For my mod, I have planned to just use munits. So, to convert the various new .flcs that I need, I am SBB and FLICster. I've followed the munit tutorial on the help files of SBB, and so far, so good. I have a nice, .bmp version of the storyboard. My question is, what to you do afterwards? How do you convert the .bmp storyboard into the .flc animation files?

I haven't read that tutorial, but Utah's unit making tutorial walks you through it, check it out. You'll need Paint Shop Pro (or some other graphics software).

I made a number of multiple units. Here my own way (assuming you already have BMP files from SBB):

1) open BMP Paint Shop Pro (or similar graphic program) and load "alpha" palette for that animation. For instance if you are producing default animation load [unit name]default_alpha.pal and choose "nearest colour matching" option, since mantain indexes will not be available.

2) loading palette will turn background to blue or other colors. Use color replacer tool in Paint Shop Pro to change it back to original background (usually gray). Be careful; the : "original background"gray" is the background you get when you load alpha palette with "mantain index" option into original single unit storyboard (pcx files obtained exporting flc with flicster).

3) save the BMP with new palette and background as PCX file

4) load into Flicster the Storyborard FXM file (produced when first exporting single unit with flicster), check the animation and re-export in into flc file


if you are in trouble see: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=44695

good luck

I made a number of multiple units. Here my own way (assuming you already have BMP files from SBB):

1) open BMP Paint Shop Pro (or similar graphic program) and load "alpha" palette for that animation. For instance if you are producing default animation load [unit name]default_alpha.pal and choose "nearest colour matching" option, since mantain indexes will not be available.

2) loading palette will turn background to blue or other colors. Use color replacer tool in Paint Shop Pro to change it back to original background (usually gray). Be careful; the : "original background"gray" is the background you get when you load alpha palette with "mantain index" option into original single unit storyboard (pcx files obtained exporting flc with flicster).

3) save the BMP with new palette and background as PCX file

4) load into Flicster the Storyborard FXM file (produced when first exporting single unit with flicster), check the animation and re-export in into flc file


if you are in trouble see: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=44695

good luck
I used the link you gave me, and I successfully made a munit animation for the Firaxis Worker. However, as soon as I got to the death animation, after loading the alpha blend palette on the munit .bmp, the shadows are still red. :confused: :mad: :cry: Can somebody help me?

As a matter of fact, the process and tools described in tutorial are not 100% perfect. Old Firaxis units often has palette problems and/or bad shadows. Sometimest this also happens with more recent units and a painful manual editing of munit pcx is required.

Have you tried to finish off the unit anyway ? If this does not work try to redo everything but insert a first step replacing background color of original worker unit, i.e replace the last color in palette. Be careful to avoid using for background any color already present in other palette positions.
If even this can't fix the problem try to replace the whole last two rows of color palette, maybe copyng them from good quality units...

I hope this helps (I'm definitely not an expert)

The colour of the shadows in the bmp is irrelevent. What is important is the index.

Just try the unit in Flicster to see if the shadow is red, or if it is semi-transparent.

As a matter of fact, the process and tools described in tutorial are not 100% perfect. Old Firaxis units often has palette problems and/or bad shadows. Sometimest this also happens with more recent units and a painful manual editing of munit pcx is required.

Have you tried to finish off the unit anyway ? If this does not work try to redo everything but insert a first step replacing background color of original worker unit, i.e replace the last color in palette. Be careful to avoid using for background any color already present in other palette positions.
If even this can't fix the problem try to replace the whole last two rows of color palette, maybe copyng them from good quality units...

I hope this helps (I'm definitely not an expert)
Thanks, this may be useful.
The colour of the shadows in the bmp is irrelevent. What is important is the index.

Just try the unit in Flicster to see if the shadow is red, or if it is semi-transparent.
I tried, and it was red, even on the Alpha Blend selection.