Title pictures.

Palaiologos · November 10, 2002, 11:30

Although this might be simple for most of you, it is simply not for me.

WHAT IS THE EXACT PROCEDURE FOR "CREATING" TITLE PICTURES, MEANING PICTURES THAT APPEAR BEHIND THE SCENARIO INTRO TEXT?

WHAT ARE THE EXACT SPECIFICATIONS (APART NAMING IT "TITLE" AND MAKING IT 256-COLOUR)?

DIMENSIONS, FORMAT, SIZE?

please explain in simple, understandable words.

St Leo · November 10, 2002, 14:30

DIMENSIONS, FORMAT, SIZE?

800*600 is my suggested maximum, *.gif/*.bmp are the accepted formats, and there are no size limits that I know of.

techumseh · November 10, 2002, 15:49

Take an existing title page from another scenario. Resize it to the dimensions you want. Paste the graphics you want into it. That way you ensure the palette is correct and will show up properly when you start the scenario. I always add large colored lettering with the name of the scenario, etc. using Paintshop Pro.

BeBro · November 10, 2002, 17:21

Quote:

Originally posted by St Leo
DIMENSIONS, FORMAT, SIZE?

800*600 is my suggested maximum, *.gif/*.bmp are the accepted formats, and there are no size limits that I know of.

I think for the title pic only GIF works, even when you have Fantastic Worlds. It´s even the same in ToT, which supports 24bit gfx - but not for the scn titles (which is a pity), they still have to be 8bit GIFs...

Palaiologos, most problems with title pics are caused by wrong palettes - simply reducing an image to 256 colors is not enough, these 256 colors have to be the standard colors of civ2 (otherwise the pic looks strange in the game). To make sure you are working with the "right" colors/palette, techumseh´s method is the easiest way.

Mercator · November 11, 2002, 08:13

If you all have PSP anyway (or any other decent image editor)... Open up a units.gif (this one in particular, because Civ2 uses this file's palette for all its graphics), choose Colors > Save Palette... and you have the Civ2 palette ready whenever you need it.

For your title.gif, all you'd then have to do is create an image, load the palette (using dithering, preferably). Always save as non-interlaced, version 87a GIF's.

Quote:

It´s even the same in ToT, which supports 24bit gfx

only 15-bit graphics, actually.

St Leo · November 11, 2002, 18:48

I think for the title pic only GIF works, even when you have Fantastic Worlds.

Sorry, my mistake. I never use *.bmp if I can help it and I can help it in Civ2.

Palaiologos · November 12, 2002, 06:18

Thanks.

Palaiologos · November 12, 2002, 08:20

The whole problem is that every time i tried to load a scenario with my title picture an error message apeared informing me of the pic's wrong format ("BADPICFORMAT") and the game crashed.

I will try Techumseh's method in a few days.(Actually i had thought of this method six minutes before my departure for the train station-no time to test it out)

Palaiologos · November 15, 2002, 21:39

IT WORKED!!!!!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!

IT ACTUALLY WORKED!!!!!!

ZEUS BE PRAISED!!!!

THANK YOU ALL BeBRo, Mercator, St Leo, and Techumseh.

P.S I have not found how to save Civ's pallete yet, as i have only worked a couple of hours with Corel Draw and i am a bit slow on the mind. Help anyone.

Mercator · November 15, 2002, 22:07

Ah... Corel PhotoPaint (no?). I haven't quite figured that one out yet. I think PSP is rather easier to "learn", although PhotoPaint is actually the thing I own legally.

What version do you have? I have 8 and 9 (not installed anymore) but I could check it for you.

Palaiologos · November 16, 2002, 05:12

Corel Photopaint Version 10.

But there is no need to get into trouble, Mercator, i am sure i will find it out myself.

BeBro · November 16, 2002, 07:38

I have PhotoPaint 9.0, you can load/save palettes under the menu "picture" > "color table" (hm, perhaps it´s "image" instead of "picture"? - my menus are in German

) In the following popup box, there is a button called "Load Colors" (or so), and in the upper right corner is a little disc icon to save palettes.