Author Topic: How to package decals  (Read 254971 times)

Introduction

v9 has a new add-ons system, as most of you know. In the new add-ons system, all custom content is treated as an add-on. Maps, decals, and everything else that wasn't treated as an add-on before now is.

Prints


In order to release your print, you will need to make it an add-on. You probably won't want to go through the trouble to do this for each individual print, so you should start releasing your prints in packs.

First, create a new folder. It doesn't matter what you name it.

Inside of this folder, create two files. Name one Description.txt and the other Server.cs.

Leave Server.cs blank. Prints are automatically executed so you do not need to execute anything or add any other code code. Server.cs just tells the game "Hey, this zip is an add-on, so stick it on the add-on list please!"

In description list, type:

Code: [Select]
Title: My Prints
Author: Me
Print textures for (bricktype) bricks.

Now create two more folders inside of the first. Name one icons and one prints.

Your folder should now look like this:


Copy and paste all of your printss into the prints folder. Copy and paste all of your print icons into the icons folder.

Create a new zip file. Put the icons folder, the prints folder, description.txt and server.cs into it. Now you need to name the zip file.

The naming convention is as follows Print_brick_name.zip. You always begin the file with Print_. The brick is whatever brick these prints are supposed to appear on. Here are the possible brick names for standard print bricks:

1x1 - (includes 1x1 and 4x1x4)
1x1f - (includes 1x1 tiles only)
2x2f - (includes 2x2 tiles only)
2x2r - (includes 2x2 sloped prints only)

End the file with whatever the name of your print pack is. This keeps two different print packs from overwriting eachother.

Here are some example files:

Print_2x2f_Default.zip (default 2x2f prints, you shouldn't name a file this)
Print_1x1f_ornamental_tiles.z ip (ornamental tiles for 1x1 tiles)
Print_2x2r_computers.zip (different computer screens for a 2x2 sloped brick)
Print_1x1_doorbells.zip (doorbells for 1x1 print bricks. Note you will be able to place the doorbells on 4x1x4 bricks too.
Print_1x1_posters.zip (posters for a 4x1x4 brick. You will be able to place them on 1x1 bricks too)

Upload them to a site and you are done. All people need to do to install them is drop them in their add-ons folder.

Faces and Body Decals


You probably won't want to go through the trouble to do this for each individual decal, so you should start releasing your decals in packs.

Create your decals. Create thumbnails for every decal, and put them inside of a folder called thumbs.

Select all of your decals/faces and your thumbs folder, then zip them together.

You don't need a server.cs or a desription.txt file for faces and decals. I don't know why.

The naming convention for decals is Decal_name.zip
The naming convention for faces is Face_name.zip

Here are some example files:
Decal_Default.zip (default player decals, you shouldn't name a file this)
Face_Default.zip (default face decals, you shouldn't name a file this)
Decal_Suit.zip (a suit decal)
Face_Pirate.zip (a pirate face)
Decal_Town_And_City.zip (decals from around the town, you can use underscores to seperate words in file names.

Upload them to a site and you are done. All people need to do to install them is drop them in their add-ons folder.

Troubleshooting


Q: Help, my decals/faces don't work!

A: Make sure you toggle them on in the add-ons section on the start server menu. It's easy to forget since you didn't have to do it on previous versions.

Q: They still don't work!

A: Make a folder on your desktop. Put your zipped texture pack inside the folder. Open the folder. Now extract your zipped texture pack. If it creates a new folder inside of your first filled with your textures, you packed them wrong! Blockland treats zips as folders, and if your server.cs (or in the event of face/decal packs, your texture) isn't inside of the first folder, it assumes you are trying to pull some addons/addons/addons/lol.dts crap and ignores your addon. If you extract it and your do see server.cs and your folders or your faces/decals, make sure that:

(a) Your textures are all in .png format.
(b) You didn't export them as progressive pngs.
(c) Your prints or decals are 512x512.
(d) Your icons are 64x64.
(e) Your icons and prints have the same name.

If it still doesn't work your problems are beyond the scope of this tutorial.
« Last Edit: August 09, 2008, 03:36:01 AM by Badspot »

A+ on my Timing, there. Is this a definite rule, or will Default Styled packaging do?

A+ on my Timing, there. Is this a definite rule, or will Default Styled packaging do?

You should follow this format.

In the Future, i'll take that Under Advisement, as I see how it'd be useful.

I am sorry... but i am a nub as far as zipping goes...

The thumbnail is the 64x64?
And can the main one still be 256x256, or does it have to be 512x512?

Do not explain the prints to me, i never make prints. Prints can go die >:O

I have made a few, but i make more decals.

Nice tutorial, this option in v9 rocks.


The thumbnail is the 64x64?
And can the main one still be 256x256, or does it have to be 512x512?

Yes, thumbnails are 64x64. Yes, you can use 256x256.

My faces are always showing up in the edit apperiance menu but half of the time they turn to random default faces in game.

would you put 1x2 for the 1x2 print plates

would you put 1x2 for the 1x2 print plates
I think it was like 1x2f for plates.

Print_1x2f_default.zip Replace default with whatever you want.

All of this stuff is in your addons folder, so look there first.

what program do i use to make decals and faces?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_raster_graphics_editors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_vector_graphics_editors

Take your pick, I recommend something free, open source, and licensed under the GPL or some similar license.

Wedge, MSpaint is listed on there, so I'm using that. I just need to create a face and a body decal. Anyone know how to .zip these things? NvM. Should I use the entire paintable area to create a face?
« Last Edit: August 16, 2008, 07:50:49 PM by Calaad »