14 replies to this topic

[ThorinOakenshield2]

In the Textures2.big file in the Battle for Middle-earth game folder there are a few texture files named 'gbgen01', 'gbgen01_d',something like that. I wanted to change those textures, so that the Gondor civilian buildings they were applied to to look almost completely different. However, the 'gbgen01' textures appeared strange when opened: most of the texture was blank, only some window-like spaces were not blank; however, when I opened the w3d files of the buildings, they were textured normaly. Is that normal? If yes, how do I retexture those buildings?

[Irenë Hawnetyne]

I don't quite know why some of EA's textures are like that, but they work in game because the shader they use doesn't read the alpha channel - which means all the colour information is stored in the RGB channels, not the A channel. Hence, if you basically copy-paste that texture loads of times, you'll end up with a non-alpha'd version of the texture. I'm not really sure of the 'proper' way around this, but so far it seems not to cause any problems.

[MattTheLegoman]

I do not recommend that way.

 

The alpha channel is there, and it can be removed or turned off.

 

In GIMP (I'm still learning about Ps 2015), left-click the layer and Add Layer Mask, initialise the layer mask as the Layer's alpha channel, then disable the layer mask.

 

P.S. I'll show a screenshot if you need. I recommend learning about layer masks if you haven't already.

Edited by MattTheLegoman, 15 August 2015 - 11:37 AM.

[Irenë Hawnetyne]

Oh, that's a cool way. Sorry, should have mentioned, my method was to be used in (any version of) Photoshop.

[MattTheLegoman]

I can confirm that you can apply the alpha channel as a layer mask in Ps 2015 and then disable the layer mask. =p

[ThorinOakenshield2]

I know a bit how to work with Gimp, but not much, so screenshots would be appreciated

[ThorinOakenshield2]

I tried what you said Matt, but it didn't make any difference. Any idea why?

[MattTheLegoman]

Because you need to learn about layer masks.

 

Example of texture with an alpha channel:

 

I do not like the way the plug-in imports dds files into Photoshop. =/

 

Irene, this way will not remove the alpha channel correctly.

 

Adding a layer mask in GIMP that transferes the image's alpha channel.

 

An alternative way using curves.

[Irenë Hawnetyne]

It's possibly worth bearing in mind that Photoshop's plugins no longer do the multi-map import, and don't import alphas at all. Oddly.

 

I didn't mention it before cause it's a long time since I've edited the vanilla textures and the new plugin seems to have changed these inconveniences.

[-SilverBane-]

I use photoshop 4 and a dds plugin and it always asks me if i want to show the mip maps before opening file,,,

[ThorinOakenshield2]

I thought I had to initialise as the layer's Alpha channel, not to transfer the image's Alpha channel...
Well, it works now, I should have tried a bit more to find how to do this :(

[MattTheLegoman]

I use photoshop 4 and a dds plugin and it always asks me if i want to show the mip maps before opening file,,,

 

I use a plugin from Nvidia, what do you use?

[-SilverBane-]

 

I use photoshop 4 and a dds plugin and it always asks me if i want to show the mip maps before opening file,,,

 

I use a plugin from Nvidia, what do you use?

 

same

[NewErr]

You can select the alpha channel in Photoshop, make it visible or not. In most of the versions of the Photoshop. The nvidia dds importer works from cs2 to cs6 (tested).

[MattTheLegoman]

It is the Nvidia plugin that doesn't work correctly for me. ;p I will have to look into it.