Creating .bit files

[sfinlay]

Hi
Can anyone tell me how to create .bit files?

I've tried modifying a .bmp file to give the required outline for a bit file but there is no option in Paint Shop Pro (or any other graphics programme i've seen) to save as a .bit file.
I can manually rename the file to give it a bit extension and PSP will allow me to open up the file as a .bit file but if I try to use it in the game nothing appears. i.e. there is no outline as there should be.

Any help appreciated.

[Jarexx]

Can't say i've done much .bit editing in the last year or so but any before that were always created in Ulead Photo Impact saved as .bmp files and then just manually renamed to .bit and i've never had any problems with the outline's showing up ingame.

Haven't tested it yet tho in this Matrix version but i'd guess it works pretty much the same.

Jarexx aka Raven

[Arkady]

yes it is normal 1bit (2 colors) bitmap file renamed from bmp to bit extension

[sfinlay]

Thank you.
 
Strangely enough, i've discovered that by using windows Paint and saving as a monochrome bitmap, then changing the file extension manually, I can get the files to work as they should. Think i'll stick to Paint from now on. Who needs these new-fangled graphics packages any way??
 
Although I find it hard to believe that PSP doesn't appear to have the same functionality. Maybe someone can shed some light on this?

[Arkady]

in PSP (Paint Shop Pro ?) you must first decrease number of colors and then save as bmp......

[sfinlay]

I had decreased the bmp to 1 bit/2 colours in Paint Shop Pro. The image info seems exactly the same as any other .bit file in the game, 1 bit/2 colours, correct dimensions, number of layers etc, it just didn't work properly. There was a very slight difference in the file size compared to the original bit file (only a matter of a few bytes) but then the same is true for the one I made in windows paint so that can't be a factor?
Very strange ! I'd love to have another graphics package to try out.

[asiaticus]

Your.bit file makes the outline for the highlighting of a platoon in the game.

You make them by:
Opening the platoon Upxxxxx bmp in MS Paint.
Outline the image with a distinctive color and then erase the image within the outline.
Save the remaining outline image as a monochrome bitmap with a .bit file name in place of .bmp. ie Opxxxxx.bit

That should do the job.

[Warhorse]

Yep, exactly, always works for me using PSP.

Mike