How do I make custom faction artwork?

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Author Topic:   How do I make custom faction artwork?

Excellence of Execution posted 07-21-99 09:21 PM ET
Hi. I tried to make art for my custom faction but it didn't work. Instead, it just showed Gaian stuff. I called EA support and they said the artwork was in some weird, compressed format (I was trying PCX). They didn't know what it was. Does anyone here know what format I need to use? What program would I need to use? I have Adobe Photo Deluxe, will that work? Thanks.
The Builder posted 07-22-99 05:27 AM ET

I first tried Paint, but then, the game used faction.pcx, which is a simple copy of the Gaians.
Then I used Corel Presentations (not the best program for doing that, Adobe Photoshop should do better) and I was able to make the game accept my files but the colours weren't shown correctly.
I don't know the exact specifications, but would be glad to read here. And of course, if someone knows an adress with some pictures to use?
Up to the Sky!
The Builder
Coki posted 07-23-99 05:25 AM ET
I have read somewhere in this forum that SMAC is using its own 256 colours pallete and that is the reason why it doesnt show up with the correct ones. If you want to have it right you need to use AMSC 's pallete... I haven't tried it yet but I will...
Big Mad Drongo posted 07-23-99 07:50 AM ET
OK, firstly to get the palette load palette.pcx and save the palette in whatever way your program does it, I use PaintShop Pro and it's pretty easy to do this.
Next load any .pcx file used for factions (eg Gaians.pcx, hive.pcx or, if you have acedit 2, default.pcx, this ones really easy to use as it has no pictures, just the backgrounds, you can get ACEdit at The Nexus)
Now you put in all your pictures/logos etc., reduce the colour depth to 256, or just load the SMAC palette again. If you're using high colour pictures, they probably won't translate too well, but they should show up without being all garbled. Also remember to save your pcx files with the same name as your faction name, so if your faction is nohopers.txt, the pcx files must be nohopers.pcx, nohopers2.pcx, and nohopers3.pcx. I hope this goes some way to answering your questions, if not then there are LOADS of threads at various sites full of people who don't know what to do!
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Author	Topic: How do I make custom faction artwork?
Excellence of Execution	posted 07-21-99 09:21 PM ET Hi. I tried to make art for my custom faction but it didn't work. Instead, it just showed Gaian stuff. I called EA support and they said the artwork was in some weird, compressed format (I was trying PCX). They didn't know what it was. Does anyone here know what format I need to use? What program would I need to use? I have Adobe Photo Deluxe, will that work? Thanks.
The Builder	posted 07-22-99 05:27 AM ET I first tried Paint, but then, the game used faction.pcx, which is a simple copy of the Gaians. Then I used Corel Presentations (not the best program for doing that, Adobe Photoshop should do better) and I was able to make the game accept my files but the colours weren't shown correctly. I don't know the exact specifications, but would be glad to read here. And of course, if someone knows an adress with some pictures to use? Up to the Sky! The Builder
Coki	posted 07-23-99 05:25 AM ET I have read somewhere in this forum that SMAC is using its own 256 colours pallete and that is the reason why it doesnt show up with the correct ones. If you want to have it right you need to use AMSC 's pallete... I haven't tried it yet but I will...
Big Mad Drongo	posted 07-23-99 07:50 AM ET OK, firstly to get the palette load palette.pcx and save the palette in whatever way your program does it, I use PaintShop Pro and it's pretty easy to do this. Next load any .pcx file used for factions (eg Gaians.pcx, hive.pcx or, if you have acedit 2, default.pcx, this ones really easy to use as it has no pictures, just the backgrounds, you can get ACEdit at The Nexus) Now you put in all your pictures/logos etc., reduce the colour depth to 256, or just load the SMAC palette again. If you're using high colour pictures, they probably won't translate too well, but they should show up without being all garbled. Also remember to save your pcx files with the same name as your faction name, so if your faction is nohopers.txt, the pcx files must be nohopers.pcx, nohopers2.pcx, and nohopers3.pcx. I hope this goes some way to answering your questions, if not then there are LOADS of threads at various sites full of people who don't know what to do!