How-To Edit unit textures.

[Methoz]

any resources for skinning?

[Stoferr]

Im having a small problem. I have just used the unpacker batch. In my "Medieval II Total War\data" a lot of new folders appears but not the unit folder :S Im using version 1.3 of the game (i dont have kingdoms) but yet i cant see why that should be a problem. Does anyone know what i have done wrong?

[The Count(er)]

it doesn't finish unpacking if you run out of harddrive space that could be the problem

[Stoferr]

I should have plenty of harddrive space. I have more than 200GB free.

[Mr. Scott]

For some odd reason I can't seem to find the "unit_models" file. I have vista and I have looked under compatibility files and any place it could possibly be. I just can't seem to find it.
It is also the gold version for medieval 2.

Could someone please help?

[Moon]

Below is how to find those files:
You will need to go to your control panel.
Switch it to "classic view".
Select "folder options".
Part of the way down on the "view" tab is an option to "show hidden files & folders".
This will allow you to view the files.
Now to find where Vista hid them (applies for all patches & unpacks).
mycomputer/users/(your account name)/appdata/local/virtualstore/Sega.
find the two geography files after unpacking and delete or rename descr_geography_new.db and descr_geography_new.txt (this is important - if you don't do it, your game won't run)
The unpacker, Using Vista
Iñnsomñni

http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=101602

[killerrabbit]

I can't save it when I generate maps, can anyone help?

ERROR is: image width and heigth must be multiple of four

[SSJPabs]

Having a specific problem here. Trying to add in the Burgher Pikes to the Byzantine Faction in the Retrofit mod but for some reason it won't skin properly. That is, even if I DIRECTLY copy the entries (battle models, textures, models, attachmentets) from the Teutonic campaign into the corresponding folders in the Retrofit the skins are messed up. The models work all right but the skins are trashed. Does this have something to do with the Kingdoms meshes being unreadable in the grumpyoldman's convertor?
Entries:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

15 burgher_pikemen
1 4
55 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/burgher_pikemen_lod0.mesh 121
55 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/burgher_pikemen_lod1.mesh 900
55 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/burgher_pikemen_lod2.mesh 2500
55 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/burgher_pikemen_lod3.mesh 6400
3
5 slave
64 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/textures/EN_Burgher_rebels.texture
64 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/textures/EN_Burgher_normal.texture
45 unit_sprites/slave_Burgher_Pikemen_sprite.spr
4 merc
63 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/textures/EN_Burgher_mercs.texture
64 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/textures/EN_Burgher_normal.texture
44 unit_sprites/merc_Burgher_Pikemen_sprite.spr
9 byzantium
72 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/textures/EN_Burgher_teutonic_order.texture
64 unit_models/_Units/EN_Burgher/textures/EN_Burgher_normal.texture
44 unit_sprites/merc_Burgher_Pikemen_sprite.spr
3
5 slave
66 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_slave_diff.texture
66 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_slave_norm.texture 0
9 byzanitum
75 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_teutonic_order_diff.texture
75 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_teutonic_order_norm.texture 0
4 merc
65 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_merc_diff.texture
65 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_merc_norm.texture 0
1
4 None
9 MTW2_Pike 14 MTW2_Swordsman 1 17 MTW2_Pike_primary 1 18 MTW2_Sword_Primary
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

+

=

???????

[Raidon_the_Hun]

Here’s a “How to edit unit textures and shields using Photoshop” tutorial.

- First you must have these:

1 .texture to .dds converter (to export .texture files to .dds files)
2 Adobe Photoshop
3 The .dds Plugin to be able to open .dds files.
4 .dds to texture converter (to get .dds files back in .texture files)



Sir Lancelot.

How do I get a texture to .dds converter? How much does Adobe Photoshop cost? What are .dds files? sorry i really don't know anything about modding but would like to learn.

[Gigantus]

1. + 4.texture/dds converter
2. Use the GIMP (free)
3. with this DDS Plug In

[Justplayon]

Hi im having some problems with the textures. Im a bit of a Noob on this.

Ive converted them to DDS format & installed the plugin for photoshop
When i open it up it asks

Load using default sizes
Convert images to 8bit
convert images to 16bit

Load MIP Maps

I select 8bit & don't select Load MIP Maps
& i get an image of the texture but its im a dark Purple colour, tht i can just make out the images. Also i get the same problem if i choose 16bit
Can someone help me??

[Gigantus]

Don't choose, simply click "OK".

[Godless Pickle]

Wow.....skinning in MED2 is so much easier than Rome TW and Empire TW.....thank goodness....and great job on the tutorial! +rep for you good sir!

[Revan Shan]

I reskinned the textures of various units and I succeded, they look excellent and there is no ptroblem there.

But when it comes to shields it doesn't work. I follow the same process and end up with the .texture file. Then I replace it, but it doesn't work. Dunno why the unit has the same shields it previously had, which is strange, as the texture I gfave them is suposed to be the only one they are liked to.

Notes:
- I have Vista.
- I'm using KGCM to test the files, as I cannot find them in the medieval folder. I have it umpacked and it shows everything except the unit_models folder. Anyway, KGCM doesn't show the m2tw units either (and it's suposed to have all the m2tw units in its mod folder), just only the ones from the Kingdoms Expansion. And reskins of the Kingdoms Expansion units also don't work.
-I followed this too (except for the classic view that I don't know what it is) and it doesn't show:

Below is how to find those files:
You will need to go to your control panel.
Switch it to "classic view".
Select "folder options".
Part of the way down on the "view" tab is an option to "show hidden files & folders".
This will allow you to view the files.
Now to find where Vista hid them (applies for all patches & unpacks).
mycomputer/users/(your account name)/appdata/local/virtualstore/Sega.
find the two geography files after unpacking and delete or rename descr_geography_new.db and descr_geography_new.txt (this is important - if you don't do it, your game won't run)
The unpacker, Using Vista
Iñnsomñni

http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=101602

[Gigantus]

That bad, bad virtual store.
Head over to the technical forum, they have a long thread about that stuff.

[Revan Shan]

I made it work. It was some strange shield files naming of the base mod I'm using. now I can creat the shield and let me tel you, they look awesome!

Now I just have to find out how to find the m2tw units, cause I can only mod the kingdom's expansion ones!

[Gigantus]

It is a bit of a detour:

First find your model in the EDU, note down the full name (the one that uses underscores)
Open the modelDB (you can find formatted versions here) and search for your unit.
Below the MESH section are the paths to your skins.

And why can't you mod the vanilla ones?

[Revan Shan]

A basic mod folder didn't work cause I couldn't see the unit_models folder. It didn't appear and that way I could create no reskins. Then Hereje told me that the KGCM (kingdoms grand campaign mod) had all the units in it's mod folder, so I downloaded and took a look.

It had it's own unit folder, yes, but it only showed Kingdoms Expansion units + M2TW and Kingdoms attachments. So, basicly, now I'm able to skin everything except M2TW main game unit bodies.

[Gigantus]

A basic mod folder didn't work cause I couldn't see the unit_models folder.

This sentence doesn't make sense at all.

1. Your basic game will have only a few files that you can access directly
2. To access the remainder you will have to unpack the game
3. If you have problems finding the unpacked files, head back to that link I gave you.

[Revan Shan]

This sentence doesn't make sense at all.

1. Your basic game will have only a few files that you can access directly
2. To access the remainder you will have to unpack the game
3. If you have problems finding the unpacked files, head back to that link I gave you.

I had it unpacked already. Disabling the UAC was of no use and nothing appeared after deleting the AppData thing.