48 replies to this topic

[WizWom]

The first word after the file version is not garbage, it is the paperdoll type:
0 = character
8 = equiptment (like a shield or a helmet)

I think this keeps you shield from coming in in the color of your character's skin. But it appears to have no discernable effect at all.

I have yet to see a paperdoll without 0x8 on the first byte!
Please tell me an original paperdoll which has no 0x8 there.

Aye, you are right. Wonder what the 8 means, it is ignored, near as I can tell.

[Miloch]

Anyone have links to the BMP/PLT converters that aren't broken?

[Jarno Mikkola]

Anyone have links to the BMP/PLT converters that aren't broken?

This might work. It's the Photoshop Plugin Suide (1.0) from TeamBG.

Edited by Jarno Mikkola, 29 October 2007 - 12:24 AM.

[Miloch]

Thanks... forgot about that one (though I usually use Paint Shop or Gimp for editing). I did find the converters on my old hard drive (sometimes it helps to be a packrat).

Edit: Links removed, since WizWom is now hosting these again (see below).

Edited by Miloch, 12 January 2008 - 03:38 PM.

[igi]

Photoshop plugins work in Paint Shop Pro (and many other images editors).

[Miloch]

Yeah... I should've remembered that too since I just installed some PS plug-ins in PSP. It won't install on my system though (in either application) - I guess I'll go report it over at TBG.

[WizWom]

Anyone have links to the BMP/PLT converters that aren't broken?

Er, sorry about that, I haven't had hosting for a bit here.

Hosted now at http://www.wizwom.is-a-geek.net/BGMods

Edited by WizWom, 02 January 2008 - 04:34 PM.

[Miloch]

Here's a temp link until WizWom gets around to it.

Edit: see below

Edited by Miloch, 12 January 2008 - 07:28 PM.

[WizWom]

Gotten around to it :-)

http://wizwom.is-a-g...T_Converter.rar

[Miloch]

how / where do you need to assign a plt so that it will go with someone who does not already have one such as Elminster, Drizzt, or an animal. The answer is probably really obvious but I can’t seem to figure out how.

I think the format is the four-character prefix of the animation (as in anisnd.ids) followed by an optional number for various "armoured" sequences (for character PLTs) and then INV. So Elminster would be uelminv.plt and mfieinv.plt is an existing Fire Elemental plt.

[WizWom]

Sure enough, I get that, too. Fire elementals have both a MFIEINV.BAM and a MFIEINV.PLT in the biff; I'd suggest pulling the Biff's BAM.

I did successfully make an MKOBINV.PLT and put it into the game, so I know it can be done.

Edit: yes, just verified... the MFIEINV uses the BAM in preference to the PLT. And writing a junk BAM just blanks the display.

So, if a PLT doesn't work for an animation, I guess try a BAM.

Edited by WizWom, 17 January 2008 - 08:55 PM.

[Miloch]

"And that's why the PLT file is superior: 254 shades of each color vs 12. much smoother.” If this is true, then why would the Infinity Engine prefer a .BAM to a .PLT?

I don't know where that comes from or what it's supposed to mean. BAMs can have 256 colours (or, I guess, 254 if you don't count the transparency and shadow palette entries).

Second, in the .BAM form of the paperdolls, there are usually three frames. There are usually two of the top half of the figure and one of the bottom half (although sometimes there is a second one of the bottom). If there is only one top frame or only one frame with the top and bottom combined, then the picture does weird things in-game. Why does the Infinity Engine need the second top (and sometimes bottom) frame?

I don't see what you're talking about. Mfieinv.bam, for example, has two frames (one for the top half, one for the bottom half). As for why it needs two frames, well, the engine can be retarded sometimes. BG1 for example needs you to split your description BAMs into four frames, if you really want to go there...

As for the other stuff, I really don't have much of a clue. I don't know if anyone's done a whole lot of work in this area (adding non-character paperdolls) - you might be one of the first! So, like the guys who trailblazed the IESDP, it's probably a matter of hacking around, experimenting and hopefully finding something that works (and also reporting your findings to the IESDP eventually ).

[WizWom]

"And that's why the PLT file is superior: 254 shades of each color vs 12. much smoother." If this is true, then why would the Infinity Engine prefer a .BAM to a .PLT?

I don't know where that comes from or what it's supposed to mean. BAMs can have 256 colours (or, I guess, 254 if you don't count the transparency and shadow palette entries).

Wondrous, absolutely wondrous. Inconsistent.

Note: because it's paletteized, they might be using other colors, so there might be more tha 7 mapped. Hm. No, the palette seems to be 7 groups of 12 grades for each color I've listed, and that seems to be all they used.

And that's why the PLT file is superior: 254 shades of each color vs 12. much smoother. But over a 128x160 pixel area, who would notice?

Edit: yes, just verified... the MFIEINV uses the BAM in preference to the PLT. And writing a junk BAM just blanks the display.

Did I miss something?

I don't know. Some things use a PLT over a BAM, some things use a BAM before a PLT. it's all very strange. I made a crude MKOBINV.PLT for CA, and it worked fine. But MFIEINV.PLT won't work, because there is a biffed MFIEINV.BAM

Now, BAMs use a palette which lets them blend the 8 colors and maybe transparent, but is sort of posterized to 12 levels. PLTs have finer gradiation of highlight, but no blending. BAMs can be less jaggy, but without alpha channel blending, you get the jaggy effect at the edges, where it's noticed most.

All in all, I call it a wash and a waste of code in the engine to have .PLT files. So, if I'm modding something that uses a PLT already, I'd use a PLT. If something uses a BAM, then I'll use a BAM.