Changing the Color of the Lubber Line

[Soundman]

I would like to change the color of the Lubber Line on the scopes, it's a little hard to see sometimes at night. I'm thinking maybe grey or white. Anyhow, is this possible and if so, tell me what file I need to edit. Thanks!

[CapnScurvy]

Originally Posted by Soundman

I would like to change the color of the Lubber Line on the scopes, it's a little hard to see sometimes at night. I'm thinking maybe grey or white. Anyhow, is this possible and if so, tell me what file I need to edit. Thanks!

I'm assuming your using SH4 1.5, take the attack periscope image from Data\Menu\Skins\American\Gui\Layout folder named: "Periscope_Mask_1024.dds" and use a tool like Adobe PhotoShop that is capable of reading a .dds image (may have to add a plug-in for a .dds file) and color the lines as you like.

[Soundman]

Thanks, I'll give it whirl !

[vanjast]

Done it here.

When you open the DDS file, you should have 4 layers, Alpha (the mask), R,G,B
I just copied the whole 'B' image into 'R' and blanked 'B' after that.
It effectively made Red the dominant colour.
Save the DDS file as a 32 bit DDS ( Alpha=8 bit, Red=8 bit, Green=8 bit, Blue=8 bit)

[Soundman]

Well.......I did need a plugin and am trying to use photoshop. Maybe this is a little over my head, but when I open the file mentioned above, all I'm seeing are two dark grey circles on a black background. I tried some sort of converter (DXTBmp) found in this mods forum that converts the .dds file to a BMP file and will then send it to photoshop for editing. Once done, I do see the lubber line and scales, but it appears to be only one layer. Or at least I can't figure out how to separate them.:hmm:

[CapnScurvy]

Well Soundman, welcome to modding!!!

Now that you have gotten your feet wet, there are a couple of programs you should have. I'm not sure what PhotoShop version you have (and I'm no expert either) but the plug-in that works for me came from this web site. Try to match up the nVidia plug-in that best suits your PhotoShop version, download and install.

While your there also download the WTV image viewer and put the .exe shortcut into your "Send To" folder. Then when you are interested in looking for that specific image, just right mouse click the file, open the "Send To" menu and click on WTV. The particular image, and all other .dds images held within the folder can be seen.

You have the DXTBmp converter which I also have in the "Send To" folder. I have used this tool for doing simple paint and draw changes to .dds files. Either with the main image or the Alpha black and white image which is an important aspect of the .dds image. The alpha channel image is of course a mirror image of the main image. The black part of the alpha blocks whatever is visible on the main image. The white part is translucent, it allows the image to come through. The whiter the alpha the darker the true image will be when it is processed.

Really the same is true of the black parts, the lighter the black (like shades of grey) the more of the concealed image will show through. So if you put something onto the main image, like a flag or text, the addition on the alpha channel must be in the exact same position. AND, depending on how bright or dark you want the new addition to be depends on how white or dark the alpha channel specific position is.

That being said, what I've usually done is export a copy of the alpha from the image file (both .dds and .tga files have alpha channels) and work with them in PhotoShop. I've adjusted contrast to get the right translucent or blocking color that I want, then import it back to the main image using DXTBmp.

Again, I like using PhotoShop for most detail work with either the main image or the Alpha channel. There is a lot more you can do with an image using Photoshop over DXTBmp, but the export and import feature for the alpha channel is the easiest using DXTBmp.

So, to lighten the periscope lines you could use the DXTBmp to work with the alpha channel image. Send the "Alpha to the Editor" and try to lighten the lines you want with the whitest color, and as small a line as possible. For a much better job export the alpha to PhotoShop and redraw the lines with a brighter white color, then import the .bmp alpha back into the periscope_mask...... file with DXTBmp. OR if you want a slight green color, use PhotoShop to color the "main" image lines and save the .dds image using the nVidia plug-in which should automatically open up when you ask to save the image as a .dds. The nVidia DDS Format Screen will appear, choose "DXT5 ARGB 8bpp/interpolated alpha" and "save". Put the image file back where you got it and run the game to see what it looks like.

OH, by the way, before you mess around with your files, ALWAYS use "copies" of the original so you can go back to them if your work doesn't come out right.

[Soundman]

WOW ! That's a mouth full. Sounds like I am in deep here. OK CapnScurvy, you have now explained this just well enough to hook me in to determinig how to figure out this minor dilema of mine. There are some things you stated that I picked up on following my last post. I fiddled around a bit more and discovered the "Mirror" thing you speak of. I used reverse (inverted the) image and instantly recognized what I was seeing.....the scope lines.. Therefore, maybe there's some hope I can pull it off. I'm very thankfull for your time and wisdom. Sounds like you've done this once or twice.

It's not helping that Photoshop is still relatively new to me, I've not used it but a couple of times. It's apparent that I'll need some patience and time to absorb what you have stated above and let it sink in. Hope you'll allow me a question or two more if I get stuck. Thanks again.

[CapnScurvy]

Originally Posted by Soundman

It's not helping that Photoshop is still relatively new to me, I've not used it but a couple of times. It's apparent that I'll need some patience and time to absorb what you have stated above and let it sink in. Hope you'll allow me a question or two more if I get stuck.

I'm using PhotoShop Elements 5.0, and yes indeed, there is a lot to learn within its large capabilities. I forget if PhotoShop added itself to the "Send To" menu screen in Windows but if it didn't you can copy its .exe shortcut file to it as well. Again, this way just right clicking on the image file will allow you to dirrect it to the specific tool you want to use on it.

My version of PhotoShop won't allow you to work on the Alpha Channel mirror image (least not in its .dds form), but it will allow you to see what it covers. Find the "Select" menu heading and click on the "Load Selection" entry. This will overlay the main image with the Alpha Channel as a moving outline. You can draw between the lines with say a medium to dark green color to highlight the specific parts you want to change. Remove the selection; the Alpha Channel outline will disapear leaving you with the lubber line highlighted in green. Always "Flatten" the layers of the image if there are more than one, use the lower right hand box to do this in PhotoShop, then save the .dds image through the nVidia plug-in as described
before.

To directly change the Alpha Channel of any image in PhotoShop you will need to "convert" it to a file PhotoShop can use, like a .bmp. That's where a tool like DXTBmp comes in. As I pointed out before, export the Alpha Channel image to a folder you made for your work, it will create a .bmp for you. Then send the .bmp to PhotoShop. All Alpha Channels are black and white and various shades of grey so there's no color used. Just remember that black masks the image, white allows the image to be seen. The various grey areas give you a degree of light allowed through. If you make a white mark on the Alpha without the "main image" having the same spot covered with some kind of color or element, the image in the game will show the white mark, as a white mark. Just one pixel off will do this, so be carefull where you make Alpha Channel changes.

And, Yes I'll help if I can.