[GRAPHISM] Bams re-colorization CHAPTER 3, GRAPHISM, WORK OF YOUR BMP IMAGES UNDER GIMP 2 Options

[Rigel]

BAM TUTORIAL 1.0

Légendes Studios for The Black Wyrm's Lair

By Rigel

http://forums.blackwyrmlair.net/
http://weiducommando.forumsactifs.com/


BAMS RE - COLORIZATION

From ICHAN11.BAM to IVHAN11.BAM

CHAPTER 3 : GRAPHISM, WORK OF YOUR BMP IMAGES UNDER GIMP 2



We enter in the most creative part of the tutorial, the graphical work. GIMP offers loads of menus and tools at your disposal to realize the colorization of your dreams. During my researches i discovered several technics and mainly two methods to colorize a bam file, a method by "filling zones" and a more technical method by using the colors palette. I am going to expose both methods even if the method of the colors palette is the most powerfull, the first method can be usefull for you also and it is always an alternative in case of problems.
The images that you obtained are bmp indexed colors images which have a palette of 256 colors and are constituted by a single copy (a single layer). By opening your image under GIMP 2 you have probably been called out to the fluorescent green bottom : this color is parametrized to be transparent in game (parametrized by the indexation of colors). It is impossible to use the tools of the Colors Menu of GIMP 2 on a bmp image in indexed colors Mode, but surely it exists another mode where its possible : the RGB Mode (Red Blue Green).
I suggest you to begin always to work on the most "large image" of both bmp files, the one whose name ends by 001 (it is richer, contains more colors, its color palette will thus be the basic palette for both bmp files, so that the harmony of colors will be respect for the bam). So you must before anythings put your bmp image in RGB mode.


1/ PUT YOUR BMP IMAGE INTO RGB MODE

Open the bmp file IWHAN1001 under GIMP and let's put the BMP image in RGB mode.

Put your bmp image into RGB Mode

>>> Image >>> Mode >>> RGB

/!\ WARNING /!\ Putting your bmp image in RGB Mode deletes the indexation of colors !!! Indeed there is no Colors Palette under this mode and thus no indexation. By rehearsing, later, the image in Indexed Color Mode a new palette will be generated with a "standard" (different) indexation.


2/ COLORIZATION

The colorization is not evident thing at first sight, but by following well the thread of the tutorial you fast go to understand ! There is two methods but if you want go fast go directly to the colors palette method.

2.1 Method by «filling zones»

Method which consists roughly in filling with black 0 0 0 green 0 255 0 bottom and black 0 0 0 of green 0 255 0. Then under BamWorkshop fill the green by the shadow color (the second color of the BamWorkshop palette). I not advice this method, especially if you want to make black or white items... cause you will change Saturation. Indeed the filling of zones does not affect the Colors Palette and you can have no particular transparency problems in game with regard to what you see under GIMP 2.

2.2 Method using Colors Palette

2.2.1 Modify colors
Enlarge your bmp image at 800 % at least (to see well different pixels). Then select the tool "Selection by Colors", we are going to select a zone according to its colors. It is these selected colors whom we are then going to modify thanks to the options of the Colors Menu.

Adjust the Threshold to 70 to have a homogeneous selection which contains the less possible dark pixels but the most possible of colors of the same tint. Following on which pixel you click on to select a zone, you will not obtain even same selections, do not thus hesitate to select several types of pixels and to see what it gives as selections until obtain one it homogeneous and which respects the colorimetric architecture of your item. The important is to select zones of homogeneous colors, similar tints, refined at most.

Threshold : 70
Select by : Composite

Select by color

>>> Select central belt, with the same parameters you should get the same selection.

On that selected zone let's modify color with the option of the Colors Menu Hue-Saturation.

>>> Hue-Saturation: Adjust Hue to 85 to obtain the same green as in the example, obviously you can try other Tints. This example remains a simple modification of colors because we affect a single zone which contains the belt and the chains of the chanmail and we do not touch either the Luminosity or the Saturation. You can repeat the method and change the color of the metallic parts if you want, and to tempt more complex things : the basic method will remain the same, only the purely graphic part of the work will be more complex and will have to be more precise.

Train and try to realize things look liking this tutorial by using Selection by Tint, Selection by Saturation (especially advise to darken pixels) or with other thresholds, nothing prevents you from colouring a bam with the brush in RGB Mode, "to stack" or to fill a zone under same mode etc... GIMP offers multiple possibilities to you, you just got to make your experiences with the different tools and see what are the best ones for you !

Modify the color of the selected zone

>>> You gonna obtain a wonderfull green !!!

So you realized the largest part of the graphical work. In this Tutorial the example remains relatively simple but gives a completely decisive result. As a general rule more you will apply complex changes of colors with fine selections more you risk to obtain bmp images like porridges of pixels during their conversion in Indexed Color images or under BamWorkshop: if its the case do not discourage you from refining your selections change thresholds, type of selections, or selected Zones. You'll have to realize several colorizations and you will understand better the upholders and the outcomes.

Secondary Advices : it is necessary to try if possible not to touch the brightness/Luminosity which is going to change the Value of pixels and the Saturation which is going to change the density in color of pixels. Try to make simple things in a first time. Then you can tempt the most crazy experiments and make your experience growing !

The work under the RGB Mode ends now, it is necessary to rehearse the image in Indexed Color.

2.2.2 Indexed Color Conversion

We put back the RGB image in Indexed Color.

Put the bmp image in RGB Mode to Indexed Color Mode

>>> Image >>> Mode >>> Indexed >>> Generate optimum palette >>> Convert

2.2.3 Rearrange Colormap
The bmp Indexed Color image which you just obtain has a new "standard" palette but the Colormap of this new "standard" palette does not respect the same type of indexation as the bmp Indexed Color images which you obtained from bams of the game. It is thus necessary to rearrange the Colormap. If you observe the palettes of the not modified bmp Indexed Color images (those whom you obtained from the original bams) you will notice that the fluorescent green 255 is always indexed in position 0. Notice, please, that during the generation of a palette, during a conversion in Indexed Color image, that colors are indexed in a different way (the fluo green is not in first position). That is why we have to rearrange Colormap, after that the colors of your new Palette will now respect the same type of indexation, and will be same type as the bmp Indexed Color images you obtained from the bams of the game. To rearrange the Colormap simply place the fluorescent green color R:0 G:255 B:0 in first position of the Colormap and click on the "OK" button. You have now a new Palette with a new Colormap with fluo green in first position !

Rearrange Colormap

>>> Colormap >>> Colormap Menu >>> Rearrange Colormap

Place fluo green color R:0 G:255 B:0 in first position of Colormap

>>> Click on fluo green color, hold the left mouse button, and place it in first position >>> OK

New Colormap of the palette of your bmp Indexed Color image

>>> Colormap of your Palette have been rearranged : now fluo green is indexed in first position:0


3/ COMPLETE YOUR COLORIZATION WORK

When you're satisfied with your grahical involvements save your new bmp file under a new name, in my exemple i simply rename my file in IWHAN11002.

Save your new bmp

>>>Rename the file and Save

/!\ WARNING /!\ Don't close your file just after save it : we need it open for the next step.


4/ IMPORT COLORS PALETTE

We now Import the Colors Palette of your new bmp image you just saved : select the tab Palettes in the Toolbox.

Import a Palette

>>> Palettes >>> Palettes Menu >>> Import Palette…

Select source image and Import Palette

>>> Select Image as Source and choose a name for your Palette >>> Import

In my exemple i chose image IWHAN11002 as Source, the one you just created. You got now a new Colors Palette registered that you can see on the Tab Palettes.


5/ COLORISE SECOND BMP IMAGE

5.1 Differences with the colorization of the first bmp image
Apply the same method on the small bmp image, the only difference is that you got to adapt your selections to this different image : make a selection who look likes the selection you did for your large bmp image, try get the same type of selection with same the same threshold (belt and chains) and if you can't with tool "Select by Color" try it with tool "Freehand Selection", after you get a nice selection apply same changes of Hue with the option of the Colors Menu Hue-Saturation. If your bam pixelise refine again your selections by avoiding pixels too clearly or too dark the most saturated pixels and the more brilliant pixels.

5.2 Indexed Color Conversion for second bmp image
Modify colors for the second bmp image but during it conversion in Indexed Color image instead of tick "Generate optimum palette" as for the first one, tick the option "Use custom palette" and select Palette you have just imported. Colors are going to straighten and to put themselves in accordance with the colors of the first bmp image : now your small bmp image got same Colors Palette (same Colormap too indeed) as your large bmp image !

Save your bmp image in Indexed Color by using a Colors Palette

>>> Image >>> Mode >>> Indexed Color >>> Use custom palette >>> Convert

Both bmp are now constituted for your intended bam cause at the end of this chapter you normally got two bmp Indexed Color images (a large one and a small one), with same Colors Palette wich mean too same Colormap.


>>> You finished the graphical work under GIMP 2, now go towards the Chapter 4 !

This post has been edited by Rigel: Dec 17 2009, 01:08 PM