AbsintheRed
Deity
Hey merijn!
Any news with reskinning the dense forest?
Any news with reskinning the dense forest?
RFC Europe -Art and Flags Thread
- Thread starter jessiecat
- Start date
AbsintheRed
Deity
Thanks veBear, but I was aware of that, actually already separated all the original forest art/textures by Firaxis when this came up
Ran through all the bigger mods as well (C2C, RI)
I'm still curious with whatever merijn made, maybe parts of that retexture is even more distinct
merijn_v1
Black Belt
I haven't done anything yet. After I discovered that the trees share the same .dds and make it impossible to give them different colors without changing the nif files, I didn't continue. (mostly because I was busy doing other things. One of them is learning python
)I think I have some time available this week to give it a try.
AbsintheRed
Deity
I haven't done anything yet. After I discovered that the trees share the same .dds and make it impossible to give them different colors without changing the nif files, I didn't continue. (mostly because I was busy doing other things. One of them is learning python
Why would it be impossible to change the colors without changing the nifs?
I still don't know what's your problem with the shared .dds
Actually I think it makes things much easier
You just change some colors in the .dds, and you are done
No prob if you don't
I might get myself into finishing that cedrus set
Would be much better than using a reskinned version of the current forest anyway
merijn_v1
Black Belt
The colors of the current trees are defined by the dds file in the shared art files. So if I change that file, the colors of the current trees will change.
For instance, the pine trees will use the marked skins, as their nif files are set to use the skin in that specific part of that dds file.
To add a new type of tree (based of the pines for example), I copy the folder which contains all nif files of the pine tree, rename it and change the XML accordingly.
The problem is that these nif files still use the same dds file, even though they are in a different folder. So if I edit the part with the skins the "new" nif get their color, I also change the color of the original trees, as they use the same part of the dds file.
If the new nif files are set so that they get their color from a different dds file, the problem is solved, because the nif files get search for their colors in different files. Now they get the color for the exact same spot. But to let the nif files search for their skins, you'll have to edit the nif files themselves.
For instance, the pine trees will use the marked skins, as their nif files are set to use the skin in that specific part of that dds file.
To add a new type of tree (based of the pines for example), I copy the folder which contains all nif files of the pine tree, rename it and change the XML accordingly.
The problem is that these nif files still use the same dds file, even though they are in a different folder. So if I edit the part with the skins the "new" nif get their color, I also change the color of the original trees, as they use the same part of the dds file.
If the new nif files are set so that they get their color from a different dds file, the problem is solved, because the nif files get search for their colors in different files. Now they get the color for the exact same spot. But to let the nif files search for their skins, you'll have to edit the nif files themselves.
merijn_v1
Black Belt
I just looked at some files in warlords. There is also a pack of art with trees in it. Comparing the dds files of the original trees and the trees in their, they are the same. The only difference is the color.
But the main difference between the vanilla files and the warlord files is the location of the dds file. The vanilla nifs use the dds in the shared art. But the warlords file use a dds in the same folder. So they have their own dds file. So I can bypass the old problem by using the warlords files. (and the trees look the same)
I took an screenshot of the trees.
The bottom row are the vanilla trees.
The second row are the warlord trees. The ones used in the Viking scenario in Warlords. (Without any editing by me)
The third row are the warlord trees, but with the vanilla skin. (This was only to check if the shape of the trees did were the same. As you can see, they are)
(I didn't bother also to copy the snowy trees, as it was more work and we wanted the new type of dense forest to be without snow.)
But the main difference between the vanilla files and the warlord files is the location of the dds file. The vanilla nifs use the dds in the shared art. But the warlords file use a dds in the same folder. So they have their own dds file. So I can bypass the old problem by using the warlords files. (and the trees look the same)
I took an screenshot of the trees.
The bottom row are the vanilla trees.
The second row are the warlord trees. The ones used in the Viking scenario in Warlords. (Without any editing by me)
The third row are the warlord trees, but with the vanilla skin. (This was only to check if the shape of the trees did were the same. As you can see, they are)
(I didn't bother also to copy the snowy trees, as it was more work and we wanted the new type of dense forest to be without snow.)
AbsintheRed
Deity
Oh, don't worry about creating and using a new dds, it's not a problem at all
I always thought you will upload only that file anyway
Setting the paths to the .dds file in the nifs is only a one line change
I always thought you will upload only that file anyway
Setting the paths to the .dds file in the nifs is only a one line change
merijn_v1
Black Belt
I was going to do that, as I expected you to know a way to fix it. But as never came to that part.
But it doesn't really matter anymore, as I found a way to bypass the "problem".
But it doesn't really matter anymore, as I found a way to bypass the "problem".
merijn_v1
Black Belt
This was the result of some quick reskinning.
1. Vanilla pine trees
2. Example 1
3. Example 2
4. Pines with snow (current dense forest)
Example 1 is slightly darker and "more black and less green" then example 2.
So, what do you think?
1. Vanilla pine trees
2. Example 1
3. Example 2
4. Pines with snow (current dense forest)
Example 1 is slightly darker and "more black and less green" then example 2.
So, what do you think?
AbsintheRed
Deity
I like them
Although I have to point out, that we currently use darker forest graphics in RFCE than 1
Although I have to point out, that we currently use darker forest graphics in RFCE than 1
merijn_v1
Black Belt
After I made these reskins, I did check if RFCE uses the vanilla trees. It doesn't. However, the pine trees in RFCE look very similar to the vanilla trees. Only the loafy trees look different. I will put the new art next to the ones in RFCE to compare. If needed, I can make my reskins even darker.
merijn_v1
Black Belt
This is how it looks ingame.
1. Current Dense Forest
2. Example 2
3. Example 1
4. Current pine forest
Personally, I would go for #3, as it is darker and therefor more distinct from the normal pine forest.
If the new Dense Forest art and the current pine forest art art next to eachother, you can clearly see the difference. But will the difference be big enough if they aren't next to eachother? (So you have no reference) I want the player to be able to see which type of forest it is in just one eyecatch. (And without having to hoover the mouse over the tile)
I had some trouble getting the art to work in the mod. The screenshot in post 485 was made in a testing mod. But when I imported the files to RFCE, it didn't work anymore. (It still used the vanilla dds file)
But it's fixed now. I now know how to change the path to the dds in the nif files itself.
1. Current Dense Forest
2. Example 2
3. Example 1
4. Current pine forest
Personally, I would go for #3, as it is darker and therefor more distinct from the normal pine forest.
If the new Dense Forest art and the current pine forest art art next to eachother, you can clearly see the difference. But will the difference be big enough if they aren't next to eachother? (So you have no reference) I want the player to be able to see which type of forest it is in just one eyecatch. (And without having to hoover the mouse over the tile)
I had some trouble getting the art to work in the mod. The screenshot in post 485 was made in a testing mod. But when I imported the files to RFCE, it didn't work anymore. (It still used the vanilla dds file)
But it's fixed now. I now know how to change the path to the dds in the nif files itself.
merijn_v1
Black Belt
Now I'm getting along nicely with changing some nif files, I decided to play around a bit on the main screen.
Something that bothered me for some time is the ugly box around the title of the main menu screen. So I changed it to the banner that is also presented on the loading screen. This is the result.
So, what do you think of it?
The edges of the bannes still need some work. They are currently to "sharp".
Something that bothered me for some time is the ugly box around the title of the main menu screen. So I changed it to the banner that is also presented on the loading screen. This is the result.
So, what do you think of it?
The edges of the bannes still need some work. They are currently to "sharp".
AbsintheRed
Deity
I also like the current version more
Also like the the blue tone better than the greenish one
PS: What's the difference with the BG picture?
It seems much clearer in your new version
Also like the the blue tone better than the greenish one
PS: What's the difference with the BG picture?
It seems much clearer in your new version
merijn_v1
Black Belt
You can ignore the HUD color. It's just that I created the background in a different test mod, which uses the vanilla greenish HUD. (The testing mod loads much faster than RFCE because a lot less custom things have to be loaded)
So when I import it to RFCE, it will automatically change to blue. The only thing you should look at is the banner.
I didn't really change anything to the BG. The only thing I did is saving it at DXT3 size.
So when I import it to RFCE, it will automatically change to blue. The only thing you should look at is the banner.
I didn't really change anything to the BG. The only thing I did is saving it at DXT3 size.
AbsintheRed
Deity
Oh okay. Will look into the clearness of the BG
I already planned a couple small changes in the art fpks anyway
About the banner:
Sry, but I really don't like it
Seems totally out of place, and hides too much from the background picture
About the forests:
I also like #3 more, but would like to test it out ingame
Can you upload your reskin here? The .dds is enough
I already planned a couple small changes in the art fpks anyway
About the banner:
Sry, but I really don't like it
Seems totally out of place, and hides too much from the background picture
About the forests:
I also like #3 more, but would like to test it out ingame
Can you upload your reskin here? The .dds is enough
AbsintheRed
Deity
Bigger edits to forests are not trivial, as they have 15 nif files, and the way trees are positioned in them is heavily connected
A simple reskin (what merijn shown us a couple posts above) is only a few clicks in the shared art file (if you have some artistic skills of course), but I would rather avoid editing full forest nifs wherever possible
iOnlySignIn
Prince$s
(1) I prefer Dense Forest to look as distinct as possible so long as it provides different Yields and Defensive Bonus than a normal Forest. Otherwise players could be confused. I don't mind the snowyness at all. Especially considering that Dense Forest appears more in mountainous regions (the Alps mostly), the snowy effect could be regarded as intentional.
(2) Ideally the main screen picture should not be distorted horizontally. We could use a collage of smaller pictures if there are no single picture of the desired dimensions and quality. I play on a 16:9 widescreen and the distortion is so much that the picture is barely recognizable.
(3) Soundtrack: Please get rid of RobinHood.mp3. Does anyone actually like that song? Every time I hear it I get the urge to silence the vocalist. Permanently. I get tired of having to delete this song every time I update SVN.
(2) Ideally the main screen picture should not be distorted horizontally. We could use a collage of smaller pictures if there are no single picture of the desired dimensions and quality. I play on a 16:9 widescreen and the distortion is so much that the picture is barely recognizable.
(3) Soundtrack: Please get rid of RobinHood.mp3. Does anyone actually like that song? Every time I hear it I get the urge to silence the vocalist. Permanently. I get tired of having to delete this song every time I update SVN.
