[varsaigen]

what program should I use to convert bmp textures to the proper FS2 textures? (PCX)

[Droid803]

Use DDS instead. Its better. GIMP and Photoshop, with plugins, can both save as DDS.

[Water]

what program should I use to convert bmp textures to the proper FS2 textures? (PCX)

Irfanview can do the job - it has a batch convert feature - hotkey b.   http://www.irfanview.net/
Just make sure to use the advanced button and set the colour depth to 8 bit. Once you have done your testing you can use either a nvidia or amd converter on the bmp's to dds.

[varsaigen]

Ok, I figured out that Gimp can save as pcx (which makes it even more godlike) but now my problem is that it isn't loading on the model. Should I be using dds instead? Because the file I extracted the textures from shows pcx. (Just trying to keep this straight) And thanks guys, for your help so far! I'll see if dds works.

[varsaigen]

Sorry for double-posting, but the textures still aren't loading. D: Is there a proper tutorial on how to get textures to load?

[Retsof]

You probably don't have it in the right color depth.  Go to Image->Mode->Indexed.  That'll get you to 256 color mode (aka 8-bit).

[varsaigen]

oh. ok. Thanks!

[Hellstryker]

You should use DDS anyway. Paint.NET or GIMP can do it easily

[Herra Tohtori]

varsaigen: Are you going to use this texture in retail FreeSpace 2 or FS2Open?

Because for retail-compatible stuff, you need a PCX texture. If you use FS2Open (which is in most cases advisable due to better compatibility for new PC's, loads of new features and so forth), then DDS is basically the preferred format for textures, although the game can use TGA's as well. For the duration of testing the textures it's generally best to use uncompressed, lossless format - in case of FS2_Open, it'd be TGA - and convert it to DDS when you're done with it.

Also, I've found that GIMP is pretty much sufficient for the graphics work related to FS2_Open, although IrfanView is really good for batch converting a lot of files... and I tend to prefer NVidia's DDS tools (nvDXT command line utility) for converting files from TGA to DDS, but that's just my preference, any way is acceptable as long as the end result looks good. GIMP/Photoshop DDS plugins do good work too, it's more a matter of choice as far as I know.

[varsaigen]

ok. thanks for the clarrification. And honestly, I don't really know which I could use it for, so I could easily have both. Well, I think you have pretty much spelled it out for me. Thanks!

[Getter Robo G]

So what are yo working on? 

[colecampbell666]

His Shivan stealth fighter, probably.

[varsaigen]

not yet. I can't seem to get the stealth fighter to open in any programs. D:
What I'm working on is just kindof a screw around. I'm making a texture of a wraith ship from Stargate Atlantis. :3

[Getter Robo G]

I have some things you might be interested in (SG-1/SGA resources) and permission to use them in FS2 so maybe we can work something out?

PM also sent cause of your help request in other thread (on covnersion...)

[colecampbell666]

So how goes the SG mod?

[varsaigen]

What I have of my wraith ship is basically a replacable texture for the Vasudan Typhon model. The Typhon is pretty close to the Wraith Hive ship in SGA, so I don't think it'd be all that much of a difference between it and the wraith hive seen on TV.

[colecampbell666]

Uhm, the Typhon looks nothing like a Hive.

[varsaigen]

It has simular charecteristics. AND i take it your talking about a ship and not a bee hive? (Just making sure) But my point is that I figure that I'll have to put the Typhon into a modeling program, like milkshape, and change the shape to make it a hive ship, and apply the textures there. Since I couldn't find any other way to apply textures, doing it in a modeling program ought to work.

[Herra Tohtori]

It has simular charecteristics. AND i take it your talking about a ship and not a bee hive? (Just making sure) But my point is that I figure that I'll have to put the Typhon into a modeling program, like milkshape, and change the shape to make it a hive ship, and apply the textures there. Since I couldn't find any other way to apply textures, doing it in a modeling program ought to work.

Stay away from the Typhon and make a model from scratch would be my advice, rather than trying to modify an existing model's geometry...

Texture-replacements themselves are rather easy to do, though. Either copy the model file, open it in PCS2 and edit the texture name(s), then save the file and it should use the new texture name; or do it with FRED2 texture replacement.

[varsaigen]

Fred has a texture replacement?!?! Oo