Help needed

[Vojvoda]

Few days ago i found on my old HDD buildings pack DL from civ fanatics base long time ago. I cant remember creator of these files but i bet they are good cuz he uses 3d models for it.

I have problem to manipulate with these files cuz i cant open NIF extension which contains building structures i have also DDS files which coorelate with NIF files.

So anyone from community who has better knowlegde to use these kind of files can pls help me convert these files into pcx files that i can use for my mod.
Of course reuploaded for civ fanatics database is mandatory so everyone else can use and get access to these files.

Its btw fantasy themed building packs i maybe can guess who created but yet again i dont wannamake mistake by guessing it.

Anyone who is familiar to these files extension and can operate it pls send me pvt msg i will send him files so he can convert them.

 

[Vojvoda]

Anyone knows? if some1 can direct me to other civ forums if knows hwho can help i would be apprecienting

 

[Blue Monkey]

If it's buildings then you just need a static image (not animations). I have not done it myself. This -

At the moment I open the files up in NifScope then take a screenshot when I have positioned them in a roughly isometric manner. Then I get rid of the black background, scale them down and cut 'n' past to appropriate backgrounds.

seems to be what you need to do. Blank backgrounds for the building pcx used in the civilopedia are available somewhere here in the forum.

 

[Civinator]

DDS and NIF files are - as far as I remember - used for those ugly graphics of Civ 4. May be here you can find a useful tool: https://forums.civfanatics.com/forums/civ4-utility-programs.176/
and in the Civ 4 modding forums somebody to help you.

When I tried to use such a tool in the early days of Civ 4 (I think its name was DDS converter or something like that to convert Civ 4 DDS-files to BMP-files) I got some crazy graphics looking like the pattern for a taylor, but not like a useful building. So if I would use such graphics, may be the idea to take a screenshot during a started game and than insert the 2D-graphics of that screenshot in 2D 128x128 or 32x32 pcx-files isn´t a bad idea.

But I don´t understand why to do this as we have so many beautiful graphics for fantasy scenarios in the Civ 3 forums - especially when I think about SWalkers conversions of Age of Wonder 1 and 2 graphics for cities and buildings.

https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/age-of-wonders-buildings.181602/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/age-of-wonders-city-graphics.181479/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/age-of-wonders-ii-cities.181759/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/warhammer-buildings-and-wonders.182769/

(the last link are Warhammer: Buildings and Wonders)

 

[Delta_Strife]

Gentleman there is a much easier way to do the converting. Download Niftools. Use it to open the nif file then export as .obj file to use in your favorite modelling program to create your static image. Of course it always good to check with the original author if possible to make sure its ok. I have found the civ4 unit makers very open to letting me convert their ships so I imagine building creators will not a have problem if you contact them.

 

[Vojvoda]

@Delta Strife
yep u were right i need to use these files convert them to OBJ but my damn photoshop still cant read or see these files.

@Civinator
Tyvm buddy for the links. I got all these packages long time ago i already used some of them.

@Blue Monkey
i think that they are not animations but yet again i cant open them. I asked 1 of my friend to look it and he said that they not animations but it will need bit of time to sort postion for static picture. I cant remmber author of these files i dl them 2009

Nevertheless i already assembly building roster, but if some1 could i can send u guys files.

 

[Delta_Strife]

That is because an obj file is a 3d file. It needs to be opened in blender, bryce, 3dsmax, etc......

 

[Laurana Kanan]

That is because an obj file is a 3d file. It needs to be opened in blender, bryce, 3dsmax, etc......

Tru, but I can also open .obj files in PS if I want.

@Vojvoda Which version of PS do you have?

 

[Vojvoda]

@Laurana Kanan

i m using photoshop cc 2015, but nevertheless i solve and sort the problem.

Is some1 interested in making new city graphics pack fantasy based for my mod? i have pictures what i want but when i try to assembly it in blender buildings and stuff are all over the place.