Ancient TW: GRAPHICS discussion

[macsen rufus]

Hi Stazi,

Thanks for dropping by - I've made plenty of use of some of your discoveries, which have really helped this mod (the oversized animation BIFs and the multiple 'forest clearing' buldings have been fantastic developments... )

That sounds like a tool I could use, and you can never have too many tools - I'll download it when I'm finished here.

If it allows for fiddling with colour tables for LBMs that could be the holy grail... I've finally found a way to make unit icons with working faction colours, but it needs a few different graphics programmes, each doing a bit of the job (including the pre-test checks to ensure it's all done what you think it has...)

Anyway, here's the result:



The two pezhetairoi icons on the left have successfully picked up the blue of the Antigonids faction colour, whereas the bright pink hypaspists further across were an earlier experiment that didn't work... but they will be the next to convert.

Luckily there's not a lot of unit icons I want to put faction colours into, but now I have a method, I might rethink that

So far the only app I have which will save the LBMs with a defined colour table is Mithel, and that colour table has to be created in Mithel - it took a tedious couple of hours to do, index-by-index. Paint Shop Pro is the only app I have which can read what format of LBM it is opening (must be PBM rather than ILBM) and also accurately display the colour table loaded from the image - so that is needed to check the icon is properly formatted. The one problem with UP is that it will make up its own colour table when saving LBMs, regardless of the colour table you use in the workspace, even if you auto-load the colourtable with your BMP file Even PurpGrab's LBM output isn't properly indexed!

So, now I can make my original image in Photoshop as usual, convert it to indexed mode using a pre-prepared PS colourtable which has a useful range of colours in it (it only needs to contain the right colours, indexes don't matter at this stage as Mithel ignores the indexing in the file it opens).

Then it can be saved to BMP and opened in Mithel. Next, load the pre-prepared Mithel colourtable that contains the exact same range of colours, but properly indexed for MTW. Check that the colours in the image are in the Mithel colour table (yes, of course they are, but check anyway...) then save to LBM format.

Next check the LBM looks okay by opening it in PSP (making sure to check the 'details' in the load dialogue box first for PBM sub-format, Run Time Compression and 8 bits per pixel), where it should look all greeny and/or pinky depending on the faction colours you're using. Use the 'colors/edit palette' menu item ('Palette order' is default setting there anyway) to check the indexing is ok (it will be, but check anyway...). Once that all checks out it should be safe to stick it into the 'battle/unit icons' directory then try it out in battle - all being well, it will work, if not expect a CTD.

[dimitrios the samian]

wow , really nice looking Unit-Icon mac .
Good too see you around again Stazi .

[Stazi]

Thanks for dropping by - I've made plenty of use of some of your discoveries, which have really helped this mod (the oversized animation BIFs and the multiple 'forest clearing' buldings have been fantastic developments... )

I'm glad you find it useful. :)

The one problem with UP is that it will make up its own colour table when saving LBMs, regardless of the colour table you use in the workspace, even if you auto-load the colourtable with your BMP file Even PurpGrab's LBM output isn't properly indexed!

I work on indexed BMPs (saving as LBM is the last step). It's easier because most of the apps recognize this format. I use mainly Photoshop but any program that can keep color table intact will do. Ultimate Paint is ok too. You just have to setup it correctly. First, Options > Preferences > Files and check "Auto Load Palette".

This way UP won't create its own color palette but load the existing one from the BMP.

Then, when you save a file it should look like that:

It'll save the file with palette you're working on. Most of the time it's enough. If image is still messed up the only way to get correct color table is Seqgrab. Don't use Purpgrab. Images it makes are always messed up.

This is an example of ProMotion color table manipulation window:

You can switch, copy and move not only single color in palette but any range of colors. It can also remap colors after you moved them. IMO it's as you said - a holy grail for MTW modders. It saves huge amount of time.

[macsen rufus]

Thanks for that, Stazi - I don't think my version of UP has the 'Use Fast Palette' option in the Save dialogue, but I'll have to check it again now as it's possible I just haven't tried it - that's evidently the step that's missing for me, because I have auto-loaded BMP palettes without the saved LBM working afterwards. I'm currently using 2.82, but have got 2.88 waiting in the wings - maybe that will do it.

Pro-Motion looks excellent, and I'm itching to give it a try when I have another full free day to play with it.

I've got a few icons that could do with converting to faction-colour images, but that will mean going back to my original artwork and starting the process from scratch... again, another full free day will be required.

[Leith]

Hi guys! I'm keeping an eye on things though I've been busy working and modding! Anyway, hello and welcome back Stazi! I followed your instructions to the letter regarding the LBM icons and the faction colours work except that green becomes pink and pink becomes green. I have no idea why pink and green trade places even though I have tried several things but the results are the same.

[Stazi]

Hi guys! I'm keeping an eye on things though I've been busy working and modding! Anyway, hello and welcome back Stazi! I followed your instructions to the letter regarding the LBM icons and the faction colours work except that green becomes pink and pink becomes green. I have no idea why pink and green trade places even though I have tried several things but the results are the same.

Which instructions do you mean? Could you post any screenshots what troubles you?

[Leith]

Your post #64. I did everything you mentioned using ultimate paint but in battle the main faction colour (Green) in the LBM is replaced by the secondary one ( pink ). What could have possibly gone wrong ?

[dimitrios the samian]

: UPDATE :

Ptolemaic Hoplites are finished , apart from the obvious they have been cleaned up considerable , no more blinking lights bulbs on their helmets & they have belts & a sharper ceaner almost linothorax tunic now , as well as looking better overall .

check yr email mac

cheers

[Stazi]

Your post #64. I did everything you mentioned using ultimate paint but in battle the main faction colour (Green) in the LBM is replaced by the secondary one ( pink ). What could have possibly gone wrong ?

Upload the original file you tired to convert and the I'll check it. Colors don't mean much for the MTW engine. It's all about their indexes in the color table. If color table wasn't corrupted during conversion the only way is to repaint your image switching those colors manually. You can also change colors definitions in the txt file but it'll affect all units so it's not really a solution.

BTW Maybe we should move to your thread because we are a little off-topic here?