NEW QUESTION! With what program do I edit the picture files for my own race???

I know this.

race selection images?

You mean the little heads?

Check out the window and texture files.

I'll get back to you on the exact lines and such.

1) Yes the race selection images

2) Also the loading screen one ..you know the huge wallpaper with progress bar at bottom when you load a new game! wanna change the race figure on the left for Nephils instead of Phase/TEC/PSI and change the background image into the homeworld and not the usual factory image!

3) Also to add new player portraits for this new race!!!

You know..the grand chabam on customising a race!

Tell you what..you find the answer to all 3 of my questions...and Ill gladly test your mod lol!

J/K Ill test mod anyways I love to see everyone elses work!

Ok

As I am sure you know.

At the very bottom of a race entity files are these two lines

playerThemeGroupName "PlayerTech"

playerPictureGroupName "PlayerTech"

I’m sure you know that they determine a lot of the icons that the player uses.

These reference back to two places.

The Gsdef file, and a few window files.

The two types of window files they reference too are a playerthemes file, and a playerpictures file.

For the TEC, they both have the same name of PlayerTech.

These two files reference to texture files.

The player pictures file determines the Player portraits. (which are those “head shots” that often show a civilization)

The Player Themes file references the player logos.

Now, the cool pictures found in the load screen can be found in the  Startup_Loadscreen 0 texture file.

They are determined by the LoadScreen.brushes window file.

For the exact piece you want…..

 brush

      name "LoadScreenCharacterTech"

      content "Simple"

      fileName "Startup_Loadscreen0"

      pixelBox [ 1496 , 0 , 441 , 749 ]

brush

      name "LoadScreenCharacterPsi"

      content "Simple"

      fileName "Startup_Loadscreen0"

      pixelBox [ 748 , 1059 , 441 , 749 ]

brush

      name "LoadScreenCharacterPhase"

      content "Simple"

      fileName "Startup_Loadscreen0"

      pixelBox [ 1190 , 1059 , 441 , 749 ]

This then links back to the first line in the Hudskin data lines in the race file.

            loadScreenCharacterBrush "LoadScreenCharacterTech"

Meaning that it is not hardcoded.

Yea, I’ve learned quite a bit about textures.

Since I’ve taught my-self how to handle all 2D art and Particle effects.

Well...in exchange (not tested your great information yet....) about too though I play tested a quick game of your mod vs the computer with commentaried that I will now go and add into your thread !

BTW if anyone elses has extra input or precisions on picture inserts! Im more than open to suggestions

Yes, thank you very much for that info.

I can't wait to see what else you come up with.

About your new question.

I take it, you are refering to the fact that most of the textures are in DDS format?

This, is easily solved.

You get yourself two things.

1) a DDS converter. Just type "DDS converter" into google, and you'll find about a thousand of them. Use this program to convert all sins textures to an easily accsesible format (say, JPEG) This part is obvious, do not change the original sins texture files, that is what we call stupid.

2) this isn't so essentull, especially if you like MS paint. However, you should get yourself a good picture editing program. Many people use PaintShop Deluxe (I think it is called). I don't like PaintShop Deluxe, becouse it costs money, I use Gimp (look it up on google) it is free, and easily useable. BUt, gets a little wierd sometimes. Also, their is a plug in for Gimp, (and a difffernt one for paintshop) that will allow that program to open, (and save as) DDS files. Which is rather nice.

Any OTHER simple questions, of which I can use to demonstrate my SUPIOR modding skills?

Cool...I also use Gimp!!! now I'm all set for tomorrow! Should make up for an interesting day! I'll just have research to do after that (1/4 done but big lines are set) and modding the new models of course (all 24 of 'em ) and mod will be ready as pristine as well presented as a new game

YEA!

can't wait