Graphics

[JarlWolf]

Pre Edit: figured out how to upload things.

Here's a picture of said pallet.

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm not able to open the .pcxs either - got any backup files in other formats?

[JarlWolf]

I do have the thing both on paint and in a GIMP file, though only for the base/leader portrait pallet stuff. Though, that's the only thing I've actually modified thus far as I haven't touched the death screen and such yet.


So if you can figure a way to supply me the death screen/ and other stuff needed for a faction that'd be sufficient methinks.

[Buster's Uncle]

See if this works for you.

I've also erased the logo from drone2.pcx - you shouldn't have a lot of trouble substituting yours. [Edit - try the copy in my next post instead.]

I like what you've done so far - is it on purpose that you left the scanlines out?

[JarlWolf]

The scanlines as in the sort of old style digital film strip/monitor effect? Yes, but more so because its a quality factor. I wanted to keep the image crisp and clear, and I found it looked better without ( I did try it with it though.)


Trying it now, will edit this post to tell you if it works. Thanks for helping me out by the way.

Edit: Graphics are working, the profile picture and stuff fits, but the issue right now is that there is a big cyan/teal/light blue square surrounding my bases on the map.

[Buster's Uncle]

The thing about the scanlines is -- it won't really fit in with the others, visually.  If you were making an entire set of factions you intended to only play together, like Kilkakon did with his Lost Eden set, it wouldn't make any difference.  Still, it's up to you.

-I realized I forgot to re-index the mode before I saved the drone2.pcx; try this one instead.

I enjoy helping people with graphics stuff, so no big deal there.

[JarlWolf]

The thing about the scanlines is -- it won't really fit in with the others, visually.  If you were making an entire set of factions you intended to only play together, like Kilkakon did with his Lost Eden set, it wouldn't make any difference.  Still, it's up to you.

I might just do that, and make a set of factions. I could also edit the leaderhead a bit, but it doesn't seem to be too big a contrast. Its still got that sort of painterly style that SMAC/SMAX has.

-I realized I forgot to re-index the mode before I saved the drone2.pcx; try this one instead.

I seem to have made the former one work somehow. Though, whats the issue if I don't replace the old with this one?

I enjoy helping people with graphics stuff, so no big deal there.

And I greatly appreciate it. I am glad to have a helpful community to support my endeavors with custom factions.

[Buster's Uncle]

[shrugs] That's a big part of what makes this community - we help each other.

I believe that without the indexing and the SMAC(X) palette loaded, the colors will be completely wrong in the game - not even able to tell what you're looking at wrong.

[JarlWolf]

Right, will change it out. I am also experiencing trouble with the loaded pallet graphics: They loaded, like I see the buildings and my territory colours, leaderheads etc work, the problem is there is this arrogant light blue sqaure type thing surrounding my buildings and logo's. Any suggestions?

[Buster's Uncle]

That's a palette problem.  This copy of the palette should work with GIMP. (I think - I can't always keep track of files going back almost five years now.)

You do know the trick about erasing the purple background and pasting what remains into a blank .pcx?  I called it something like the GIMP Palette Workaround when I wrote it up; if you do anything to the background color, like paste the identical color in, it will no longer be transparent in the game.  Palette loading won't fix that.

[JarlWolf]

Tried it, it unfortunately doesn't work with GIMP. Says that its an unknown file type.

[Buster's Uncle]

Follow the instructions here, and you should be okay.

[JarlWolf]

Mission accomplished. It works!


I did a bit of a different process though, I didn't bother to do the crazy renders. All I simply did, was just use the fresh undamaged pallet you gave me, then I (somewhat painstakingly, but worth it in the end) copied with precision the bases and other things onto the pallet squares. I saved myself the renders, and I just tested it in game, it works. Thank you for all your help, I can now begin to release this to the public.


EDIT: Two last questions

For uploading a faction, how do we go about that? I know how to upload files, but uploading the entire faction in working order?

And I know this isn't so much a graphical question, but is there a way I could implement voice files for the faction quote? Check my custom faction thread for more insight on that/ Darkness' voice application thread.

[Buster's Uncle]

Place copies of all your faction files in your SMAX root directory - the same place as teranx.exe.  Now, open alphax.txt.  Near the bottom you'll find this:

................................................................................................
#FACTIONS
GAIANS,   GAIANS
HIVE,     HIVE
UNIV,     UNIV
MORGAN,   MORGAN
SPARTANS, SPARTANS
BELIEVE,  BELIEVE
PEACE,    PEACE

;
; First item is file name, second item is search key.
; These should always be the same except for debugging purposes.
;
#NEWFACTIONS
CYBORG,   CYBORG
PIRATES,  PIRATES
DRONE,    DRONE
ANGELS,   ANGELS
FUNGBOY,  FUNGBOY
CARETAKE, CARETAKE
USURPER,  USURPER

;
; These are factions you want included in the startup list.
; These may also be chosen when a random faction is selected.
; First item is file name, second item is search key.
; These should always be the same except for debugging purposes.
;
................................................................................................

Next is the lines for custom factions.  If memory serves, the search key is the first line of working information, which is "#CRIMSON COMRADES" in your faction file.  I just copied that twice, as I don't believe it's case-sensitive.

................................................................................................
#CUSTOMFACTIONS
buster, buster
newbs, newbs
Cannabis, Cannabis
OtherBorg, OtherBorg
federate, federate
CRIMSON COMRADES, CRIMSON COMRADES
................................................................................................
Ignore the extra custom factions.


A number of people here know how to do the sound file thing, but I'm not one of them.  Kil?

[RossoBianco1895]

Hi there,

thanks to all the contributors here, all the advice helped me lot to customise this or that in SMAC.
But I've encountered a small problem with a custom faction I'm working on. Inspired by the new Superman movie Man of Steel, I try to make a Krypton vs. Earth factions scenario. Currently I'm in the process of making two Krypton factions, Faora and Zod. So I started with Faora (darn, she's so hot  ) and everything went smoothly so far, BUT I have a problem with the faction logos. As you can see in the picture below (I hope it works), the report logos and the small report logos are the same. That's because if I have it the original size, the small report logos won't show (like in the HQ reports), but instead the large report logos. It's not a major problem (don't know where the large report logos show up anyway) but I'm still curious why it doesn't work. Maybe someone knows what's wrong.