We're talking the most basic of basic here. I have DLTCEP. I have tutorials on using that beast, which, by the way, I think I will love once I learn it somewhat. I have Photoshop and more than a little experience playing with it. Heck, I even have 3DS Max and have played with that a little. However, I'd like to be able to extract areas from within the IE games and use those bitmaps as a basis for my modifications. I know darn well it's possible, but I'm not quite sure how to go about it. Any tips for a raw beginner on simply extracting the bitmaps from the ARE files?
Thanks!
Area Basics for Dummies
Started by Forgotten Angel, Aug 31 2005 10:16 AM
4 replies to this topic
#2
Nastian
-
- Member
- 280 posts
Posted 31 August 2005 - 11:09 AM
Well, you can use IE Tileset Map Editor to do it. It's easier to use.
Link: http://crpg.dmkhost......or v2.2.2.exe
First you have to choose your game path:
Edit => Preferences => Game Path
When you choose it:
File => Create new/Switch to Area Editing
File => Open Original Area From the Game
After the choice click on "Open".
Click on "OK" about two times.
File => Switch to Map Editor
File => Save
Link: http://crpg.dmkhost......or v2.2.2.exe
First you have to choose your game path:
Edit => Preferences => Game Path
When you choose it:
File => Create new/Switch to Area Editing
File => Open Original Area From the Game
After the choice click on "Open".
Click on "OK" about two times.
File => Switch to Map Editor
File => Save
#4
Yovaneth
-
- Modder
-
- 3058 posts
The newly-appointed Master Builder of Baldur's Gate
Posted 31 August 2005 - 11:38 AM
Infinity Explorer is far better for simply exporting original area bitmaps from the games - it's also very fast. I cannot recommend the use of IETME because it's buggy (Theo ceased work on it some years ago); it doesn't assemble the completed area in the recognised i.e. Bioware order, thus making it impossible to use Weidu to add stuff into the area; it almost always fails to add overlays correctly and it cannot cut holes in overlays; and finally, it quite simply is not as flexible as DLTCEP, particularly when it comes to adding in proximity triggers and travel regions where it is very inflexible indeed. If Theo had had the time to knock the bugs out of it, it would have been a wicked tool for basic area editing but as it is - and as is usual in all fields - the later tools have learnt from its mistakes and far surpass it in flexibility and usability.
-Y-
-Y-
'Go for the optics, Chiktikka. GO FOR THE OPTICS!!' - Tali vas Neema
DLTCEP Tutorials Update Page
DLTCEP Tutorials Main Page
Yovaneth's AI Scripts for BG1, BG2-SoA and IWD1
Fishing for Trouble - a quest mod for Shadows of Amn
#5
Forgotten Angel
-
- Member
- 7 posts
Posted 31 August 2005 - 12:14 PM
Never even thought about using Infinity Explorer for extracting area bitmaps. I've only ever used it for reading through dialogue chains in a little more complete structure than that which Near Infinity gives.
My thanks again to the both of you.
My thanks again to the both of you.
Edited by Forgotten Angel, 31 August 2005 - 12:15 PM.
