Changing portraits

[grrack2886]

I love the game and the mods that are coming out for FFH2 are just awesome, however, there are some portraits I would like to change up on a few civs that I R&D'd. The thing is I am not too sure how to go about doing that. I was hoping I would get a few tips from you fellas on how to exchange the images.

Thank you again

 

[Psychic_Llamas]

its very easy. first you need to google and download DXTbmp. this is a program that lets you make .dds files so civ can read them.

there are 2 art files to make for this. the actual portrait and the Button.

Portrait:
1. locate image you want to use
2. resize image to be exactly 512x512 pixels. you can use "paint" to do this but "Photoshop" or "Gimp" (google it, its a free download) are far more preferable). The picture will actually get squeezed narrower by about 20-25% in game so dont worry if it looks distorted here, however do worry if its too skinny or they will look anorexic in game .
3. open up "DXTbmp" and open your resized image.
4. save it as a "DDS DXT 3" format, this is very important, dont forget it
5. locate the leader you wish to replace in the Assets\Art\Interface\leaderheads folder ie alexis.dds and rename it to something like alexisBACKUP.dds, then rename your new one to alexis.dds.
viola! it should appear in game for you

Button:
1. once again locate the image you want to use. preferably the same one as the portrait.
2. cut out the head and sholders or any other recognisable feature of the picture and resize that to exatly 64x64 pixels.
3. this is the trickey part, you need to add a border to the button (i attached the button image i use to this post. make sure you save it somewhere you can access it easilly) to do this use the magic wand tool in either gimp or photoshop and delete the white center part, then overlay it on the resized leader button. save it and then open it up in DXTbmp.
4. once open in DXTbmp you need to click on the tab that says 'Alpha', then select 'Import Alpha Channel' if a popup appears ignore it and click OK. browse for the Button Alpha (which is attached here, make sure you save it somewhere you can access it easilly) and open it. you should see the alpha appear in the top right white box.
5. save it as a "DDS DXT 3" format again, and once again this is very important, dont forget it
5. locate the leader you wish to replace in the Assets\Art\Interface\leaderheads folder ie alexis button.dds and rename it to something like alexis buttonBACKUP.dds, then rename your new one to alexis button.dds.
viola! it should appear in game for you

i hope that helps some (and i hope i wasnt ninjad while i wrote this haha.)

 

[Valkrionn]

On leaderheads: I always size them to 384x512, and then stretch them. Of course, that means the original image must be larger than what you need, but it prevents distortion in game. You're stretching by the same amount the game compresses it.

 

[Psychic_Llamas]

thats good to know Valk, i never actually knew exactly how much the game compresses it

 

[Valkrionn]

That may not be the exact amount, I just go with 25% because it looks good in game. Looks like Jaba outside though.

 

[Opera]

Well, in fact, no, you don't need the original picture to be larger than what you need. In fact, you can have it smaller than 512 width. You just have to stretch it by at 125% of it's original width and then do your 512*512 selection.

May I ask which portraits you are going to change?

 

[Psychic_Llamas]

Opera is right, ive used much smaller pictures for leaders before and they worked fine

 

[Valkrionn]

I have too, I just find it easier to trim down than expand up... Not to mention it looks better.

 

[Opera]

Well, no particularly, since you have to stretch it anyway to have it not be distorted in game. All my dds are distorted but shows up fine in game