Help with PCX image manipulation

[Anti-christ]

OK I have been trying to make a custom unit_32.pcx file so I dont have to look through 2000+ units of the master file I downloaded from your fine site but everytime I try making my own, the computer bombs trying to read it. I am using PSP 8.0 and I am quite the newb regarding pallettes and pcx images so any help will need to be quite plain and easy to follow. What I have been doing is cutting and pasting my desired images into blank spots but when I save the image it says something about a merged image if that helps!?

 

[BadKharma]

When you paste your cut image DO NOT paste as a new layer this is your problem. Instead paste as a new selection once you have it moved where you want it just hit control+D this deselects it and you can do another. By doing this you retain the .pcx format and do not promote your image to 16,000,000 colors and then have to redo the color indexing.

 

[Anti-christ]

so the method i was using, was that messing up the pallette?

edit: Ok, I tried like you suggested and ctrl-d didn't do anything, OK let's try this again. Could you explain it to me like I don't have a clue {because I really dont}. I can get both images up and tiled ready to go, let's go from there. How should I aquire the image I want and how do I xfer succesfully to the other image.

On a side note I would also like to know how I take an image let's say .jpg and turn it into a .pcx that civ can use?

 

[BadKharma]

CTRL D deselects the image.............OK open the units 32.pcx. Now open the unit 32 pcx image you want to add........using the selection tool select the image you want to copy and then edit/copy this makes a copy of the image and adds it to the clipboard now minimize the new unit 32 you just selected from so you can see the full unit 32pcx you have open. Find an empty space (its best to use the first available empty space so you dont get confused when looking for the new icon ). Now simply edit/paste as a new selection (CTRL + E) btw CTRL + D or any other shortcut means you hold the CTRL key and hit D so both keys are hit together. Now you have a floating selection over your cursor when it is over the document so you can adjust the position until it is just right then hit the left mouse button.........you can still make precise adjustments until you deselect the image by using the move tool (M). For precise adjustments use the arrow keys to move the image 1 pixel at a time. Once you have the placement just right hold the CTRL key and hit D the new image is now deselected and has become part of the unit 32 pcx.
I have not set up a pallette in PSP I do all that kind of work in Photoshop but I believe there is a pallette for PSP you can download from this site and use by loading it into PSP..........when you view the pallette it should be 256 colors with the last 2 colors 255 0 255 (Pink) and 0 255 0 (Green). If the pallette isnt set up like that then Civ3 will not recognize and display properly the pcx you made.
If you have trouble with PSP use the help feature I'm accustomed to using photoshop for almost everything but occasionally use PSP.

 

[Anti-christ]

Success DR. oppenheimer! Thank you guys, and by the way I'm a newb to image manipulation .... not comps