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Effect Graphics editing tutorial

Started by Xifanie, July 19, 2010, 05:47:25 pm

Xifanie

July 19, 2010, 05:47:25 pm Last Edit: February 26, 2012, 07:19:21 am by Celdia
Things you will need:
- Hex editor
- TIM Utility  Updated link. - Celdia
- A BMP editor
- 128x128 TIM template
- 128x256 TIM template
- 256x256 TIM template


How to extract the effect graphics:
Open the file in your hex editor.
Now you need to determine the graphics image size. This can be pretty much only done by observation as I don't know where that parameter is stored.
In any case, larger effects tend to be 256x256 (0x10000 bytes) and smaller effects 128x256 (0x8000 bytes) and finally the smallest being 128x128 (0x4000 bytes). Else just observing the data pattern should be enough.
The graphics data is stored at the end of the file.
The palette data is stored 0x0404 bytes before the graphics.
For instance if your file is 0x20000 (131072) bytes long, it will likely be a 256x256 image, meaning:
0x10000 to 0x1FFFF is the graphics data
The palette is 0x0404 bytes before that, so it starts at:
0x10000 - 0x0404 = 0xFBFC
And since the palette data is 0x0200 bytes long...
Palette Data: 0xFBFC-0xFDFB

If you prefer there is a 0x204 bytes gap between the palette and graphics.

Now let us go with the appropriate TIM template file, the 256x256 one.
Copy/Paste the palette (0xFBFC-0xFDFB) at 0x0014-0x0213
Copy/Paste the graphics (0x10000-0x1FFFF) at 0x0220-0x101FF

Save, and now load this file in TIM Utility:


Convert to BMP and now edit the Effect image as you wish.


How to import the effect graphics:


Convert back your 8bit BMP to TIM and make sure you check the transparency if you want your effect to look like something.

Now you need to reverse to procedure...
Copy/Paste the palette (0x0014-0x0213) at 0xFBFC-0xFDFB
Copy/Paste the graphics (0x0220-0x101FF) at 0x10000-0x1FFFF

Save your Effect file and now import using CDMage/cdprog.

Don't forget all my Effect file offsets were only examples, the offsets you really need to remember are the ones in the TIM files:
0x0014 = palette
0x0220 = graphics

Random edit:
[attachment=0:3pfhs8mx]Red Stasis SWORDS.png[/attachment:3pfhs8mx]
  • Modding version: PSX
Love what you're seeing? https://supportus.ffhacktics.com/ 💜 it's really appreciated

Anything is possible as long as it is within the hardware's limits. (ie. disc space, RAM, Video RAM, processor, etc.)
<R999> My target market is not FFT mod players
<Raijinili> remember that? it was awful

R999

July 19, 2010, 06:12:29 pm #1 Last Edit: July 19, 2010, 09:53:00 pm by R999
THANK YOU SO MUCH !

This is going to change everything... :)





This is a Game Changer, no less.

jimmyjw88

Kindly upload the images to other image hosting sites. I can't view imageshack. Thanks.


Lijj

July 21, 2010, 05:40:10 am #4 Last Edit: July 22, 2010, 04:01:28 am by Lijj
Oh so fun to finally be able to manipulate Effects.. Magic!
I don't know what anyone could do with this out of place hoplite impaler. But it actually looks smooth in-game. I couldn't capture the way it comes out of the ground very well; it's fast. It's a replacement of Icewolf Bite.
[attachment=2:f6xbrnd2]Sprtnfrms.png[/attachment:f6xbrnd2]


Here is the Bin file as well
UpdateE170 doesn't look nearly as nice in-game but it's something:
E171:E170:
  • Modding version: PSX

Vicent


Lijj

Hmm.. I'm not sure Vicent. i'm using Win XP. It should
  • Modding version: PSX

GeneralStrife

I decided to bump this cause I was looking for it for myself and it shouldn't be on page 6. Far too useful to be graveyarded. Someone should add it to tut section

Lijj

If anyone knows a way to get Timutil to work on windows 7 that would be helpful.
  • Modding version: PSX

Eternal

  • Modding version: PSX & WotL
"You, no less human than we? Ha! Now there's a beastly thought. You've been less than we from the moment your baseborn father fell upon your mother in whatever gutter saw you sired! You've been chattel since you came into the world drenched in common blood!"
  • Discord username: eternal248#1817

Durbs

July 18, 2011, 07:09:32 pm #10 Last Edit: July 18, 2011, 07:11:58 pm by Durbs
Quote from: GeneralStrife on July 18, 2011, 06:41:01 pm
I decided to bump this cause I was looking for it for myself and it shouldn't be on page 6. Far too useful to be graveyarded. Someone should add it to tut section


Agreed. Btw, very epic Lijj.
  • Modding version: PSX

Mando

I think I know how to get it to work. You can do 1 of 4 thing things.
The issue is people are trying to run a 16 bit application on 64bit OS which doesn't support 16 bit applications.

1) Have Windows 7 32bit installed. (It allows 16 bit applications to be run.)
2) Run "XP Mode" (this is not compatibility mode) like: http://lifehacker.com/5245396/set-up-and-use-xp-mode-in-windows-7

3)Run a virtual machine with windows xp or a 32 bit windows OS
4) Recompile the TimUtil application to a 32bit application, in which case may as well make it 64bit lol.

^ New FFAT website made by St4r!

Choto

Necrobump just for Lijjer:

I found an alternate to Timutil, i'll attach it to the post.

you can convert from .bmp to .tim or .tim to .bmp. It also shows you the CLUT so you can see what the palette looks like. May be a little simpler than Timutil actually.