Blag Flags--Flag editing question

[ArbitraryGuy]

I am trying to edit a flag for a civilization. I save the edited dds file in the proper place, and call in properly in the xml with white flag set to 1. I've tried it with unedited default flags from the Desert War scenario, and I can get those to display properly.

However, after I edit a flag in photoshop and save it as a dds, the flag comes up black in the game. Is there any special way I have to save the dds file (I'm using Photoshop with the Nvidia plugin) in order for the game to display the flag properly? Any suggestions?

 

[Jecrell]

I have the same problem... =(

 

[miragechaser]

These are the steps I've taken to add a custom flag to the game.

First: Edit the /XML/Art/CIV4ArtDefines_Civilization.xml file

Change:<Button>,Art/Interface/Buttons/Civilizations/Arabia.dds,Art/Interface/Buttons/Civics_Civilizations_Religions_Atlas.dds,2,5</Button>
Have it point to whatever the name of you file is.

Under that change
<bWhiteFlag>0</bWhiteFlag> to
<bWhiteFlag>1</bWhiteFlag>

Edit your image as you choose then set the alpha channel to completely black. This makes sure your image doesn't have a color cast over it. The color is whatever color that civilzation is if its blue then you'll have a blue shade. Is the civilization you're modding's color black? That might be the problem.

 

[Jecrell]

How should I save the DDS files? There's a bunch of options~

 

[miragechaser]

I'm not sure what program you're using to edit the files. I use DXTBmp.

My files are saved as DDS DXT3 128x128 with Include MipMaps when saving checked.

 

[Jecrell]

I'm not sure what program you're using to edit the files. I use DXTBmp.

My files are saved as DDS DXT3 128x128 with Include MipMaps when saving checked.

Thank you ever so much, I've got it working now.

 

[Jecrell]

Okay now for some reason I can't get the color yellow to show up in my red flag.

I'm trying to do the soviet union flag with a yellow symbol in the middle and red background, but for some reason the yellow always turns up a very reddish orange and looks terrible.

I've tried everything and I'm at my wit's end...

 

[ArbitraryGuy]

I'm not sure what program you're using to edit the files. I use DXTBmp.

My files are saved as DDS DXT3 128x128 with Include MipMaps when saving checked.

The might Prussian empire thanks you and the creator of DXTBmp.

 

[Futumch]

Okay now for some reason I can't get the color yellow to show up in my red flag.

I'm trying to do the soviet union flag with a yellow symbol in the middle and red background, but for some reason the yellow always turns up a very reddish orange and looks terrible.

There's two colours per civ, the first being your border colour, the second your alternate border colour. It seems that the second colour ignores transparency that you define in your flag texture (so in your case what you are seeing is red over your yellow hammer and sickle).
A simple solution is to draw the flag as you want it to appear in game, set the alpha channel to black, save as DDS DXT3 with Mipmaps. In your Assets\XML\Art\CIV4ArtDefines_Civilization.xml file, set the WHITEFLAG toggle to 1, which effectively ignores the Alpha channel.
This method has the advantage of making any colour you like available for borders.

 

[Jecrell]

I actually fixed my problem a while ago. Suffice to say the flag looks fantastic and I'm well on my way towards my goal of finishing the module.

 

[Robo Magic Man]

I've been trying to make a cuban flag for a scenario for awhile now. I read this thread, but whenever I set the alpha channel to black, even with the whiteflag toggle on, the white stripes of the flag appear black, while the red stripes, blue triangle, and white star all appear red. Can someone please help me with this?

 

[Haarbal]

all the stuff that you create black in the alpha mask, will be turned into your civs secondary colour (or primary, i forgot which one), so if you create and entire black alpha channel, you get a one coloured flag

 

[Robo Magic Man]

Ok, so how can I create a flag that's not affected by civ colors?