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GalCiv Graphic Editing Suite ( release )

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GalCiv Graphic Editing Suite ( release )

from Stardock Forums
First, I know this should be in the mods forum but I'm posting this here for pretty much the same reasons as the Star Wars mod is posted here : The forum's pretty dead (mods forum that is).

So, what is it? A lot of galciv files are in a special format specific to galciv and were impossible to edit except with Mutil, which is very hard to use and prone to random crashes. There's three tools in the suite that will allow you to faily easily modify all those graphic files you couldn't change before.

If you want to see an example of a modification along with screenshots of the tools, you can visit my website : http://www.freewebs.com/galcivedit/

Of course, there's a link to download it too.

I'm hoping we'll see a lot of new original mods created with this tool. I imagine I'm not the only one who's tired of "new" anomaly that use the same graphics as before and random events being the bulk of the mods created for galciv.

Ships will be much easier to create now, heck ships with idle animations will be easy too. Not only that, suns, interfaces, planets etc are all easy to modifiy now.
[Message Edited]
21,308 views 64 replies
Reply #51 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok thanks, I think I get it. But I think I have tried putting my own created model in the galciv writer, using the method you jus told me. But I could be mistaken, I just don't know exactly. But its ok if I can't get it fixed because I'd rather spend my very little galciv time on trying to submit games! ;) LOL
Reply #52 from Stardock Forums Top
But I think I have tried putting my own created model in the galciv writer, using the method you jus told me
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Hmmm...my method doesn't use GCW to add model, so I think you might not quite understand. You use GCW to create .ship file than use NotePad to edit this .ship file to add your custom model. At this point the ship should use your model in game. I used this method to add a custom anomaly graphic I made. It worked in game but unfortunately it looked really bad because I'm a "bad" artist. (:(
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #53 from Stardock Forums Top
OHHHHH I think I get what you mean now Moser! Do you mean the .ship file that the galciv writer puts into the data folder in mycomputer/galciv/data? Because if thats what you mean then I think I understand enough to try it sometime. Thanks alot Moser, I might mess around with it.-------P.S. Sorry Moser for my stupidity, I just couldn't understand what you were saying and I've already spent enough time trying to get it to work on my own with no sucessful result. So anyway thanks alot! ;)
Reply #54 from Stardock Forums Top
Sorry Moser for my stupidity,
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It wasn't your stupidity as much as me not being clear. ;) Sorry 'bout that!

As long as we finally communicated, all is well! :)

Let me know how it turns out. I'm always on the look out for new mods/graphics.
Reply #55 from Stardock Forums Top
It wasn't your stupidity as much as me not being clear. Sorry 'bout that!
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It's ok thanks for helping me at all.
As long as we finally communicated, all is well!
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That's right! ;)
Let me know how it turns out.
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If I ever get around to working with it I'll do that! I'm signing out for the night, so goodnight Moser and thanks again for your time and insight on my question! :)
Reply #57 from Stardock Forums Top
Do you know if this work also for the Babylon 5 shipgraphics
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Yes with some additional work.

I'll use the WhiteStarRangerMod as an example.

1)After extracting the files from downloaded .zip file, find the 0Ship13Pal.Pal_ file. Open this file with Dark Rain's palette editor. "Save As" "0WhiteStarPal.Pal_, exit.
2) Open 0Ship13.SPR1 with sprite editor. Highlight first sequence, click on "rename sequence", change "0Ship13_Default_A32C1" to "0WhiteStar_Default_A32C1".
3) Repeat renaming for the other two sequences.

4)"Set palette" to "0WhiteStarPal.Pal_".

5) "save as" "OWhiteStar.SPR1. We've now created a unique sprite for a Terran ship.

6)In order to use this same model for all races, you need to repeat the process for races 1-7 and 35. Once you've created OWhiteStar.SPR1,1WhiteStar.SPR1,etc, you use WinPack to add the sprites and their palettes to a new .mdl file named WhiteStar.mdl.

7) At this point, you can use the model for any .ship file that you want by manually adding "WhiteStar" after model in the .ship file. Save as .ship file. Your done.
Reply #58 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh... I havn't thougth there would be so much work left, since I wanted only some of the ship mods fitup with nice graphics... ;) , but if I find the time, I will give it a try.

Thanks!
Reply #59 from Stardock Forums Top
Heh... I tried the Mutil.exe which I got as a download from another post.... I'm trying to make a simple Borg ship.... seems I don't have a way to convert to tga file format (I wish developers would stick to jpg, bmp, etc, assuming such is possible). So now I'm looking around and found this thread... I've just download the tools... hopefully I'll be able to create a ship soon...

BTW.... where are folks sharing thier various ship creations at (if they are willing)? I haven't noticed a place here at this site (yet) for obtaining new ship models to try.

Reply #60 from Stardock Forums Top
OK, I was able to import a single bit map of my borg cube that looks good into the Sprite Editor. Heh! I need 31 more? Arg! I used the Stellar Frontier Ship Rotator to make 32 images, however... arg, they are all stored as a single strip, as a single file, which the Sprite Editor won't seperate into 32 seperate images as it imports from the single bit map file and converts to png. I have to figure there is an easier way (no, I don't have and special graphic programs except what I've down-loaded per this site and which came with Windows). Trying to cut out each bit map image and paste into a new seperate file into a same spot of each frame is going to be a pain (if I explained that right). Any suggestions or links to some public domain graphic programs or shareware (if such are needed)?

Reply #62 from Stardock Forums Top
I believe that you can download it here:

http://www.neotechgaming.com/forums/index.php?automodule=downloads&showcat=77
Reply #63 from Stardock Forums Top
The last link given has morphed into http://www.gamingvault.net but I can't find the files.

Anyone?
Reply #64 from Stardock Forums Top
Is there anyway or anyone who has a copy of this program anymore? If so is it still possible to get one?