Editing graphics question

[Staggerwing]

If anyone has done any graphics, how do you get the backgrounds to disappear?
I've tried to just extract a png file from an existing resource and just draw over it
but when I'm done there is a colored background that shows through. I'm using
PSP8 and have to sheepishly admit that I'm a total graphics Noob. I realize how to
creat the various sprites and that the coordinates must match the location of the
bit of the texture file I want to show. What I can't get to happen is to get the backing
to be invisible. Is there a magic color value I need to use? If so, its not the one that
the background color defaults to when extracting the resource.
Any help is appreciated.

[Unhappy]

I believe there is a magic color value. At least that is what worked for me. It is:

Hue: 200
Saturation: 240
Luminescence: 120
Red: 255
Green: 0
Blue: 255

Check out my posts on creating an .srf file in the 'Mods and Scenario' section.

[GoodGuy]

How can I extract/access the srf files?

[Prince of Eckmühl]

There's an excellent discussion about art and a/c mods going on over here:

tt.asp?forumid=466

PoE (aka ivanmoe)

[GoodGuy]

Well I wanted to know what program I'd need to open an srf file, I did not want to know how to create an image template/srf resource file . I asked here because I couldn't spot a hint.

[Unhappy]

Ok, there is a way to 'open' them.

Go into the Editor.

Click on Resources. (top left)

Use the file browser (top left) to locate the file you want to open.

Select that resource file.

In the Resources box (left side in the middle) select the texture or surface that you want to 'open'. (You can't 'open' sprites by themselves). The picture will be previewed at the top of the window for textures but not for surfaces.

On the right hand side of the window you will see a button labelled 'Extract Resource'. Click on that.

A window pops up labelled 'Select Save File'. Use the file browser to locate the directory where you want to save the file.

Then you have to put in a name to save the file under AND use an image file extension so for example "Cool Plane.BMP" or "Cool Plane.JPG" etc. That will save the texture or surface as an image file that you can then modify or whatever.

Hope that helps.

P.S. Whatever you do - don't change the file association for the .srf files trying to get them to open. I did that and had to remove the file associations and re-install the game twice before I could get it working again.

[GoodGuy]

Thanx for the hints, appreciated. [:)]

[Staggerwing]

Thanks for the info, Unhappy. I was using PSP8 to open and save files and it wouldn't
create the correct color for transparencies. I loaded an image into MS Paint and was able
to correct the problem. MS Paint has few redeeming qualities in my book but that appears
to be one.