How to Modify sky_pac.tga file

scott10301 · 12-11-16, 01:46 AM

I finally got a new LED backlit monitor, upgrading from an old NEC CRT model. (yea, I know, I'm old school!). The problem I have is that the night sky looks way too light.

I've tried 16 ways from Sunday to adjust the brightness, and contrast settings on my monitor and video card I've also tried adjusting gamma settings on my video card and in game, but I cannot solve my issue. I can get the night sky to look dark enough by dropping the gamma really low, but then the rest of the game appears too dark and it's unplayable.

I've read that you can modify the sky_pac.tga and reflex_pac.tga files and darken the proper sections. When I open these files in either Gimp or Paint Shop Pro, these sections are checkerboard. I think this means there are transparent layers, but I cannot figure out how to modify this to darken these sections up. I'm obviously not very well versed in image editing, but was hoping someone could help me understand a little better how I can darken these sections.

propbeanie · 12-11-16, 10:05 AM

Biggest difference for me when I went from a crt to led was matching the 'native' resolution of the monitor. My lcd screens are now ancient, and have a 1280x1024 resolution at 75 refresh. I set Windows to that, and SH4 to that, and all is well in my little digital world. I don't know if you can get yours to match, and the new hi-tech stuff probably already has Windows set correctly, but that's what brought things back into balance for me. That, and a slightly darkened room. Of course, the crt screens used to reflect room light back at me, so no diff in the room lighting...

scott10301 · 12-11-16, 05:08 PM

Hi Prop,

Thanks for the reply!

I have both Windows and SH4 set to my monitor's native resolution and refresh rate - 1920X1080 and 60Hz. I guess it's a trade off since LCD/LED cannot produce the same blacks that a CRT can. Still, it seems unrealistic, hence my efforts at trying to edit the .tga files. Wish it weren't so complicated.

propbeanie · 12-11-16, 08:33 PM

OK, gotcha. You're dealing with the "safe zone" then, where black on your LCD is able to handle 0 (zero) color for white, and 255 for black, whereas the old CRT thingies would stop at like 16 and 238, or something like that, and that's what the game is written for. Broadcast color space, or whatever... You can try those settings on your new monitor, and see if setting it "warmer" helps... or is it "colder"... been too long since I was doing video for that... and now I can't remember how to get into my LCD's menu...

wow. It's right in front of me!

- wow. found it... Mine has " 1. 2. 3. sRGB 5. Native", so six settings. Mine looks best on Native, but the 3 didn't look bad either, though I'll bet video would look weird...

scott10301 · 12-12-16, 02:04 PM

Yeah, I have the same settings as well. I have it set to Native, as this seems the best result.

Oh well, I think I'll just play it as is and move on.

Thanks!

12-11-16, 01:46 AM	#1
scott10301 Watch Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 15 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	How to Modify sky_pac.tga file I finally got a new LED backlit monitor, upgrading from an old NEC CRT model. (yea, I know, I'm old school!). The problem I have is that the night sky looks way too light. I've tried 16 ways from Sunday to adjust the brightness, and contrast settings on my monitor and video card I've also tried adjusting gamma settings on my video card and in game, but I cannot solve my issue. I can get the night sky to look dark enough by dropping the gamma really low, but then the rest of the game appears too dark and it's unplayable. I've read that you can modify the sky_pac.tga and reflex_pac.tga files and darken the proper sections. When I open these files in either Gimp or Paint Shop Pro, these sections are checkerboard. I think this means there are transparent layers, but I cannot figure out how to modify this to darken these sections up. I'm obviously not very well versed in image editing, but was hoping someone could help me understand a little better how I can darken these sections.

12-11-16, 10:05 AM	#2
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 10,100 Downloads: 451 Uploads: 2	Biggest difference for me when I went from a crt to led was matching the 'native' resolution of the monitor. My lcd screens are now ancient, and have a 1280x1024 resolution at 75 refresh. I set Windows to that, and SH4 to that, and all is well in my little digital world. I don't know if you can get yours to match, and the new hi-tech stuff probably already has Windows set correctly, but that's what brought things back into balance for me. That, and a slightly darkened room. Of course, the crt screens used to reflect room light back at me, so no diff in the room lighting... __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayers" - Jimbuna

12-11-16, 08:33 PM	#4
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 10,100 Downloads: 451 Uploads: 2	OK, gotcha. You're dealing with the "safe zone" then, where black on your LCD is able to handle 0 (zero) color for white, and 255 for black, whereas the old CRT thingies would stop at like 16 and 238, or something like that, and that's what the game is written for. Broadcast color space, or whatever... You can try those settings on your new monitor, and see if setting it "warmer" helps... or is it "colder"... been too long since I was doing video for that... and now I can't remember how to get into my LCD's menu... wow. It's right in front of me! - wow. found it... Mine has " 1. 2. 3. sRGB 5. Native", so six settings. Mine looks best on Native, but the 3 didn't look bad either, though I'll bet video would look weird... __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayers" - Jimbuna

12-11-16, 05:08 PM	#3
scott10301 Watch Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 15 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	Hi Prop, Thanks for the reply! I have both Windows and SH4 set to my monitor's native resolution and refresh rate - 1920X1080 and 60Hz. I guess it's a trade off since LCD/LED cannot produce the same blacks that a CRT can. Still, it seems unrealistic, hence my efforts at trying to edit the .tga files. Wish it weren't so complicated.

12-12-16, 02:04 PM	#5
scott10301 Watch Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 15 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	Yeah, I have the same settings as well. I have it set to Native, as this seems the best result. Oh well, I think I'll just play it as is and move on. Thanks!