Mipmaker file

MipMaker ver 1.01
Created by ViTalSoftware, 1999
May 9, 1999


==============================
LEGAL MUMBO JUMBO
==============================
"Quake", "Quake2" and "id Software" are registered trade marks of id Software, Inc.

"Heretic2" and "Raven Software" are registered trade marks of Raven Software, Inc.



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DISCLAIMER
==============================
I'm not responsible if this program should happen to harm your computer in
any way. The source code that comes with this zip file is as is. Any
modification done to the source code hereafter is your responsibility.



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NEW IN VER 1.01
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1) made project input / output directory browser bigger
2) removed "Number of mips" drop list
3) removed "Conversion Type" drop list
4) added "Convert from" drop list
5) added "Convert to" drop list
6) can now process wal(QuakeX) skins
7) added multi select for add image menu
8) changed the MB_ICONEXCLAMATION to MB_ICONINFORMATION
9) if there's an error while processing, you can abort now
10) comes with source code. MipMaker was programmed in Borland C++ Builder



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KNOWN BUGS
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1) can't cancel from process dialog while processing(i don't know why)
2) after starting a new project the image stays in the "Image preview" window
3) "Image preview" doesn't display m8 or wal images(i don't know how to)



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MIPMAKER SKIN GENERATOR - ABOUT
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MipMaker was created for the following reasons:

1) wanted to make skin creating easy
2) convert wal(QuakeX) skins to m8(Heretic2) skins and vise versa
3) make custom bmp images and convert them to wal or m8 files
4) needed practice opening and changing images
5) needed something to do

This program is totally free. You can give it to anybody
you like. I made this program so game fans could create
there own custom skins.



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HERETIC 2 M8 IMAGE GUIDELINES
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To create a skin for Heretic2 from bmp files you have to follow
a few guidelines. There has to be at least three bmp files with
the same prefix. For example... say you want to create a skin
called "Skins", you need to name your bmp files like this:
Skins.bmp, Skins_i.bmp and SkinsDmg.bmp.

The "Skins.bmp" will contain the silver armor, storm arrow,
hellstaff, and Corvus(un-damaged).

The "SkinsDmg.bmp" will contain the gold armor, phoenix arrow,
hellstaff, and Corvus(damaged).

The "Skins_i.bmp" will contain the image you see of your character
when you select him/her in Player Setup.

I've included the following skin files for you to copy then edit.

WARNING: Never change the original bmp files that come with MipMaker
because you need them to use as templates.

Corvus.bmp
Corvus_i.bmp
CorvusDmg.bmp
CorvusP1.bmp
CorvusP1Dmg.bmp
CorvusP2.bmp
CorvusP2Dmg.bmp

Kiera.bmp
Kiera_i.bmp
KieraDmg.bmp
KieraP1.bmp
KieraP1Dmg.bmp
KieraP2.bmp
KieraP2Dmg.bmp

When you copy these files you can change the name "Corvus" and "Kiera"
to anything you like, but only change the name "Corvus" and "Kiera"
nothing else.

On more guidelines for skins goto www.hereticii.com



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HERETIC2 SKIN INSTRUCTIONS / WALKTHRU
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Find the Corvus sample bmp's that came with MipMaker. Copy them and
rename the prefix "Corvus" to "Sample". Make sure the new Sample bmps
are in the "MipMaker\Skins\" directory. Files should now look like this:
Sample.bmp
Sample_i.bmp
SampleDmg.bmp

Run MipMaker. Select "View->Project Information" and change the following:
1) Set the "File input path" where the new sample files are.
2) Set the "File output path" to "\base\players\male\" in the
Heretic2 directory. Remember male skins go into the male
directory and female skins go into the female directory.
3) Set "Convert from" to (*.bmp) and "Convert to" to (*.m8)
4) Press OK.

Press the "Add" button. A menu should pop up that displays your Sample bmp
files. Select all the "Sample" bmps that you created and press OK.

You'll probably want to save your project at this time. Select "File->Save As"
and save your project as "SampleSkin.mm".

Press the "Create" button. You just created the m8 files in the
"base\players\male\" directory called: "Sample.m8", "Sample_i.m8" and "SampleDmg.m8".

Run Heretic2 and start a multi player game. Change your player in the
"Multi player->Player Config" menu to "Sample". You're now using the skin you
created in MipMaker.

Because this was a walk through to show you how to use MipMaker, the skin
you just created is the same skin as the original Corvus. This time use a
paint program to change the look of the Sample bmp images. Follow the same
steps as above and now you have your brand new custom skin.

NOTE: When making male skins make sure to create the male skins in the
"\base\players\male\" directory and females into the "\base\players\female\" directory.



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OTHER IMAGE CONVERSIONS
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This program also supports "bmp to wal", "m8 to wal" and "wal to m8. Just
set up your input / output directories and select the appropriate
"Convert from" and "Convert to" drop lists in the project setup menu.



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FILE FORMATS
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Even though the source code included shows the wal and m8 file formats I thought
it would be nice to show the specs here in writing.


<.WAL file format>


BYTES NAME DESCRIPTION
==============================================
32 File Name byte string of directory and file name
4 Width width of image
4 Height height of image
4[4] Offset file image offsets for image data
32 Animation Name name of next frame in animation chain
4 Flags texture flags
4 Contents I don't know :[
4 Value I don't know :-{

Image data starts at offset 100



<.M8 file format>


BYTES NAME DESCRIPTION
==============================================
4 Version version 2
32 File Name byte string of directory and file name
4[16] Width width of images
4[16] Height height of images
4[16] Offset file image offsets for image data
32 Animation Name name of next frame in animation chain
768 Palette bpp RGB (palette format is the same as pcx ver 5)
4 Flags texture flags
4 Contents I don't know :O
4 Value I don't know :P

Image data starts at offset 1040

I'm not sure but I think it may be possible to create animated skins for
Heretic2 models. Just make the "Animation Name" equal the next skins name.
At the end of the animation just make the "Animation Name" equal the
first skin name of the animation. Then again maybe not. I know that
Quake textures are treated like that. Just a thought. :)



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SPECIAL THANKS
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God for making it possible for me to make this program

My parents and friends for listening to my constant blabbing about
this program.

Hellweek}HeLL{ and his staff for image and source code ideas

And of course to the people who use this program.



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CONTACT
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If you have any questions on using MipMaker e-mail me at arntaylor@email.msn.com.

Please send me e-mail. I need to know what you think of MipMaker. I don't care if you
love it or hate it. If I don't get feedback, I can't make MipMaker a better program.

If you have any questions on Heretic2 skins goto www.hereticii.com