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Tutorial - how to make StarCraft images what is match with pallete while using with photoshop or other Tools

I have seen guys who questions about SC pallete recently.
and they are seem to wondering how to load,match pallet (*pal) file to StarCraft grp with photoshop

So i decide for give little tips
that tips is how make cumstom BMP and load pallet with Photoshop

it would be help to who curious about make custom grp and images of StarCraft

in this tutorial,
i'll explain the pallete of Game Graphics (include StarCraft)
and otherthing is way to use with Photoshop to customizing pallete

first, i has been mainly speak korean so my english is poor
so i wish u guys will understand at first
It might confusion about something but i will do my best with my english ability

ok, Anyway, i'll gonna main issues now~!

1. what is the Pallete

Pallet is the range of colour for painting so many game graphic used pallet

A palette, in computer graphics, is a designated subset of the total range of colours supported by a
computer graphics system. Each colour in the palette is assigned a number, and for each pixel, one of
these numbers is stored. This number determines the colour of the pixel. Palettes allow images comprising
a small number of colours to be stored using a relatively modest amount of graphics memory

so it could a big saving memories

2. 8-bit color (256 colors)

8-bit colour graphics is a method of storing image information in a computer's memory or in an image file,
such that each pixel is represented by one 8-bit byte.
The maximum number of colours that can be displayed at any one time is 256.

we've got it about 2 important part for pallet
then we going to StarCraft grahics part more details.....

main tips.....
-----------------------------------------------
in photoshop, i dont know what exactly versions could this work
Anyway i'd like say allmost version of photoshop could make with this way
basically, photoshop has support most colors pallete format
there are mainly used *.act , *.aco files for photoshop format
when you colors set, also *.pal file can load too

take look srceenshot now ~!
this is show what i load image in photoshop that image is for SC units
that 256 color 8bit and have SC pallete color table

[▽ click image]


that colors of image same to SC pallet
but if that image different from SC colors,u need to change and match into same of SC pallete

look both palletes of view
[▽ click image]


those colors are different from each ohter
leftside is SC pallet, rightside is just unspecific colors
when u got something from
othersides unless created by urself
probably,most images got unspecific colors

if u want change pallet to SC colors then should be match each pixel's value of color into changed pallete
u should have that to display quite right of GRP

To change that, follow this step
first, change image's mode -> RGB mode , follow like images
[▽ click image]


this image not 256 indexed color it's means that could make to everytypes as u
want

now, change image's mode again to -> index colors

and then this window showed up


this dialog set colors used in this images
to do this work,u must already get SC pallete files ( such as *.pal , *.act *.aco whatever have just anything one )

in dialog, select pallete -> custom


then showd up this window

now load with pallete file what u want things
i'll try load photoshop with *.pal file next click is load btn
and choose format of file type by "microsoft pallete (*.pal)" in file select dialog windows


then now this image change colors of pallette into StarCraft colors
and photoshop has processing to match values of colors for changed pixels
within colors of custom pallete
and it's makes look similar Among best near color

but u must change mode to RGB before match the colors
if u do not that step,it colors probably be mixed up just like this


alright then i'd like to show change something to explain basis of pallete to urs
if u done load image of GRP with pallette and finished matching up colors as right
now you have to chnage #1(first color in 256) to R0/G255/B0 such like maximum of Green

if background area painted with #1(first) color as like this Screen
then ur background of image will change to Green



That’s it
now u guys could figure out about pallete
if you change one color Among current pallete,
then that painted area of what used by that color will change too

ADDITION Tutorial :
ok now ill show about Advance setting of custom color swatches to urs
it is option:
u might need pick and selet used SC colors to painting When u creat custom
graphic stuff of SC,
if you will have to do that work then go to "replace Swatches.." in swatches window of photoshop

1.select swatches window and go options button look like this (▶)
2.select "replace Swatches"
3.and load *.aco or *.act file (that is file what u made from *.pal file)
then load color category window with swatches of custom color
like this


and then just pick one of color as u want from Among there

especally, that is very usefull when u paint image with use teams / transparence color
Also u can add more color to list of loaded swatches as much as you want

Additional tutorials
-----------------------
Another Tutorial for GIMP user

create custom StarCraft Graphics with use Promotions

and if u vistit my personal web pages u would be get more good stuffs
there are sometutorials and good hidden informations

http://myhome.naver.com/evaniss/

Good tutorial, but you forgot to mention a way to quickly switch a old pallet you're using with a new one, without clicking deleat on each and every one of them

ADDITION: you also might want to do a spell check, I can tell what you're saying pretty good...
but some lines I had to read 2 or 3 times to understand what you where saying

Wow that helped alot and I thought it was just fine how I did it your tutorial will make it go faster for me.

This seems rather useful.

>>Pinned

This is great. Thanks.

If you guys tell me where to find the pal files all your wildest dreams will come true.

Just a sugguestion, but you should add a part mentioning how to change the display so it looks like starcraft does in-game

I had this problem, but I found how to fix it, although I'm still having problems getting it exact

example: use the Image->Adjustments option at the top,
then edit the "Levels...", "Brightness/Contrast..." and "Hue/Saturation..." values

a easy way I found of doing this is to save a screenshot of map with Scmdraft 2 and compare it with a screenshot in-game
(Shift+Print Screen, then paste in paint, the regular way doesn't work)

I now have GMax, but the help buttons don't work >.< I need help

Edit: Oops, just noticed they had to be downloaded seperately. Still need help though,

CamStudio doesn't work... It makes everything appear black...

Edit: Nevermind, hardware acceleration was on

I think this tutorial really helps people alot!! Im sure to use it.



But one question, what is GIMP and Gmax Never heard of them.

The GIMP is a tool to edit pictures, GMax is essentially free 3dmax. If you had read up there, you would have found the same thing.

The tutorials look pretty good, but wouldnt it be better if you combined them all in the first post,
or at least put links to all the posts that have them in the first post? I think this would help people search for tutorials.

Why does yafray keep making black renders? i follow all the instructions yet it doesnt change. why is that? oh and i also read the troubleshooting, doesnt change a single thing.

ok i put 5 lights on each side of it and still no change.

OK i think i know the problem. im using direct3d. what are you using?

i m hot-hydro@hotmail.com.... im not on much so just either use AIM (rawrz232) or tell me over bnet (2-hot-2-handle@useast) im usually in channel: rawr, so go there if u cant whisper me (i also usually have /o igw, on)

I'm using GIMP and trying to edit the probe's bmps. But it just comes out transparent. I think I followed all the instructions: I've changed it to RGB and then to Indexed using the SC unit palette, and then I paint it pretty shades of blue, but it goes transparent when those frames play...

Note: if you're going to follow that tutorial, remember to ask the author(s) for permission first! (prevents lawsuits)

I just finished setting all that up, I like it other than the darkness of it with the very light green background...

Edit: Nevermind, your newest Addition fixed it...

P.S. Every time I open gmax it forgets to load the custom toolbar settings, any way to make it auto-load without replacing the default?

Now for some extra features that it doesn't include: (even if it appears like it does in his screenshot. )

Connection Lines on objects: right click on View name (example: Perspective), then click on Edged Faces.
Turning off ground grid: click on Views, move mouse over Grids, and click on Show Home Grid.

Won't stay like that when it's re-openned? Too bad, I havn't figured out how to make it auto-load it like that, sorry.

1. sorry, it looked like you had those features included...
2. there was no point, this was just some small addon tips to make your tool more usefull.
3. I guess so...
5. I don't see what's so confusing, the first one's for those model grid lines, the second's for making the background grid dissappear (for when you're taking a screenshot of it, usefull for screenshot-type renderring)
6. either what you're saying doesn't work for me, or I don't understand what you're talking about...
7. that's exactly the same as what I was talking about...just more steps. (not to mention it doesn't work in gmax. )
8. ...?
9. I think we're talking about differant things, what I was talking about is the two things I sugguested. (whether they start or not when the program loads up)

1. I was referring to these screenshots, even though they appear to be in the tool, they're not included. (sc1 sc2)
2. ...I think we're talking about completely different things...
5. okay, that sounds much easier. (and it works also, I tested it )
6. ...just forget it, I think we're talking about different things. (and I already forgot what I was talking about... )
9. I'm positive we're talking about different things, I was referring to it starting up with the grids off and such.

for gmax, it says i need registration code? i registered but i didnt get code y?

Edit:nvm i got the code and thx for the turtuils

...I think something went wrong, I can no longer run gmax...at all...

Um..where am I going to find the time to read all this..?