Adding individual ship/aircraft bitmaps to the database

[parman72]

For the benefit of the uninformed, how do you insert one of the single ship or aircraft bitmaps to the database?

Thanks for the help

[Shark7]

Planes are a lot more difficult. For the ships, you just have to be sure to size it right, use both the purple background image in the xxxx_transp folder and the one with the actual background in the XXXX_back folder. Make sure the number matches on both

Example: AnSide0500.bmp for the one with the color background and AnSchil0500.bmp for the one with the purple background to add a new allied ship.

For aircraft there are three files to modify for each side A_PlaneSide, Aptop, and Aptop_alpha for allied planes or start with a J for Japan. When you open the .bmps you will see how they are set up. Keeping the tops lined up correctly can be tricky, though I have provided a set of PS graph lines to help here: tm.asp?m=2188991

Again, the bitmap number in the editor much match the position of the aircraft in the .bmp, and sides do matter. To add a new japanese plane to the unused slot 6 for example, you must go to the 3 seperate japanese art files and make sure the new plane is in slot six (the art is 4 across, and start at number 1), then when you add it in the editor, be sure to put '6' in the bitmap field.

I'm sure the team that worked on it can explain it far better than I could though.

[parman72]

Thanks. I was planning on adding the files supplied in this forum

[Shark7]

Ships are extremely easy, especially if you are using 'mod ready' artwork. Planes are definitely more involved due to how their artwork is set up.

[dwg]

ORIGINAL: Shark7
For aircraft there are three files to modify for each side A_PlaneSide, Aptop, and Aptop_alpha for allied planes or start with a J for Japan. When you open the .bmps you will see how they are set up. Keeping the tops lined up correctly can be tricky, though I have provided a set of PS graph lines to help here: tm.asp?m=2188991

There is no need to cut and paste files into the consolidated bitmaps any more. In Art/AlliedPlanes or JapPlanes, put the individual aircraft files as A_PlaneSideXXXX.bmp, AptopXXXX.bmp, and Aptop_alphaXXXX.bmp, where XXXX is the bitmap number for the aircraft. This will add the aircraft if it is one of the unused bitmap numbers, or override the image in Aptop etc if it is already used.

[JSG]

ORIGINAL: dwg
There is no need to cut and paste files into the consolidated bitmaps any more. In Art/AlliedPlanes or JapPlanes, (...)

Strangely, these folders don't exist in my AE directory. I have a folder full of ship bitmap sub-folders with flak animations and all, but no trace of aviation art.

[michaelm75au]

They are optional directories to allow individual plane images.
There should be a document in the Manual directory about the Art Modifications.

[Halsey]

ORIGINAL: JSG

ORIGINAL: dwg
There is no need to cut and paste files into the consolidated bitmaps any more. In Art/AlliedPlanes or JapPlanes, (...)

Strangely, these folders don't exist in my AE directory. I have a folder full of ship bitmap sub-folders with flak animations and all, but no trace of aviation art.

The extra art folders have to be created and placed in the game folder.

Check out this link to find the instructions for installation.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2405660&mpage=29

[oldman45]

I have always wondered why the aircraft were done as one big picture? It sure would be easier if they were all individual.

[dwg]

ORIGINAL: JSG

ORIGINAL: dwg
There is no need to cut and paste files into the consolidated bitmaps any more. In Art/AlliedPlanes or JapPlanes, (...)

Strangely, these folders don't exist in my AE directory. I have a folder full of ship bitmap sub-folders with flak animations and all, but no trace of aviation art.

As the guys have already said, just create the new folders and copy in the bitmaps for the aircraft you want to add.

[traskott]

What size had the pictures of the planes ? (it's sooo difficult cut planes to get a clean copy to paste in a new mod... )

[Halsey]

ORIGINAL: traskott

What size had the pictures of the planes ? (it's sooo difficult cut planes to get a clean copy to paste in a new mod... )

150 pixels x 60 pixels, including the 1 pixel black border.[;)]

[traskott]

Thanks!! Time of cut and paste[&o]