How to create icons for new units?

[GottaLove88s]

Gents,

I've converted two objects (the barge from Arnhem and the Invasion Barge from Sealion) into a Freighter unit and a Landing Craft Tank unit.

Does anybody know how I can create one of Slith's round icons (see HMS Fernie below) for these new units?

Right now their 'icon' space shows a messy blue blur, but it does correctly show what they're transporting, in this case a Churchill tank in an LCT

Large size graphics here...


Thanks for any advice!

[Amaris]

Well I use the empty icon file:



I take the 3D model from your screen. And I added it:



Here's how to make an icon without drawing.

[GottaLove88s]

Hey Amaris! That's clever. How did you do that?

Pls could you show me how to do for the LCT as well...? Where do I put these two new icon files? Do they need a particular name?

[Amaris]

I use Paint.net for that.
I don't remember where I found the empty icon file that I need.
I need too a screenshot of the unit.
I open it with Paint.net. I just copy the unit. I remove the background image around the unit. Then it remains to reduce the size of the unit for the icon:



The icons file must be placed into \DATA\UI\Textures\Icons

Their names was defined into the squad.csv file by the IconID attrib.

[GottaLove88s]

Thanks again Amaris... Do these icons have to saved as .dds files, or will they work as .jpg?
You've attached such perfect icons. I'd love to use 'em as is... Please may we?

[Amaris]

You must convert them into .dds file for the transparency.
Sure, you can use them, welcome.

[GottaLove88s]

Hi Amaris,

Sorry...

I've just realised that I can't read .dds files in my usual editor (cheap and cheerful Photoshop Elements 10 for Mac)
Does anyone know of a Mac (or iPad) editor that's cheap (or free) that will let me load .jpg and save as .dds?

Thanks!

[Richcat]

Hi GL88

I use PS elements but on PC

There is a plugin for photoshop from nvida https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-tex ... -photoshopbut don't know if its for mac

There is also Gimp with has a seperate dds plugin againhttp://www.gimp.org/ http://code.google.com/p/gimp-dds/

[jcb989]

I found Gimp woefully difficult to learn to use.

I am using DXTBmp which is free if I recall, but I am using it on PC. Maybe there is an equivalent.

[GottaLove88s]

Thanks Guys, I can't seem to find a Mac PS Elements version of the NVIDIA texture tools, on that link, darn it...
But I might be looking wrong? Have any other Mac guys done this before? Help!!

[Amaris]

Well try Graphic Converter 8: http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphic-converter/

Formats (can import & export .dds file): http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/gra ... t-formats/

It isn't free but there is a demo version.

[GottaLove88s]

Thanks Amaris! I've gone with Graphics Converter 8 (the demo is free and it works perfectly, great tip, merci!)
So, as you can see I've copied the jpeg of your icon (from this thread) but GC8 has interpreted the transparent background as white... ARGH!!
Is there a toggle in GC8 that I can switch so that it will interpret white as transparent when it does the conversion to .dds?

[Amaris]

You must erase the white background!

I'll send you the files with no white background. (can't host them simply)

[GottaLove88s]

You must erase the white background!

I'll send you the files with no white background. (can't host them simply)

Merci Amaris. Got 'em and very gratefully used! THANK YOU