Matrix Games Forums

I've started doing just a little bit of playing around with maps and Scene edit. Started making adjustment to one of the maps, then decided I should walk through the samples in the the Map Editor thread.

Started in on the sample Erik used for converting one of the summer maps to a winter map.

Tools I normally use for editing image is Irfanview (not much of an editor - I know). But, I see it doesnt save in .dds format. So I look at Gimp (has lots of stuff, but as far as I can tell, doesnt save in .dds

So I download Paint.net. Looks like this one lets me save .dds format.

I'm working on a pretty non-existent budget here, so is this tool reasonable to use to make some of the snow effects?

I know later in my project I"m going to want to find a way to get rid of some of the roads. I know I'll need to change the map.bmp to reflect clear terrain (or whatever terrain I put in), but I think I also need to work with the road.png file. I looked at it and it looked like some kind of negative image.

where roads were whit but other ares pretty blotchy.

I'm ramlbing here, so I guess my first question, is Paint.net a reasonable free tool to use, or are their some other recommendations of open source tools I should look at for working on the maps (not the 3-D part - I'll stick with whats in the game for topography).

Thanks
Rick

Rick,

When I used to mod graphics for SH4, over in the subsim forum they had lot's of tools. Two types I use ...

DXTBmp :

I use a freeware program called DXTBmp ... I use this to extract Alpha layers from image files. It can load/save to DDS too.

Goto http://fly.to/mwgfx/ ... click on the DXTBmp icon on bottom of page to goto that program page. Also, you'll need the required DLL's for that program which can be found at the same website, under Graphic Tools ... scroll to bottom of that page for download.

DDS Converter v2.1 :

I also use a DDS converting program called DDS Converter ... freeware. After you install it read the readme ... it will tell you where you can go to get the lastest nvidia DLL's. It comes with an nvidia exe already, to convert automatically. The Zip contains a little tutorial written by Nvdrifter, from the subsim forum.

DDS Converter download ... from my FileFront page ... 1.16 MB ...
http://files.filefront.com/dds+converte ... einfo.html

Hope this helps,

Rob

Rick,

By the way ... I used those two programs to make my tracers.

I started by using DXTBmp ... I exported the image to my editor (Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI).
I edited the image, then imported it back to DXTBmp ... then imported the Alpha layer (any image type, converts it to greyscale). I then saved it as a TGA.
Then, I used the DDS converter program ... I converted the TGA into a PNG.
Finished.

Hope this helps,

Rob

ORIGINAL: Mraah

Rick,

When I used to mod graphics for SH4, over in the subsim forum they had lot's of tools. Two types I use ...

DXTBmp :

I use a freeware program called DXTBmp ... I use this to extract Alpha layers from image files. It can load/save to DDS too.

Goto http://fly.to/mwgfx/ ... click on the DXTBmp icon on bottom of page to goto that program page. Also, you'll need the required DLL's for that program which can be found at the same website, under Graphic Tools ... scroll to bottom of that page for download.

DDS Converter v2.1 :

I also use a DDS converting program called DDS Converter ... freeware. After you install it read the readme ... it will tell you where you can go to get the lastest nvidia DLL's. It comes with an nvidia exe already, to convert automatically. The Zip contains a little tutorial written by Nvdrifter, from the subsim forum.

DDS Converter download ... from my FileFront page ... 1.16 MB ...
http://files.filefront.com/dds+converte ... einfo.html

Hope this helps,

Rob

Well, I dont even know what an alpha layer is, or what it does. I think I'm probably at a level way way below where you are.

I looked at that DXTBMp sw site from one of your earlier posts. Didn't see where it would help me make snowy texture, so I kept looking for some kind of drawing tool.

I think maybe I need to take a step back and find a site that has tutorials on paint.net. that seems like its basic enough for me to understand, then i can look at these other tools.

Maybe I'll look at some winter stuff and see what it looks like.

Thanks!

Rick

ORIGINAL: Rick
So I look at Gimp (has lots of stuff, but as far as I can tell, doesnt save in .dds

To open/save/edit .dds files download the The GIMP's plugin:
http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/dds/
I have tested it (only the windows version, I am not able to compile the Linux source) to change the color of some tanks and it works.

Hey thanks! I updated GIMP and then loaded the plug-in. At least now I can load and save DDS format using an editor I"m at least a little more familiar with. (though not much).

Thanks,

Rick

ORIGINAL: Rick
I looked at that DXTBMp sw site from one of your earlier posts. Didn't see where it would help me make snowy texture, so I kept looking for some kind of drawing tool.

No need to make a snowy texture ... the game has snowy textures already.

Look in the MEDIA/LEVEL2 folder ... files snowX01 and snowX02 BMP's and DDS files.

hope that helps,
Rob

ORIGINAL: Mraah

ORIGINAL: Rick
I looked at that DXTBMp sw site from one of your earlier posts. Didn't see where it would help me make snowy texture, so I kept looking for some kind of drawing tool.

No need to make a snowy texture ... the game has snowy textures already.

Look in the MEDIA/LEVEL2 folder ... files snowX01 and snowX02 BMP's and DDS files.

hope that helps,
Rob

After I went to bed last night that very thought occured to me. I could get my snow effect from one in the game already. Sometimes I"m really slow.

Thanks!
Rick