PCX-Files

[Aragorn7]

Hi all!

Just a simple question. Which program do I need to open PCX files?

Aragorn 7

 

[GRM7584]

freeware: the GIMP. just google for it. it opens anything and has a slew of features. If you're planning on messing with .pcx files, make sure to learn about palettes, or you'll get very frustrated very quickly.

 

[mrtn]

Other popular software are Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. I use Photoshop, think it works great.

 

[-0blivion-]

Irfanview is another free program that can open .pcx files. I do however say that it is much easier to use photoshop in my opinion.

 

[Pounder]

Microsoft Photo Editor should be on your PC if you are running windows.

 

[FashaTheDog]

Don't use Irfanview 3.91 as it caused my game to exit out with no warning whenever a city was built. Just thought I'd save you the headache now.

 

[Pounder]

That may have been because you weren't using 256 colours.

 

[Takeno]

That may have been because you weren't using 256 colours.

This is probalbly correct, since for the longest time I had the same problem. In the end I just switched to the GIMP, since its free and it allows that kind of thing quite easily.

 

[tjedge1]

I use GIMP. After editing a pcx file, I always make sure the image is indexed with 254 colors, as it can cause crashes without error messages if not done this way. Just ran into that in my beta testing recently with a wonder splash.

 

[GRM7584]

I use GIMP. After editing a pcx file, I always make sure the image is indexed with 254 colors, as it can cause crashes without error messages if not done this way. Just ran into that in my beta testing recently with a wonder splash.

I haven't had any problems leaving images in true color modes, or saving them indexed with anywhere between 2 and 256 colors. Unless you mean something else?

 

[tjedge1]

Well the Orcish Undead wonder in the Mystara mod didn't cause a crash, but I had to re-index it with 254 colors to get rid of a transparency issue it had. The Vacation Palace wonder caused a crash until I indexed it (it was in RGB mode). Haven't had any other problems other than defects in coloring.

 

[WildWeazel]

How do you do color indexing in GIMP? The help files wont work on mine for some reason.

 

[tjedge1]

Just right click the picture, then scroll to image, then mode, then it will give you 3 options. Usually most pics I open are in RGB. If so you need to select index. On the title bar the mode is in ()'s. When you select index in opens a new window. Just chagne the colors from 256 to 254 and click ok. That removes the transparency colors that might show up in game. Then save it as a pcx. I'm using an older GIMP but it still should be pretty much the same.

 

[GRM7584]

When you select index in opens a new window. Just chagne the colors from 256 to 254 and click ok.

OHHHHH, thats what you meant. I see. When you change the mode you are prompted to determine what palette to use, or whether to create a custom one; assuming the image in question has more than the amount you enter, you can have it select anywhere between 1 and 256 colors max for the custom palette when you change from RGB to indexed. If you set it to maximum 254 colors (and it has 254 or more unique RGB values already), you have room to go in and add two transparency colors (usually 00FF00 and FF00FF), which will make any Civ3 .pcx file work perfectly.

 

[WildWeazel]

but I still have another problem. I when I try to paste my picture onto a storyboard (I'm trying to make a static FLC) it's just black like the rest of the storyboard. The palette is all black too.

 

[GRM7584]

but I still have another problem. I when I try to paste my picture onto a storyboard (I'm trying to make a static FLC) it's just black like the rest of the storyboard. The palette is all black too.

When you don't have your "final" palette yet, work in RGB mode. So, take your black storyboard, change the mode to RGB, paste in whatever it is you want, convert it to a new indexed palette with 254 colors (it will choose optimum ones based on whatever you put in), then add in your two transparency colors at the end of the palette.

 

[WildWeazel]

w00t! It works! However, I'm STILL having a problem! I extended the storyboard palette to 256 colors and made the last 2 entries ff00ff and 00ff00, the background color, but when I exported it to FLC format and looked at the preview, the pink was still there. I checked Alpha blend and nothing happened.

edit: I realize this is getting a little OT, but this is the first time I have been able to get help with this whole palette thing and I REALLY want to figure out how to make my own FLCs with GIMP and FLICster

edit2: D'oh! Somewhere in the mess the background got turned into FC00FF. I fixed it and...
w00000000000000000000000t!!!!!!!!! It works! It's a real live unit animation with absolutely no magenta! Weasel Op is a unit creator!!!!!!!

 

[GRM7584]

Now you get the privilege of being harassed by people wanting new units, hooray! Good to know it all worked out, tho.
And, about that little color address thing; you have to be careful in RGB mode, because the GIMP likes to try to make things look as smooth as possible in that mode, which means that oftentimes an entire color will mysteriously change by one factor if you paste in something. Thats where the "select by color" tool comes in terrifically handy.

 

[mikezang]

Hi all!
Just a simple question. Which program do I need to open PCX files?
Aragorn 7

Try Mixer as below.