Freeware graphic editor / pear sprite files

Check out the Graphic Editing Suite. I think its in the NT Files Library. The main site who supports the program is at http://graphix.galciv.org/index.htm

NeoTech Gaming - http://www.neotechgaming.com/portal.php?sid=4d49eeaff2a7a78f883eea0e3acbd191 for all your gaming needs.

Thanks! LOL

~SDC~

I found a link at

http://www.neotechgaming.com/viewforum.php?f=65

or here (I forget) some time ago which took me to GIMP II, a freeware graphics program.

The Pear file sprite editor and unpacker/packer? That I have to wonder about... I'm thinking any program available would be hacker created or a direct release utility from its creators; not something found at a shareware/freeware site; certainly not at a store?

The link mentioned by Desert Fox will have Dark Rain's Sprite Editor, Pear file packer/unpacker, and the Color Pallet importer (Pal file to Pal_ conversion that GC/AP uses)... but to work with transparent color graphic PNG files, you will need the GIMP II graphics program (or equivalent freeware - and hard to use, but great for coverting to 256 colors which Paint Shop Pro 9 messes up when files are too big) or Paint Shop Pro 9 (commercial software, pretty easy to use, costing about $129 - or buy other equivalent software).
[Message Edited]

I downloaded the Graphic Editing Suite, but i have no program to edit the unpacked files (didn't even know "pear sprite files" before).

Normally i do most work with the ancient PSP 3(.something) from about '95. But those pear files aren't recognized by it. Since there is freeware for almost anything somewhere on the web, i thought i just ask if anyone knows something about it. Why i use PSP 3.x:

PSP 9 i'm a bit short on cash, so i'm going for freeware whenever i can.



Where do i find *.PNG files? I only find those pear-files. (Sorry if this sounds dumb, but i just don't know)


Chippoka, thanks for the Gimp II link. I'll download that right away.


By the way...


...no problems here with the old PSP 3. Works better than a few up-to date gfx-programs i've seen.

[Message Edited]

The Suite Tools include the Pear File unpacker/packer -check closely in the folder. There are several executable files. Try each.

Some Generalized Details.... proceedure...


1. Click an MDL file. Unpack it into a work folder.

2. Click a *.SPR file now located in the work folder. There could be several files; each will have a corresponding *.PAL_ file (color pallet). The SPR file should open into the Sprite Utility program of the Editing Tools package (make the association if it does not).

3. Once in the Spite (SPR) file, you will see several lines of names; example: Ship21_Default_A24C10F10. Click each name. You will see a picture(s). These pictures are *PNG files which have been converted into the format required by GC/AP game engine; i.e., "SPR" data existing as an MDL file. You can use the Sprite Utility to import and export PNG frames which are accessable/created in graphics programs as PNG files; plus export entire film strips.

The line name I mentioned above is typical of the main SPR command name for ship motion and presentation on the game map. It typically is a long pciture; e.g., 2048 long by 64 bits tall. The 2048 is comprised of various images of the ship moving - existing as a "film strip;" normally 32 shots if there is no animation: movement through 8 faces (or points) of physical position of a square. It doesn't need to be 32. You could do just 8 faces or frames (shots); that is, one for each possible movement direction (face - 8 total). The 32 shots permits smoother rotation to the eye in the game (11.5 degrees per frame of the film strip; total 348.75 degrees; where the remaining 11.5 degrees of 360 total represent returning to the beginning of one complete rotation - no need to draw it twice).

You'll need to use the Editing Tool rotator program for doing rotations (to "rotate" a single PNG picture (64x64) through 360 degrees to produce, say, 32 frames of rotation - the product is that long single film strip I mentioned earlier; and that is a single PNG picture, a "sequence" which you import via the Sprite Utility. Dark Rain's site gives all the details on command names for ships in the SPR data file, and what the purpose is for each type (three types).

Thanks for the tutorial (now i have to see what i can achieve...)

~SDC~

I shared only tiny bit of what I've learned so far, and there are a lot of other tips and tricks once you're using the graphic arts software to make your animate film strips. Ask when the questions come. Happy to help. I do presuppose a basic klowledge of file handling, cut'n'paste, etc. It seems you have that down. That makes it easier to explain stuff.

I'm now looking at getting the whole full blow graphic programs of Corel Draw (I can get a reduced price due to owning Paint Shop Pro 9). It apparently can do rotations and might solve some of my problem boundries in making animated star bases which have a 3-D appearance similar to the GC/AP star base.