DomII maps in Dom3, and fixing that Alpha channel

[Endoperez]

Dominions II maps work in Dominions 3. There is at least one glitch (#seaplayers 0 not preventing random nations that start underwater), but this isn't major and probably not limited to DomII maps. However, the fact that Dominions now supports alpha channels can cause some problems.

Parganos (at least version 2 by Ironhawk), The Three Necks, Karan and who knows how many other DomII maps just won't show up in Dominions 3.

Daynarr has posted how to fix the alpha Channels in Gimp. EDIT: Please note that this is inside the bug thread. It's not a very good bug thread, but it'd be better if we at least tried to keep it just for bug-related issues.

Are there any other programs with which this would be easier to do? Gimp may be free, but it's cumbersome to install...

[Agrajag]

There's Photoshop, but then again that costs money (unless you have קומבינו& #1514; ). Though for some reason I've been unable to save .tga files with an alpha channel (it automatically turns into 100% "visible", so it works for converting maps, but not to add some invisibility to the mix)
You can just wander the vast exapnses of the internet for any freeware that supports .tga and alpha support.
*wonders if he can make a little program that will fix alpha-troubled maps*
*realizes he can't write programs to manipulate *.tga files*

[Agrajag]

(this warrants a new post imo)

Apparently, I can create a program that will do the whole process for you automatically, the downside being it will require .NET Framework 2.0 (which requiers SP2, and obviously, WINDOZE).
I'll do that tomorrow though, since its pretty late now :\

Eventually, if I'll get enough help, I plan to make a program that will edit map pictures to reflect changes in dominion and other stuff (like I'm told happened in dom1)

[paradoxharbinger]

why does it necessarily require windows? you could just use a generic c++ fstream, read the original tga in and write the new one out.

iirc, dom2 only uses 24 bit tgas. the only complication is rle , which is something that i have not really gotten straightened out myself. i have a tga library i wrote that uses windows for file manipulation, but i need to get it to use fstream any way. it's been on the back burner but i can bump it up on my priority list if you think you can use it

[Agrajag]

paradoxharbinger said:
why does it necessarily require windows? you could just use a generic c++ fstream, read the original tga in and write the new one out.

Because I don't have any expereince with such things in C.
I could probably manage something if I even knew how to use .dll files :X
However, if you do, you can use this to make a much much better C++ program.

Meanwhile, I'm stuck with Visual Basic .NET (*blech*)

EDIT: ATTACHING TGAFIXER.ZIP
Okay, its attached.
Be aware though that:
1) I didn't do much testing. It should work, but it might not.
2) On a 1.4GHZ Pentium proccessor it can get about 25,000 pixels per second, that means bigger maps will take minutes to work out.

Hope I've helped

[Esben Mose Hansen]

What is cumbersome on installing gimp? Just go to http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html and install the two packages. Hardly any more bothersome than any other windows programs (linux people have an easier time, but that applies to all free or open software)

Using GIMP is another matter, the interface is inconventional to some degree. Still, it is not exactly hard, and tutorials abound. I know of no other paint program that span both linux and win32... though on Linux there are alternatives such as Krita.

[paradoxharbinger]

yeah, no idea on how to use .dll either

[Dragonlord]

I have installed Gimp yesterday and followed the instructions of the post linked to in the first post here. It worked. It fixed the Parganos2 map of Dom2 for me so that it loads in Dom3.

[paradoxharbinger]

i've pretty much finished that c++ header file that handles tga's. just does 24 and 32 bit rle and non rle, but i think that is about all that is needed to handle dom2 and 3 maps.

if anyone is interested, pm me