RFC Europe -Art and Flags Thread

[merijn_v1]

Thanks. Didn't notice it myself.

 

[AbsintheRed]

Personally, I like the whole complete. But if you prefer Stolenrays, we can use that one.

I think it's a little more realistic to use only the tomb graphics (stolenray's version)
But as I said, it's not that important to me, the current graphics is also more or less ok

 

[zwei833]

I'm not against it
Do you think it's more fitting?

IMO, the single-headed one is too "Early Medieval" style , and not so typical as the double-headed edition.

I made some flags for for german(HRE) and Prussia recently, anyone like them?
http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=18812

The third one is very similar to the oringnal HRE flag but clearer

 

[AbsintheRed]

Included your 3rd flag
Btw, you didn't make buttons for your flags
In this case it's not a problem, as the old flag was very similar, thus the button can stay the same
But it may be an issue if someone want to use your flags somewhere else...

 

[AbsintheRed]

Hmm, I just noticed the Bulgarian flag and the button isn't the same
Merijn, how do you usually make the civ buttons?
From ingame flag screenshots, or is there a better way (with better quality)?

 

[AbsintheRed]

Buttons are usually 64*64
You use 58*58 because of the borders?

EDIT: Also, you leave the borders of the image with squares?

 

[merijn_v1]

Hmm, I just noticed the Bulgarian flag and the button isn't the same
Merijn, how do you usually make the civ buttons?
From ingame flag screenshots, or is there a better way (with better quality)?

I used to do it with screenshots, but I have a better way now, since I learned how to make flagdecals:
1. Create a "background-button". This is a button with just a plain background, and an edge.
2. Open the Flagdecal of the civ.
3. Resize the Flagdecal, so it fits in the button.
4. Paint the Flagdecal to the color you want.
5. Copy-paste the colored Flagdecal on the "background-button"
6. Save ofcourse

I use GIMP to edit the DDS images.

Buttons are usually 64*64
You use 58*58 because of the borders?

EDIT: Also, you leave the borders of the image with squares?

I always remove the squares at the borders. IMO, they are very ugly. Besides, all vanilla buttons don't have those edges.

 

[AbsintheRed]

I used to do it with screenshots, but I have a better way now, since I learned how to make flagdecals:
1. Create a "background-button". This is a button with just a plain background, and an edge.
2. Open the Flagdecal of the civ.
3. Resize the Flagdecal, so it fits in the button.
4. Paint the Flagdecal to the color you want.
5. Copy-paste the colored Flagdecal on the "background-button"
6. Save ofcourse

I use GIMP to edit the DDS images.



I always remove the squares at the borders. IMO, they are very ugly. Besides, all vanilla buttons don't have those edges.

Do you have that "background-button" saved?
Does it have it's squares at the borders removed, or you do that manually after each button?

 

[merijn_v1]

Do you have that "background-button" saved?
Does it have it's squares at the borders removed, or you do that manually after each button?

No. I usually take the vanilla Japanese button and make it completely white. Then I make it so that the dot isn't clearly seen. Then I color it to the right color.

 

[AbsintheRed]

Well, I used 58x58 in my way as it would still fit into that button border included in the FlagMaker Tool in the Utility DL section. That creates 64x64 buttons, but the rest is the border and empty space.

I know, but that way the border is a square
Vanilla buttons' borders are rounded

 

[AbsintheRed]

Merijn, do you use DX3 compression for civ buttons too?
In my experience it somewhat messes up the border colors...

 

[AbsintheRed]

If you had followed my description it would not... the FlagButtonmaker includes a preset option for layer mask that will create a rounded button you see

No it's not
There is the border layer, which rounds down the button/image itself
But that border layer is still a square, and that's still visible in the civilopedia
Compare it with a Firaxis button. Those have rounded edges for the button itself, and rounded edges for the border of the button too

 

[AbsintheRed]

Oh, somehow I didn't found the option for that layer mask before
Thanks!

One more thing: is it worth to use DXT3 compression in your opinion?
And to generate mipmaps?

 

[merijn_v1]

Merijn, do you use DX3 compression for civ buttons too?
In my experience it somewhat messes up the border colors...

Yes, I use the DX3 compression. The only button I didn't use it for is the Bank of St. George, because it messed up with some colors. I never had problems with strange borders when I compress.

Oh, somehow I didn't found the option for that layer mask before
Thanks!

One more thing: is it worth to use DXT3 compression in your opinion?
And to generate mipmaps?

I always (with the exception of the Bank of St. George) compress the dds files. It compresses the files to 1/4 of the original size, which is quite a lot IMO. Especially because there are so many dds files.

I never generate mipmaps. I don't even know what they exactly do. (But as they aren't needed I don't care )

 

[melcher kürzer]

DXT3 /DXT5 (both are pretty much the same) if transparency is needed.
DXT1 can't handle transparency but is even smaller. Can be used for textures without transparency.
Compression has always a small quality loss and sometimes there occur artifacts. Regardless i would recommend to compress always, all files.

MipMaps are used to reduce aliasing artifacts. If you have something that can be shown very large or very small (like everything on the main map) depending on the zooming level, the texture needs to adjust. MipMaps are used for that. Even if there are bigger in size, they will increase the rendering speed and the quality of that object.
You should use them for things like units, buildings, etc. Pretty much everthing on the main map.

 

[AbsintheRed]

Thanks guys!
I had no idea what was the benefit of mipmaps, really good to know
Btw, as the civ section of the civilopedia shows a very big sized version of the civilization buttons, there is serious quality loss when using compression
Those buttons are only 64*64 after all, like all the other buttons, but shown in a much bigger size
So I decided to have an exception for them, and use uncompressed version
Otherwise all dds files should use DXT3 or DXT1 in the mod

 

[AbsintheRed]

I'm running through all the possible art because of the wonders, and IMO I found very suitable art for many RFCE buildings
A couple examples:

 

[ezzlar]

Nice!

 

[Spirictum]

Great material!

 

[AbsintheRed]

Merijn, the building updates were uploaded to the SVN
You can start working on the buttons if you have some time