Author Topic: New Gunsights - How to? (Read 774 times)

Blue Mako · « **on:** February 23, 2005, 07:07:32 PM »

Ok guys, I did a search of the forums but couldn't find a definitive post on how the new gunsights should be created. Here are my questions:

What pixel size should the sights be?

What colour "mode" should they be saved as? (i.e. indexed, RGB, etc)

What file type? (i.e. 8 bit .bmp?)

What colour is transparent? (RGB x,y,z?)

Do they need an alpha file anymore?

Basically I have been having rouble getting my sights to show as anything other than a white block. Using Photoshop 7.01 to create 'em...

TYIA,

Mako

MutleyBR · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2005, 12:40:06 PM »

Hi Mako!
In fact, it's very easy to make a custom gunsight. I use my own, custom, sights for JABOs, with references for deflection shooting, bombing, etc.
I use Paint Shop Pro 9. So you'll have to find the equivalent commands for your Bitmap Editor.
Let's take the "defafult.bmp", default sight, found in your [ ..\Aces High II\sights\ ] folder.
This is a 128x128 pixel bitmap. 8 bit, 256 color, bitmap.
I tried with diffferent sized squares and they worked, 256x256, for example.
Open this "default" file file in your editor, PSP 9 works with layers, i think PhotoShop also, create another bitmap layer, so you work using deafult sight as a model.
Use 255, 0, 255 RGB color indexes for background.
Note: Although BMP files do not support transparency, HiTech, cleverly uses BMP files for sights and for squads's nose art making them have a transparent background assigned to some color index.
We have a value for background, 255, 0, 255 RGB.
For the sight lines or references's colors, just edit the file color palette and change some unused color index to one that suits your taste.
When finished, save this "work layer" as an 8 bit/256 color BMP file, to your [ ..\Aces High II\sights\ ] folder.
Hope this helps, and also hope you don't use those special shure-shot sights on me...

Blue Mako · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2005, 03:27:33 PM »

Thx for the reply mutley.

Don't worry, no fancy sights for raising your eye viewpoint etc, I'm just trying to make a working copy of the historical P51 gunsight...

You know, the one that had automated lead computing... hint hint HTC

JB73 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2005, 12:20:30 PM »

the background is now black not pink.

to at least for the artifically illuminated ones.

DL waffle's sights, or AERO's new ones, and use as an example on how to make

JB73 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2005, 12:21:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Blue Mako
Thx for the reply mutley.

Don't worry, no fancy sights for raising your eye viewpoint etc, I'm just trying to make a working copy of the historical P51 gunsight...

You know, the one that had automated lead computing... hint hint HTC

on yeah.... waffle and aero both have one.

illuminated too.

edit, oops didnt see the mention of the lead computing thing. dont know what that looks like

MutleyBR · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2005, 03:43:34 PM »

JB73

Unfortunately(or fortunately, depending on point of view) in the area of Computer Graphics, we cannot refer to colors using sujective terms, like "pink" or "black"... We have to employ an objective standard.
I made sights (and use them) with background color 255, 0, 255 RGB and also with 0, 0, 0 RGB. They both work.

Quote

Originally posted by JB73
the background is now black not pink.

to at least for the artifically illuminated ones.

DL waffle's sights, or AERO's new ones, and use as an example on how to make

JB73 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2005, 04:09:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MutleyBR
JB73

Unfortunately(or fortunately, depending on point of view) in the area of Computer Graphics, we cannot refer to colors using sujective terms, like "pink" or "black"... We have to employ an objective standard.
I made sights (and use them) with background color 255, 0, 255 RGB and also with 0, 0, 0 RGB. They both work.

yes i know that, and assumed ya'll'd know what i was talking about LOL

0,0,0 if for the additive blending they are now using. there are some good examples in mitsu's thread in gameplay forum.

im sure the old way works, but if you saw aero's new sight and 1 or 2 of waffles, you'd never go back to a pixelated line sight again.

Blue Mako · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2005, 05:02:32 PM »

Where o where can I find Aero's sights?

MutleyBR · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2005, 05:56:47 PM »

Hi Mako!

There's a link to download test sights under this posting:

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=141996&highlight=Aeros

But I wouldn't follow his approach if I were you. If you want to know why please send me an e-mail and I'll explain why.
Don't want any more negative interferences...