Guide for editing Army Banners
Hi,
This guide will involve, primarily, army banners editing for a completely new faction, but it can also be used for editing symbols for existing factions.
WARNING!!! Backup your files before modding!
Note: Most of the info is scavenged data, which I collected, and assembled in this guide. Credits go to a lot of different people, and my effort for writing.
Another Note: You can click on any picture to see a larger example!!!
Requirements:
Files edited:
- Basic knowledge of PhotoShop or Gimp
- PhotoShop or Gimp
- Nvidia Plugin for PhotShop or Gimp
- Text editor, notepad will do
and one of these:
- descr_sm_factions.txt
I should explain how "symbolsx.tga.dds" files work.
- symbols1.tga.dds, symbols2.tga.dds, symbols3.tga.dds, symbols4.tga.dds, symbols5.tga.dds, symbols6.tga.dds, symbols7.tga.dds, symbols8.tga.dds.
Each of sybmolsx.tga.dds files constitutes of 4 factions symbols, and is referenced through descr_sm_factions.txt via number starting with 0.
Reference:
There are 8 of these files each "carrying" 4 symbols, that is 32 symbols total.
First five .tga.dds files are using vanilla symbols, including symbols6.tga.dds' top two.
So I am making an example for a new faction symbol with the symbols6.tga
From theory to practice:
Step 1
If you don't have descr_sm_factions.txt in your mymod/data folder copy it from the vanilla folder (if you unpacked your game, offcourse)
Open m2tw/mymod/data/descr_sm_factions.txt with notepad and in "standard_index" line, instead of original number type "22", like shown with the line in red bellow. Or the number corresponding to file that carries the symbol you are editing. See the reference picture above!
Save your changes and close.
This is all we need to change in this file.
Example of the code for symbol6.tga in descr_sm_factions.txt:
Why number 22, you would ask?Code:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; faction england culture northern_european religion catholic symbol models_strat/symbol_england.CAS rebel_symbol models_strat/symbol_rebels.CAS primary_colour red 215, green 0, blue 0 secondary_colour red 255, green 210, blue 0 loading_logo loading_screen/symbols/symbol128_england.tga standard_index 22 logo_index FACTION_LOGO_ENGLAND small_logo_index SMALL_FACTION_LOGO_ENGLAND triumph_value 5 intro_movie faction/major_intro.bik victory_movie faction/england_win.bik defeat_movie faction/england_lose.bik death_movie faction/england_lose.bik custom_battle_availability yes can_sap no prefers_naval_invasions yes can_have_princess yes has_family_tree yes ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Number 22 in descr_sm_factions.txt refers to bottom left symbol in the symbols6.tga file. See the reference pic
That symbol is unusued, so we will work with him.
Step 2
Open m2tw/data/banners/symbols6.tga.dds with PhotoShop.
Edit to your preference until You are satisfied.
I will create a blue circle just for example:
You have to edit image's alpha channel, which controls tranparency.
Just click on the channel tab in your PS and control transparency via shades of grey.
White means no transparency, while black represents full transparency.
Note: If channel tab is not on your screen, go to dropdown menu, select "Window" and check "channels".
Alpha channel for my blue circle should look like this:
Now save your file with the following options:
Your symbols6.tga.dds file MUST be in m2tw/data/banners folder. Your changes will NOT appear if you save it in mymod folder.
So, backup your files!
Cheers, Tsar Stefan Dusan IV
Reply With Quote
So we can yell a bit 
or maybe not...
really helpfull.
Originally Posted by liper
