Graphics

[Geo]

Here's the assassin file for you to look at Geo:

Thanks. I see it's a .png file. Can SMAC(X) read these? Reason I'm asking is that I attempted to replace the base citizen icons yesterday, and had to switch from .pcx to .png, and back to .pcx filetype. But the icons showed up black ingame.

[Buster's Uncle]

No SMAC(X) only reads .pcxs, and you probably have a palette problem - many programs will let you save as .pcx without switching the mode back to indexed, but the game won't be able to read those.  I see you're poking around in the Articles right now - if that doesn't get you knowleged up enough, I'll try to help.

[Geo]

Basically, I need the human icons and progenitor icons switched (aliencit and newicons).

And which file does the game use for the 'Alien Crossfire' and 'Alpha Centauri' screen? The one with both stars in the background and Chiron to the right.
I tried changing things in openinga, openingb and ac_logo_sm, but to no avail.

[Buster's Uncle]

I'll poke around and see what I can find for those, and get back to you.

[Buster's Uncle]

Okay, I don't understand why you had to switch modes for a tedious but straightforward copy/paste job on the icons.  I could do it for you, but I'd be doing you more of a favor seeing that you knew how to do it yourself...

Tell me more about the starscape thing.  Are you trying to do something like the attachment?

[Geo]

Okay, I don't understand why you had to switch modes for a tedious but straightforward copy/paste job on the icons.  I could do it for you, but I'd be doing you more of a favor seeing that you knew how to do it yourself...

Because Paint doesn't recognize .pcx files.
Basically, I opened them in IrfanView, made a save as a .png file (which Paint does recognize), opened them in Paint and did the tedious copy/paste job. Then everything in reverse (opening the adjusted .png file in IrfanView and saving it as a .pcx file.

Tell me more about the starscape thing.  Are you trying to do something like the attachment?

Yes, but appearantly I worked with the wrong files. 
Something like in the attachment I'd like to achieve.
Basically I copied letters from the words 'Alpha Centauri' and placed them over the 'Crossfire' part of the Alien Crossfire logo.

[Buster's Uncle]

You want xopeninga.pcx or openinga.pcx, depending.

If you still have the .png version of the icons, open it>open separate copy of the .pcx in IrfanView>go to the .png copy>[Ctrl]a>[Ctrl]c>tab to the .pcx>[Ctrl]v>save>download GIMP.  I can help you a lot more in GIMP.

Shall I move these posts to Graphics, where they're on topic?

[Geo]

Shall I move these posts to Graphics, where they're on topic?

Probably for the best. 

[Geo]

Bloody hell! I completely overlooked the possibility the expansion would have its own full-blown opening screens. I thought the ac_logo_sm overwrote part of the openinga/b pics. 

Any idea where ac_logo_sm is used for then?

[Buster's Uncle]

Not off the top of my head, no.

[Geo]

Btw, I used to give GIMP a try several years ago, but it was a very frustrating experience and decided to continue working pixel by pixel.

[Buster's Uncle]

I worked for my first couple of years doing whatever could be done in MSPaint and pasting into PhotoShop5 to save, so I do understand - but then I had to get a new machine and A) Photoshop5 won't run in W7, and B) I can't stand the W7 version of Paint.  I've gotten used to the "aircraft panel" that is GIMP now.

[Kilkakon]

All I was trying to show is that you can use the background colour in the first slot of the colours at the bottom of the pcx file and it works. Doesn't work for bases but it does for the shield.

[Geo]

Too bad it doesn't work for bases. Might come handy at a time to have 'flagless' units besides the probe team.

[Kilkakon]

Yeah! I went with transparent and dark red for the assassins to give them a stealthy look.