rounded corners for icons

I hope the question has not already been answered somewhere. I searched but didn't find anything

I am a big noob with the GIMP. I woud like to round corners of my custom units icons, like other units in the game, but I don't know how to copy the transparent frame and paste it on my icons. I don't exactly undersatnd how layers work, and I don't understand anything to GIMP's selection tool. I know, it's a ridiculous question, but can someone help me a little ?

I am also interested in this answer or a link to a tutorial with the answer.

To get rounded icons, you need to use the regular square frame for you pic, then add the black frame in the alpha channel. I'm at work now, but when I get home I can post both frames.

I'd like to know this too.

I apologize if this offends anyone, but this is exactly what this website was designed for:



Seriously, though, if you already know the process that needs to be accomplished, but you're unsure how to use a common tool to accomplish it, have a stab at Google... the first page yields this link:

http://www.beastwithin.org/users/wwwwolf/graphtips/gimptutorials/layermaskfun.html

Here are the two files to use:

civ4bracket2rt.jpg is the base file. It's 64x64 pixels, and this is what you use to frame your leader/tech/civ/unit icon.

alphabracket.bmp is the alpha channel file that gives the square bracket its rounded look in the game.

1 - open civ4bracket2rt.jpg in Paint/PSP/etc.

2 - open your icon in the same program. Re-size it to fit in the bracket.

3 - Save as a dds (or save and convert, if need be)

4 - open the dds in DXTBmp (or whatever).

5 - in the alpha channel space, open alphabracket.bmp

6 - save as a dds

Done.

Thanx dude, that will help out alot.

Thanks Wiz, awesome.

Little follow up. I googled and downloaded DXTbmp and I have to say it is the greatest thing since sliced bread! It is so easy to understand compared to GIMP. Thanx Wyz_sub10, you deserve a statue for turning me to this program.