[Creed]

Could anyone help me with the procedure for changing a units default colour, like the terror drone to a yellow-ish colour (typical harvest drone).
I've created the unit, Yuri's Revenge acknowledges that it exists, i can guarantee i've entered the appropriate entrys to the artmd.ini and rulesmd.ini, the only problem i have is that my harvest drone appears like a regular terror drone, i attempted to give it a yellow appearance.

This is what i have tried:

1)I first extracted the dron.shp via XCC mixer, then changed it to .pcx.
2)I then opened up PSP 8 and used the 'colour balance' feature to boost the yellow effect. (i have Adobe Photoshop/Image Ready as well, if that makes it easier).
3)converted the edited .pcx to .shp once again and named it HDRON.shp, placed into my RA2 directery (with both rulesmd/art.ini entrys added).

And when i created the harvest drone, it behaved as it should (collecting ore), but it remained the default terror drone grey.

i only recently bought PSP 8 and Photoshop/Image Ready, so i dont really know my way around them, but any help would be great, thank you in advance.

[MaperRiz]

Well... did you convert all frames?

[Creed]

if you mean did i convert the edited .pcx back to .shp, then yes, and as far as i can tell it contained all the drone frames (176 i think).

Is what im doing even the correct method? do i need any additional software?

[DeeZeL]

hmmmm...did you apply a palete to your.shp file?

did you also edit dronp.shp?

[Creed]

I guess I could have paletted it incorectly.

[Creed]

Originally Posted by DeeZeL

hmmmm...did you apply a palete to your.shp file?

did you also edit dronp.shp?

Well, I edited both dron.shp & dronp.shp, but as for the paletting part (like i say i only purchased PSP8 and PhotoShop very recently, so I'm still learning). I'm pretty sure I paletted them correctly.

1)Open up PSP8, load up dron.pcx, set desired colour alteration's, save.
2)Go to: Image > Palette > Save Palette > name it hdron, save in .pal format. Repeat with with dronp.pcx.
3)Convert the altered dron.pcx and dronp.pcx back to .shp.
4)Place all 4 items in RA2 directory: hdron.shp, hdron.pal, hdronp.shp, hdronp.pal (with correct rulesmd.ini and artmd.ini)

Is that right? or is there something missing? as i still get terror drone grey. I could upload the colour i used if you like? although i have tested a few.

[DeeZeL]

i guess you cant add any new palettes to the game...only edit the existing ones, still, im not quite sure :/

[Creed]

In that case DeeZeL.

1)Do you know the method that was first used for the original harvest/Demo/Psychic drone's? how did the creator behind those alter the colour?

2)And as for adding palettes to .shp units, wouldn't it be the same way as adding a palette to the glslmd.shp? I mean it must be possible for .shp based units.

3)Did i make a palette correctly in my previous post?

Does anybody know of a tutorial or site that covers anything like this? or is there anyone i could PM to inquire further? Thanks again.

[DeeZeL]

1. i think the first user used colors WITHIN the original palette, so it wasnt a trouble getting it into the game.

2. i think it isnt..try adding another palette for glsmd.shp and see if it works * a word of advice: dont coz it wont *.

3. no you didnt..simply because your palette was 24-bit colors, the game engine of ra2 ONLY accept 256 colors palette.

[Creed]

Does that mean I should extract an appropriate palette, and name it dron.pal? Thanks for the help so far DeeZeL.