Texture Tutorial: Alpha to black

Greetings. As many of you know, SoM uses pure black to create a see through hole in a texture.

I've recently had trouble with alpha channels in stock textures, and i couldnt find any guide or faq to indicate how to turn alpha into black. So i decided to make this tutorial, which will guide you through the conversion process.

You'l need GIMP (open source / free) and you're own stock textures. The one i'm using is free, and from a website.
Step 1



IMPORTANT: If you want the best image possible without gray/black pixels around the edges, resize you're image to you're needs now. My image is a much higher resolution for tutorial purposes.
SoM's maximum texture output resolution is 256x256.

Load up you're image into GIMP. Go to "Edit" and "Copy."

Step 2
Go to the "colours" tab in the top bar, select "desaturate" followed by the ok button. For this tutorial ill be using the default selection of lightness.


Step 3


Go to the "colours" tab again and select curves (1st reference). Drag the line from the middle to the top left corner, until you're texture turns white (2nd reference).


Step 4

Click on the magic wand lookalike icon in the toolbox, called the fuzzy select. Click anywhere on the white of the image and it should outline the whole white area.


Then click on "Edit" then "Paste into" while everything is still highlighted.

Step 5

Ok, heres the technical part.
Click ONCE inside the texture's area.
That should highlight what you are aiming for.
Now, click "Edit" and "Copy."

Step 6

Go to file, then new. Gimp automatically picks up what you're previous image size was, so dont worry about size adjustment. Click ok.

In the toolbox selection, go to the "Bucket" icon. Select 0 on every colour, like in my screenshot.
Bucket fill the area by clicking anywhere.


Now go to "Edit" again and "Paste." Click anywhere on the texture to anchor the layer.



You're image should have no issues. However bear in mind that if you choose to resize now, you will get gray/black pixels around the leaves in game.

I will show you how to have no gray/black pixels in more detail, in the next tutorial.

Cheers.

Verdite

Some cool new attack smells!!




I mean lets face it, there's not much deodorant for sale on Melenat

Attached Files

  Attack Spells.zip (Size: 1.36 KB / Downloads: 298)

Just of interest, I found out there is really is such a thing as Dragon Fruit. It's even edible.
Almost looks cooler KF's Dragon Tree. ‎ 

Attached Files

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The new patch is ready and available here:
https://www.mediafire.com/?no2vjabs1hjjxrj

I have some 'companion' packages too which are pretty much part of v1.2, but it would have complicated things to include them in the patch:

Optional font pack- changes in-game fonts and adds new font options to 'formatted message' events:
https://www.mediafire.com/?2untbjr7fjil4mf

Wide screen Map Editor pack- remakes the workspace for the Map Editor to utilize new monitor resolution:
https://www.mediafire.com/?l291bc76yx093tp

Good day everyone, and thanks for letting me in on this chat string!

Well, let me introduce myself, I'm Xtremez, been a fan of all the KF games since PS1 came out with "KF2". So onto the next subject, I've been working on a new game called, "Curse of the Pharoahs". Has a number of different levels, Abu Simbel, Deir El Bahri, Kom Ombo and a few others, like a Labrynth w/ a Minotaur boss, etc. Being an Architect and Archealogist Im somewhat anal about the detailing and design of the maps, helps accuracy and intent anyway.

Well have most of the levels complete and need to start seeding the maps w/NPC's and Enemy's wanted to know if anyone would be interested in running thru what I have and giving me some pointers?

Write back and let me know! Thanks!

Xtremez

30sec Ruins clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXvZVj1nHd4

oswald vs skeletons

https://youtu.be/aCf8MfRlFgU

The directional light settings in the Map Editor can make some really nice effects, but they're also quite hard to figure out. I was adding some tips about angle values to the Map Editor for v1.2 and thought I'd post the "long" version here.

The light source rotates on the Y and X axis (see Picture). So:

Y (controls 'left to right'):
------------------------
‎  ‎ 0 = Shines North
‎ 90 = Shines West
180 = Shines South
270 = Shines East
‎ 45 = Shines North West
135 = Shines South West
225 = Shines South East
315 = Shines North East

X (Controls 'up and down'):
-----------------------
Important angles
‎  ‎ 0 = Shines Level
‎ 45 = Shines Diagonally Upward
315 = Shines Diagonally Downward

Other Angles (I recommend you ignore these ‎  )
90 = Shines Straight Up (Negates Y Axis setting)
135 = Shines Diagonally Upward (Reverses Y Axis setting)
180 = Shines Level (Reverses Y Axis setting)
225 = Shines Diagonally Downward (Reverses Y Axis setting)
270 = Shines Down (Negates Y Axis setting)

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Hey Weissvulf, just wanted to say, can't wait for your patch for SOM, I am looking forward to ditching the download installer I have because it is so packed with pitiful customs I made and I would prefer to get the download back to the original with all the proper fixes you are implementing.

What is the time frame on the patch, can I do anything to help?

Ben,

Earlier today we were talking about having a drop down point that fades to black. ‎  I dug up kilroyfx's old project and found the files he used to create a basement that was able to do what youre talking about. ‎ 

Now depending on the area you want you darken, this can be simple or difficult. ‎  I think in your scenario you are only darkening in a drop down hole, so it becomes a relatively simple matter.

I will catch you tomorrow and send you the test project I made with a simple object that decreases visibility as you progress down steps.

Plugins:
[b]Here[/b] is a link the latest v0.2 how-to. It also includes translations of some Metasequoia plugins and basic info on how to use Keynote. So it could be useful for people interested in Keynote more than Sword of Moonlight. Additional translated plugins are listed below including Keynote.

Here are some additional translated Metasequoia plugins (batch#1).
‎  UVPowerUnwrap was already in English, but some of the directions in its readme are translated. Home
‎  EasyUV gives a control panel for better control when moving UVs around. Home
‎  KeepUV gives a simple control panel that lets you 'keep' UV shape when you reshape a mesh. Home
‎  StitchUV(under "Selected") joins close UVs just like 'Join Close Vertices' does for vertices. Home
‎  ROKImport lets you import ROK models made in HexaGreat (2D to 3D model maker). Home

Here are some additional translated Metasequoia plugins (batch#2):
‎  Pipe lets you draw a 'framework' with lines, then extrudes a pipe tree along the lines. For pipeworks, or maybe trees. Home
‎  Multi-Bevel extrudes selected faces with various taper and division options Home
‎  Loop is a 5 function plugin Home:
‎  ‎  ‎  Select a full line, Make a hole in a face, Flatten multiple faces to point in the same direction,
‎  ‎  ‎  Select all polygons surrounding the current polygon(s), Make a rectangular face into a perfect square.

Here are some additional/updated translated Metasequoia plugins (batch#3) including a new version of KEYNOTE.
‎  Keynote update v0.0.4.4 for making animated models in Metasequoia
‎  Make Anchor update for making anchors.
‎  AnimatedX Export translation update with a a few new errors translated.
‎  PMD/PMX ‎  Export which lets you export animated models to MikuMikuDance format.
‎  ‎  All brought to you by the genius at MQDL Home

Here is an additional translated Metasequoia plugin (batch#4):
‎  'Create Polygon On Surface' lets you draw new polygons on an existing polygon. Home
‎ 
Here is a translated tool that can sometimes fix broken Keynote animations- Home

Here are two translated Metasequoia plugins (batch#5):
‎  'PolyCounter' adds a new Panel that show the current polygon/vertex count.
‎  'Keynote Serial Save' adds a new "Save As" option that lets you save each keyframe from a Keynote animation as a separate non-animated MQO model.

Here is a set of plugins made by Siobi, who graciously released English versions for us! You can hover the mouse over the pictures on his site for an English description of what the plugins do.

Tutorials:
Keynote -
‎  In this thread, there is some very helpful Keynote information (a huge thanks to AirFlamesRed!)
‎  Here is a document with information about Keynote controlls.
‎  Here is a Japanese site with lots of Keynote tips. -Click squares to the right of "Mikoto TIPS"

Metasequoia -
‎  Below are some "tutorial" sites for Metasequoia. The information might be good for beginners or have a few new tips for 'old-pros':
‎  grumpyrarab
‎  skribblerz
‎  cutfoldpaste
‎  Metasequoia Menu v1.0 Page 1 / Page2 / Page 3 ‎  (Download Complete Tutorial / Home)
‎  Video's by Verdite: Head modeling 1 & 2, Monster modeling & texturing
‎  Utilizators

3D Modeling Resources -
‎  Itchy Animation.com Lighting tutorials - some very good information about how to use light. ‎  ‎ 
‎  3D Total.com modeling tutorials- link goes to especially comprehensive human modeling tutorial.
‎  anniemation.com Plants and Flowers textures and reference resource.
‎  biology-resources.com ‎  Amphibians, Birds, Fish, Shrooms, Insects and Plants reference resource.
‎  mega-tex.com General Textures and references.
‎  cgtextures.com General Textures, well organized and specifically geared to 3D modeling.
‎  New York Metropolitan Museum database with pictures and descriptions for thousands of ancient artifacts.

HexaGreat - (aka HexaSuper aka Rokkaku-Daioh)
‎  flad2d has tutorial links and download for this program that takes 2D 'drawing' and makes it into a 3D ROK model.


If anyone has other tutorial site links, post here and I'll add them. Or if anyone has a Metasequoia plugin they want in English.

Thanks to Verdite for finding the Metasequoia keynote plugin by the way :)