Re: Official Image Collection
 

mlmbd:
Nebulae are system sized objects. For sector sized objects, they are called storms. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif And if you get FQM Deluxe, you will get most of those nebulae pics as full systems. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ November 16, 2002, 19:59: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ, are the image submissions suppose to be gif's? Saturn is suppose to look squished. After all it is not suppose to be Saturn. I will redo the Comet if you wish. If any of the nebulae are acceptable I will gladly resize and reformat them (and the Comet) to what they need to be. I do apologize for my foul ups. At least there won't be anymore involving the image mod. As I posted, I won't make further submissions. Everyone can take a breath, and a sigh of relief now!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Imperator Fyron, System sized objects are what size and format?

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Look in Pictures\System. There are 3 different pictures for each system type graphic.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

So Fyron, what you are saying is you don't know the size???

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So mlmbd, what you are saying is you have deleted your Pictures\System folder??? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What's up with that?
You've already made one of the biggest contributions I've seen in a while, with all the cubeworlds, and other items in your first upload.

The image submissions ARE supposed to be BMPs, since that's what SE4 uses.
The only GIF images are the low-quality previews I made for the website.

You've got a lot right, don't let Fyron confuse you too much http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif
Storm = sector sized, good for imagemod submission
Nebulae = system sized, comes in 800x600, 1024x768 and portrait sizes. Not applicable to the imagemod.
If you have a photo of a nebula, there is no reason why it can't be used as a storm ... as long as it would look decent mixed in with planets http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ:

Look forward to many future submissions!!! I have taught Fyron the Kwok Skool of Planetary Design, and combined we might end up pumping out hundreds of new planets.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Here are some samples I made:
http://members.rogers.com/capt-kwok/images/planets.gif

1 > O2 Ice
2 > O2 Rock
3 > None Rock
4 > H2 Rock

Keep in mind of course, that these .gif Versions hardly do the justice the .bmps deserve!

[ November 17, 2002, 17:40: Message edited by: Captain Kwok ]

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes I know the sizes. But, I find it better to tell people how to learn stuff on their own than just to spoon-feed the info to them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

It wasn't my intention to confuse you, only to say that in se4 terms, a storm and a nebula are 2 completely different things. Keeping the terms straight helps to reduce confusion. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ, I looked at the components preview in the mods forum. It doesn't look like you included the components I sent you a while ago.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Well, the previews are not totally up to date, and I am not planning to update them much.

However, it does look like I am a bit behind on the components.
Does your submission include about 50 components including wing commander pics?
If not, I may have lost it.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Yep. Privateer stuff.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Ok. I'll get it added, and probably uploaded sometime on Monday.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Zarix, couldn't play the game very well if I did that! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

SJ, there is a size limit to your imagemod, isn't there? I can make that many images almost everyday. That would not leave room for other peoples submissions.

If am wrong about this just let me know. I will keep the planets, comets, nebulae, suns and other space images coming! If there are things you would like for the imagemod, let me know.

Are there any images from my Last submission that I need to correct?

Fyron is not (as much I would like him to be) my cause of confusion. That comes from a response you made to TerranC.
He ask " does anybody else get some kind of mumbo-jumbo in the quickviewer, or a message that there are no viewers that can view the image when looking through mlmbd's submission?"

An you answered:
"Well, the imagemod previews are meant to be browsed to, rather than downloaded. They're in GIF format.

As for viewing Mlmbd's submission, it seems to be regular BMPs. Of course, I use Irfanview with all the plugins, so I could see it fine even if it was .FSH or .LWF or something crazy like that." That is were I got confused about the image format.

Fyron, the muppets look better with little spoons in their hands! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif As I told SJ, you were not the source of my confusion. Thanks! I do appreciate any and all assistance. As I am new to this submission stuff.

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

The size limit is practical, rather than technical.

SE4 can handle at least 64,000 images.
However, the ZIPped Versions of the bigger packs are already up to 5 megs, and only about 500 images.

The best thing for the imagemod is a smaller number of polished images. I'd hate to have to distribute this on CDs http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Sorry about the confusion. I'll have to avoid posting about things like that too close together http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

As for requests, the FacilityPack and especially the CombatPack are quite small at the moment.
Themed facilities, such as organic buildings, crystalline buildings, magical buildings and such would be useful.
Especially the organic buildings.

There is a lot of room for work in the CombatPack too. I've added a fairly large set of torp and beam animations for many of the common SE4 weapons (even separate animations for different tech levels of one weapon!).
The beam animations show a lot of opportunity too. SE4 has quite a unique way of displaying the beam weapons.

For the beam animations, there is a section near the top of the image that gets covered by the bottom part of the image as it tiles across space towards the target. Then there is the bottom half, which repeats regularily.
Combined with SE4's masking, you can do all sorts of things. I don't consider myself terribly creative, but I did manage to come up with a Torpedo+Trail animation http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I stuck a torpedo shape in the top section, and colored the bottom so that it would erase the torpedo as it tiled and leave a spotty gas trail.
And then theres always the Helix cannon animation, such as in my sig http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I really don't know why more people aren't submitting images for the CombatPack. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

What is the limit in width? They all seem fairly narrow. I could see a "Pulse" weapon that had cones fade in an out.

Let me guess: It needs to fit in the blank squares. One image for the Red outline and one for the white.

[ November 18, 2002, 16:29: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

Re: Official Image Collection
 

For weapon animations?
The torpedoes take up one whole square only.

The red and white alternating boxes are there to make it easier to count which image is which.

For the beam animations, take a look at the image labelled "Test" (# 30) The red zone is the area that only appears at the tip of the beam as it streakes through space.
The green zone is the area that tiles along, and ends up erasing, or partially erasing the red zone. The little yellow box indicates the center of the image.

I suggest copying image #29, and pasting where you are doing your drawing so that you can tell which parts will do what.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ, the CombatPack and the FacilityPack have just one bmp each, 128X128 and mini's. Is that correct?

Does anyone have, or can you tell me where I can get, a list of Race specific facilities?

Thanks!

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

edited to add facility ?.

[ November 18, 2002, 22:00: Message edited by: mlmbd ]

Re: Official Image Collection
 

CombatPack has only Two BMPs total. One for Beams and one for Torps. They are all "minis" style, since there are no closeups of weapon animations.

The facility BMPs work just like the components and planets.

Download the imagepacks, or simply look in your SE4/Pictures folders to see what's going on.

The imagemod does work both ways; you can add facilities to match what an existing mod wants, or add a facility that a future mod will possibly want to use.

A hatchery, an organic training ground, a harvester...
You could make an organic or crystal or energy being Version of all the basic facilities...

One thing that I would like is a good set of planetary shield generator images. The standard image is a bit boring. A standard Version and an ancient ruins technology Version would be quickly snapped up for use in P&N.

PS:
Another long-delayed update to the ComponentPack. Its up to 5.5 megs.

[ November 19, 2002, 03:12: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Mirror updated.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Suicide Junkie - I looked at the imagepacks. All I saw for each of the items was a list of artist credits. Will you make an itemized list of descriptions of each of the objects by item number?

Thanks,
KirbyEF

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, he will not. The purpose of the image mod is just to have a bunch of images, which you can use however you would like in a mod. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ, here is a shield generator and afew ruins. If they are correct and what you are looking for, I will submit more in a day or two.

1037694097.zip

Thanks!

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Generally, it is better to put all the minis for one type (components, planets, or facilities) into 1 file. It makes it easier for SJ to copy them into the imagemod. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">And I would worship you as a GOD if anyone with computer-art talents did exactly that Last bit -- as Exodus will have wholly different facilities for the Organic, Crystalline, and Standard technology bases ...

I might as well mention, I'd love a series of color-altered Versions of both Organic armor, and Crystalline armor -- lots and lots of colors -- to eb added to the modpack, if any artists out there care to oblige a greedy bastard, er, nice modder like me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ November 19, 2002, 12:49: Message edited by: Pax ]

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Also, a picture speaks a thousand words. Just browse through the minis, until you find one that's appropriate for whichever object you're adding. Then look up its number by counting over from the right-side edge.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Fyron, then I am glad I did just afew. Thanks! I don't want to make extra work for anyone.

Pax, order taken! Your order will arrive shortly.

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ, u/l 2 zip's. One components. Mostly Armour.
1037752598.ZIP

The second, facilities. Included one planetary shield
1037822193.zip

By the way. What did you think of the first shield generator?

Thanks.

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Pax,
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">, they are coming!!

[ November 20, 2002, 21:03: Message edited by: mlmbd ]

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Gryphin, THANKS! I am at a loss why only the two bmp's loaded. The error is:, <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">is news to me! I didn't make any images less than one pixel. Which paint prg did you use? I loaded them in PS7P, Real-DRAW and Ultimate Paint. Didn't have any problems. As to the size difference, (49k verse 65k) there is alot of extra data in those images. The first two images are pretty plain.

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Gryphin, I had a though, I save the bmp's in 32bit format. Maybe the paint prg you have only supports 24bit, not 32bit.

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

The program is the Paint that comes with Windows Win 95 and "Photo Editor" that comes with Office 2000.
IrfanView Indicates:

On the ones I can't open with Paint:
"Original Colors 16.7 million, (32 BitsPerPixil)"
"Current Colors 16.8 million, (24 BitsPerPixil)"

On the ones I can open it indicates:
"Current Colors 16.8 million, (24 BitsPerPixil)"
"Original Colors 16.7 million, (24 BitsPerPixil)"

BTW: I only point this out because it may be important else where. I don't know if the game cares.
I'll have to mod some armor so I can use the new graphics.
Thanks

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ, here some new facilities for the imagemod. One planetary shield is included. A Hatchery, harvester or whatever modders want them to be! 1037920756.zip

It is not a problem with the images being 32bit images, is there?

Gryphin, it is the paint program. Has a problem with 32bit images. No need to mod anything though. Just grab one of the free paint prgs out there. Any of them are better than Win Paint. Sorry for all the problems.

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Bitmaps have no compression. A 128x128 bitmap is the same file size as any other 128x128 bitmap that has the same number of colors.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

mlmbd ,
Nice work on the armor. I like them. Only Comps _025 and _026 will open in paint. The rest will not. I can open them in IrfanView.
I notice that _925 and _926 are .49kb in expaned size. The others are 65kb.
The error is: "Bitmaps must be greater than one pixil on a side"
Any Ideas?

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Fyron, excuse me. You can't compress bmp's. This is true. At least in the traditional sense. But you can make the same image a different size package. A 24bit bmp is smaller than the identical 32bit bmp. Check it for yourself. Save one image at 24bits another at 32bits. The 32bit bmp will be almost 1/3 larger than the 24bit bmp.

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

I think you misunderstood me. Note the "same number of colors" qualifier. 32 bit means that the image has 1/3 more colors than 24 bit. But, that is not compression in the sense that gif, jpg, png, etc. are compressed.

One 24 bit bmp is the same file size as any other 24 bit bmp that is the same pixel size. With jpg (as an example), the file size is reduced if there are fewer colors in the image. But with bmp, there is no reduction of file size.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

No, no, no! 32-bit color has FAR more than '1/3rd' more colors than 24-bit color! Every bit doubles the number of possible colors! 24- bit is 16 million colors, while 32-bit is something more than 4 billion! The size of the data is 1/3 more for 32-bit, though, yes. Incidently, we humans can only distinguish something less than the 16 million of 24-bit color. 32-bit color is a waste from a color perspective. But the 'double word' format has programming advantages so that's why it's used in high-end graphic cards.

[ November 22, 2002, 02:50: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Mlmbd:
I got your submissions, but the two facility zips appear to be exactly the same!
You didn't happen to upload the same one twice by accident, did you?

BTW, I can see all of those images fine, even in MSpaint.

PS:
If its not too much bother in the future, you could put all the minis into one BMP file, just place them in a row.
That makes it much easier for me to arrange them.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Minor detail. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ, that is exactly what I did. Dumb. Anyway here is the zip w/zip inside. For the mini's. Sorry I didn't read here first. I will in the future do all the mini's in one bmp.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1037974618.zip

Fyron, yes I did. Now there isn't any misunderstanding.

Gryphin, no a problem. Artist will be artist.

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aha! Finally, an explanation for why 24-bit color exists. I've always been baffled by references to 24-bit color, because I've never seen a video card that produced that setting. Every card I've owned that allowed a color depth above 16-bit jumped directly to 32-bit.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

The current images included with SE:IV are all 24-bit .bmps - decent file size with image quality undistinguishable from 32-bit with the human eye.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

mlmbd ,
Hmm, Sorry to start such a contreversy here. I do use other programs. Must be the one they issue at work here. We are still on Win 95. With luck we will make it wo Win 2k by January.
I use InfraView to look at most graphics.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aha! Finally, an explanation for why 24-bit color exists. I've always been baffled by references to 24-bit color, because I've never seen a video card that produced that setting. Every card I've owned that allowed a color depth above 16-bit jumped directly to 32-bit.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">My old ATI Rage Something-or-other 16 MB card had 16-bit and 24-bit, no 32-bit. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

More bad news with my computer situation.
Three harddrives have failed on me in the Last month now.
On monday I should be getting yet another replacement disk, and a fifth new one for backup.

Maybe its bad luck picking drives, maybe its something with the power, maybe its something else.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

Fyron, I had an ATI-3D Rage Pro-Xpert@Play. Not to bad. But I sure would like to get my hands on the ATI-9700. Oh Yeah!!

SJ, sorry to hear about the bad fortune!

mlmbd http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Official Image Collection
 

im trying to use component image 698 in SEIV 1.49 for an ion engine, but when i run the game, the images are blank. When i right click on it it shows 698's portrait, but it doesnt show it in the regular view.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

You need to replace your "components.bmp" with the "newcomponents.bmp" supplied in the zip.

I will make that automatic in the next Versions.

Re: Official Image Collection
 

thx

Re: Official Image Collection
 

SJ:

I was thinking for the next SE:IV Gold patch, it might be a good time to remove some of the less aesthetic (useful) images and reorganize the files. Since most modders will be updating their mods at this time, they'll be able to make the necessary changes to their mods to correspond with any imageMod changes.

I will likely be donating a hundred or so new planets at that time as well.