "load anime rectangle"
........... I think stazi & zwei know the procedure as they ported in a new model recently .

One method you can try is , clear up 12 bmp's , divide the bmp set the co-ordinates manually using white lines & begin pasting in the individual figures .
Will take lots of time , but until we unlock the secrets of BifReader ......... we can only try & ask & never give up

[YanBG]

You got me interested about that link, please send.

[dimitrios the samian]

OK , Did a bit of searching & reading ..... bingo !!
Its Readbif 23C that loads the animations into the rectangles .
I only seen it today for the first time as I have been using 22b for almost 2 months now since I started .
Anyway , it seems that I have been moving along , learning from my errors & it was nice to read this little nugget of info below .



I'm beginning too understand how shields & weapons are positioned & will make major changes in the coming years to many of the bifs !

[YanBG]

Finally i made the custom skin fully playable. Some of the green wasn't converting to player color in game, but now i used the BOWMAN's palette and it worked(i keep the original png plates), some green pixels always become transparent though.

Here are screenshots of a new Byzantine spearman in battle and preview_icon. Feedback would be appreciated!

[dimitrios the samian]

wow !! quick work
It Looks great Yan ....
Im sure more troops like this one will be welcomed with open arms !
Don't stop here .
cheers