Modding Title Screen Picture

[thinkingnut]

Hi All,

I am trying to change the title screen of a civ 4 mod of the Next War mod that I'm working on. I've read in other forums that a supposedly quick and easy method would be to go to (My Mod Name)/Assets/Art/Interface/Main Menu/Next_War_Main_Menu.dds. Then, open that file with Graphic Converter 9, copy and past your desired static .jpeg image onto the original Next War main menu image, and save the file as a .dds file. I've done that, but when I load the mod, what should have been my custom image becomes a pink screen. If you could tell me how to fix it so that my static custom menu screen works, I would be most grateful.

Thanks!

 

[God-Emperor]

Probably the most important thing is that there are several types of dds file. In this case you can use DXT3 (explicit alpha) as the output type - how you do that would depend on what you are using to make the file (I've never used Graphic Converter). You can also specify that it should not generate any MIP-maps.

You should also have the .nif file and the other .dds file in the same folder, copied from Next War.

Also, you don't need to paste an image over another image since its just an image either way.

The image should be 1024 x 1024, ideally. The image is actually stretched horizontally to be 4:3 width to height when it is used (even if you using a widescreen monitor - in that case it some of the top and bottom are off the screen after the width is made to match the pixel count horizontally). That means it will look like it is stretched horizontally if you don't start with a 4:3 image and squish it into a square image.

So you can start with a 1280 x 1024 image, squish it horizontally in your favorite image manipulation program to be 1024 x 1024 (changing the width without clipping off the sides) and save it as a dds file.

If you plan to have it look good on a widescreen (16:9 or 16:10) display you should make sure that there is nothing important near the top or bottom, like text, as some of the top and bottom will be off screen.

 

[thinkingnut]

Probably the most important thing is that there are several types of dds file. In this case you can use DXT3 (explicit alpha) as the output type - how you do that would depend on what you are using to make the file (I've never used Graphic Converter). You can also specify that it should not generate any MIP-maps.

You should also have the .nif file and the other .dds file in the same folder, copied from Next War.

Also, you don't need to paste an image over another image since its just an image either way.

The image should be 1024 x 1024, ideally. The image is actually stretched horizontally to be 4:3 width to height when it is used (even if you using a widescreen monitor - in that case it some of the top and bottom are off the screen after the width is made to match the pixel count horizontally). That means it will look like it is stretched horizontally if you don't start with a 4:3 image and squish it into a square image.

So you can start with a 1280 x 1024 image, squish it horizontally in your favorite image manipulation program to be 1024 x 1024 (changing the width without clipping off the sides) and save it as a dds file.

If you plan to have it look good on a widescreen (16:9 or 16:10) display you should make sure that there is nothing important near the top or bottom, like text, as some of the top and bottom will be off screen.

Thank you for the reply. I tried converting my custom image to a .DDS file using graphic converter 9 but after renaming it as Next_War_Main_Menu.dds and replacing the original .dds file in the relevant folder, I get the pink screen again. Maybe I'm not getting the DXT3 or no MIP-maps parts right.

Since you say you haven't used graphic converter before, may I ask what program for Mac would you recommend? This is my first time trying this screen switching procedure. I'm a little lost as a result as to what tools and procedures should be used.

Yes, the dimensions should be no problem, now it's just getting the picture to come up in game, haha.

Edit: FYI, the custom static image I have right now that I want to use is in .jpg format. Have no idea what to do with it.

 

[thinkingnut]

Bump! Would be really grateful to anyone who knows how to solve this. Thanks!

 

[mourndraken]

I would send a PM to a modder who has made mods for MAC

 

[thinkingnut]

I would send a PM to a modder who has made mods for MAC

Good idea. Thanks!