Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Vraciu on December 22, 2016, 11:00:41 PM
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I am using Paint Shop Pro 5 and I don't see the ability to save a BMP as 32-bit. Any thoughts on how to do this? Was gonna' see if Brighter would do it but should that fail I am stuck.
My thanks in advance.
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Devil and I had the same problem, which is Paint Shop Pro will not save a bmp in 32-bit format even with the current version. Luckily I have an old copy of Photoshop Elements that I got free with a graphics tablet and that does do the job. Before submitting a skin I just load the diffuse and normal bmps into Photoshop and re-save them with it. The program then brings up a sub-menu that lets me change the bit-rate to 32-bit.
Unfortunately Photoshop isn't free. There may well be a free program out there that can save a bmp in 32-bit format but I don't know for sure. Anyone else know of one?
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Actually you can get a free/legal copy of Photoshop CS2 from Adobe.
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/other-downloads.html
Click on the "CS2" option.
It will ask you to agree to a disclaimer.
Once you check it, the list of free downloads will appear. Pick your language, then the product. Also note the serial number as you will need it to activate it.
It will always ask about registering when you start the product, and you just say no to that.
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Will give that a try. Thanks. :salute
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I use GIMP and my problem was user error. Gimp can save 32bit bitmaps.
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I use GIMP and my problem was user error. Gimp can save 32bit bitmaps.
Care to share how? I just installed GIMP while waiting on CS2 to download. I am looking through the menus...
EDIT IN: Found it. It gives two options (A8 R8 G8... vs X8...) for 32-bit. Does it matter which is used?
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Well that worked well...
:rofl
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Use the A8 one.
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No luck. Just changed the color of the distortion.
Let me ask you this... I am running Paint Shop Pro 5 working in layers with a .psp file. GIMP will not open that. What format should I save it to for GIMP to open and convert?
I tried converting BMPs and it freaks out.
CS2 doesn't like my lack of fonts so gotta' go track those down. Fun day!
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Open the .psp file in PsP then save it as a .psd. See if it will open in GIMP.
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Well, at least it got the skin to fit the form properly.
This color distortion is a bit odd...
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is that 32 bit with the A8 conversion to .bmp?
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Yes, sir.
You want to give it a try on your end? I can email my master file.
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sure.
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Using GIMP, I took your .psd and saved as a .bmp. Be sure to select "merge visible layers" and not "flatten image". "Merge visible layers" defaults to A8 encryption and "flatten image" only does X8.
here is your file as a 32bit A8 bitmap.
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff252/DropkickYankees/Aces%20High/JoBaby_zpsnnmpw0di.png~original) (http://s241.photobucket.com/user/DropkickYankees/media/Aces%20High/JoBaby_zpsnnmpw0di.png.html)
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Not bad. Looks like I sent you the wrong Environment map if that's what is making it mirror.
I will try it when I get home. Thanks for doing that. :salute
If you'll return my p51d and normal files as converted just in case I would be grateful.
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I never got a normal map from you
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I never got a normal map from you
D'oh!
My phone is not exactly cooperative. Sorry about that.
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Using GIMP, I took your .psd and saved as a .bmp. Be sure to select "merge visible layers" and not "flatten image". "Merge visible layers" defaults to A8 encryption and "flatten image" only does X8.
I use Photoshop CS6, and when I save the .PSD as my .bmp, I don't get the option to save in A8 format - its greyed out:
(http://i.imgur.com/MZVVb0J.jpg)
The A8 option is disabled whether or not I save the file as .bmp directly from my multi-layered .psd file, or first choose either "Merge Visible" or "Flatten Image". No difference in the
dialog box.
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I don't have any experience using Photoshop but maybe you need to create an alpha map layer on your PSD file before it will let you use that option, a 32-bit bmp is just a 24-bit bmp with an alpha channel to control transparency.
Another option that might work is saving your psd as a 24-bit bmp and then loading this bmp back into Photoshop and re-saving it into the 32-bit format you want. That's basically what I am doing with PSP and Photoshop.
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I don't have any experience using Photoshop but maybe you need to create an alpha map layer on your PSD file before it will let you use that option, a 32-bit bmp is just a 24-bit bmp with an alpha channel to control transparency.
Another option that might work is saving your psd as a 24-bit bmp and then loading this bmp back into Photoshop and re-saving it into the 32-bit format you want. That's basically what I am doing with PSP and Photoshop.
I believe I tried that and it still distorted the color--though I think both options were available. I have yet to give it a go with Devil's directions.
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[A] 32-bit bmp is just a 24-bit bmp with an alpha channel to control transparency.
Why do we need transparency? For game purposes aren't 24-bit BMPs visually identical to 32s?
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Currently I don't think there is a use for the 32-bit alpha channel with skins, although they may be using it on buildings or vegetation.
I could imagine HTC using the alpha channel in future skins to replace the separate alpha maps used for things like tank tracks or damaged areas.
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I don't have any experience using Photoshop but maybe you need to create an alpha map layer on your PSD file before it will let you use that option, a 32-bit bmp is just a 24-bit bmp with an alpha channel to control transparency.
Another option that might work is saving your psd as a 24-bit bmp and then loading this bmp back into Photoshop and re-saving it into the 32-bit format you want. That's basically what I am doing with PSP and Photoshop.
I'm modifying the pilot also, and when I save Dude2.psd as a 32-bit bmp, I the A8 encryption is enabled. This file has many fewer layers than the aircraft skin, however I have to believe I used the same procedure to create the .psd files from the original bitmap. I've never messed around with alpha channels or layers; I don't know why they'd be different.
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The encryption is somehow related to how the program processes the conversion of a layered file to a single, flat image. Be sure that your .psd files have multiple layers before saving to a .bmp. This should enable the selection of conversion types.
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Using GIMP, I took your .psd and saved as a .bmp. Be sure to select "merge visible layers" and not "flatten image". "Merge visible layers" defaults to A8 encryption and "flatten image" only does X8.
It's still skewing the colors.
When I merge layers it offers three options. Two for trimming and one for expanding. Which should it be?
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In the meantime, is anyone willing/able to convert my _N and p51d bitmaps to 32-bit? I can find absolutely no way to do it on this end so far. I would like to get these in before the submission deadline.
:salute
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And that pops up when saving a .psd as a .bmp?
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And that pops up when saving a .psd as a .bmp?
That pops up with MERGE LAYERS.
When you try the EXPORT AS you get the following...
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That pops up with MERGE LAYERS.
When you try the EXPORT AS you get the following...
Bam! click export and you should be all set.
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Bam! click export and you should be all set.
When I do the export it still winds up purple. That's why I am wondering if the previous step at MERGE LAYERS needs to be done with a certain option.
I am still getting a purple Mustang. :headscratch:
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Something that just occurred to me. I'm using GIMP 2.6 which does not "export" files. So your mileage may vary.
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Something that just occurred to me. I'm using GIMP 2.6 which does not "export" files. So your mileage may vary.
Yeah, it seems the only way to change a file type in this one is to use the export option.
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I'm wondering if it would just be easier for everyone involved if we just allowed 24bit files. I can't see and visible difference form 32bit.
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The extra 8 bits allows us some options.
The free version of Photoshop I posted can handle 32 bit bitmaps just fine. Install the normal map plugin from Nvidia and it will create a 32 bit normal map.
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The extra 8 bits allows us some options.
The free version of Photoshop I posted can handle 32 bit bitmaps just fine. Install the normal map plugin from Nvidia and it will create a 32 bit normal map.
I intend to try that this week.
Did you download each installation disk file or just the zipped CS2?
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It is a self-extracting archve (exe).
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It is a self-extracting archve (exe).
Sigh........
Xtra Font Error??????
:bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead
:bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead
:bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead
:bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead :bhead
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GIMP 2.6 did the conversion without errors. Hallelujah!! Thanks Devil for that suggestion.
I will keep goofing with CS2 to see if I can get it to work. But at least we are making progress. Now on to NORMAL converters... EEEK!!!!
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You're welcome.
Funny thing is that I stuck with 2.6 just because I found the "export" feature annoying to deal with from an interface standpoint.
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You're welcome.
Funny thing is that I stuck with 2.6 just because I found the "export" feature annoying to deal with from an interface standpoint.
Heh, I stuck with Paint Shop Pro 5 for the same reason. As for GIMP, the new version also seems to corrupt the files. While Greebo could see my files in the viewer without distortion (at least I think so) my Skin Viewer *HATES* the latest GIMP format for converting to 32-bit.
:headscratch:
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Sigh........
Xtra Font Error??????
I have no idea what that error is. I have installed that on a dozen systems (Windows 7,8,8.1 and 10) and never had a problem.
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I have no idea what that error is. I have installed that on a dozen systems (Windows 7,8,8.1 and 10) and never had a problem.
It may be related to Flash. Since I did a full-system purge trying to fix the Skin Viewer something must be missing. There are a ton of threads on this error and it apparently affects software other than CS2 as well.
If I find a solution I will post it here. At least GIMP 2.6 converted things to 32-bit without errors so we are making progress. Thanks for the help. :salute