How to add building/improvment pcx from one scenario to another?

[Stew Pid]

I am currently using the latest version of gimp, and stuck on figuring out how to copy one scenario's building large pcx into another large pcx essentially combing the two.

I also see I have to change the index ID so two buildings don't share the same directory once merged together.

Quite a few of the Gimp tutorials here on the forums either have outdated links or Photobucket has censored or claimed the images from being shown.

Any help appreciated.

-Stew

 

[Vuldacon]

You might ask Balthasar as he has used Gimp for years.

Note that if you combine different images, such as another buildings large pcx, they most likely use different palette colors and the Copy and pasted image will only load to nearest color matching of the colors available where you are pasting it.

Generally, it is best to make a New Palette. Change both pcx files to 16 million colors then combine them as you want... then make a New Palette that will match all colors better.

 

[Stew Pid]

You might ask Balthasar as he has used Gimp for years.

Note that if you combine different images, such as another buildings large pcx, they most likely use different palette colors and the Copy and pasted image will only load to nearest color matching of the colors available where you are pasting it.

Generally, it is best to make a New Palette. Change both pcx files to 16 million colors then combine them as you want... then make a New Palette that will match all colors better.

Thanks for the input, I will ask this Balthasar expert, unless you can recommend an easier program for me to use other than Gimp.

 

[Vuldacon]

Stew Pod... I told Balthasar about this and he is willing to help you, just send him a message. IF you have "Skype", that would make things easier to communicate and see explanations.

I have several Graphics Programs but Paint Shop Pro is what I use for Civ Graphics and this is Paint Shop Pro 9, and older program. Not too expensive and easy to use. I got the program and "Jasc Animation Shop" with "Word Perfect" and like their direct simplicity. IF you want to try it, you can probably get it from Amazon or Ebay as there are newer versions out.
That said, All programs have a "Learning Curve" that takes time to understand. I have not used Gimp but believe it is a Good program when you understand how to use it and especially for Free.

There are many members that use Gimp as it is Free. I believe "Blue Monkey" also uses Gimp. When you get a few "pointers", you will understand the procedures and "How Tos" regarding the program. Not a big deal.

...it only takes a few minutes to combine Graphics as you are wanting. For the best results, set all to 16 million colors, copy and paste what you want then make a new palette for the pcx file.

 

[leif erikson]

Moderator Action: Moved to main C&C forum as that is where questions are best seen and answered.

 

[Jorsalfare]

I'm afraid you'll have to do some colormap-manipulation in Gimp. First, you shuld open the buildings.pcx-files and import and save the colormap in Gimp (use the colormap tab in the toolbox). Then you open the pcx-images of the building you want to add. Change the image mode to RGB and then back again to indexed (Image -> Mode->). In the dialog box that appears, select "Use custom palette" and choose the colormap from the buildings.pcx you just imported. After saving, the modified pcx should now be ready to drag and drop (or copy and paste) into the buildings.pcx. Same apply to buildings_small.pcx, of course. If the color quality is unacceptable, you might have to use the method described by Vuldacon.
NB: Use the latest version of Gimp, since last years version 2.10.4 (if I remember correctly) has a bug that warped and distorted the image when saving as pcx-file. Gimp 2.10.14 is OK.
Hope this helps.

 

[Blue Monkey]

Vuldacon is correct that GIMP is the primary image manipulation software I use. If the tutorial information I've written has outdated links I'm not aware of that.

It's not quite clear from your description what it is you are wanting to do. Are you taking part of one image & combining it with another? If so, then as Vuldacon says you must change modes to RGB before cutting & pasting.

 

[Stew Pid]

Vuldacon is correct that GIMP is the primary image manipulation software I use. If the tutorial information I've written has outdated links I'm not aware of that.

It's not quite clear from your description what it is you are wanting to do. Are you taking part of one image & combining it with another? If so, then as Vuldacon says you must change modes to RGB before cutting & pasting.

I basically wanted building/improvement pcx icons added from one scenario and put into another's. I am getting aid from Balthasar so far and your tutorial seems to be for an older version of GIMP that's were the confusion came from on that end.

 

[Balthasar]

The problem appears to be the black that appears (as in the second image above) in the biq. I'm beginning to think that the problem doesn't exist at the image level at all.

 

[Vuldacon]

Stew Pid... I will take a look at the buildings-large and buildings-small files you have if you can zip them here.

 

[Stew Pid]

No problem

 

[Vuldacon]

Stew Pid... Give these a Try...Both Files had the Wrong Resolutions and That is Necessary.

 

[Stew Pid]

Stew Pid... Give these a Try...Both Files had the Wrong Resolutions and That is Necessary.

Tried them both, still having black icons.

 

[Vuldacon]

Stew Pid... Hmmmmmm, Just not sure what is causing the Black icons then... Do you have this same problem with all Scenarios and are you using the same biq or from someone else?
The Resolutions of those buildings large and small pcx files Do Matter but that does Not explain the Black icons you are seeing in the biq... The Files I uploaded that you have now are correct and I can see them in my biq just fine.
Therefore, the problem probably is in the biq you are trying to use. Must be some sort of Corruption.
Did you place the Files directly in the Game Folder or first open them in Gimp and or Save after before placing the Files?

 

[Stew Pid]

Its not with all scenarios just the ones where the civ3 editor says "error does not support image format" for buildings large.pcx and small

 

[Stew Pid]

Stew Pid... Hmmmmmm, Just not sure what is causing the Black icons then... Do you have this same problem with all Scenarios and are you using the same biq or from someone else?
The Resolutions of those buildings large and small pcx files Do Matter but that does Not explain the Black icons you are seeing in the biq... The Files I uploaded that you have now are correct and I can see them in my biq just fine.
Therefore, the problem probably is in the biq you are trying to use. Must be some sort of Corruption.
Did you place the Files directly in the Game Folder or first open them in Gimp and or Save after before placing the Files?

I think I found the problem, I will get back to you.

 

[Stew Pid]

I got it! The problem was for every black box icon, a Pedialcon entry was either duplicated or not correctly linked but mainly duplicated twice.

 

[Balthasar]

Hurrah! See, you've learned.

 

[Vuldacon]

Stew Pid... Glad you have it corrected.

by the way, it does seem strange as well as funny typing your Online Name here