Why Won't My Icons Work

[Allan Wotherspoon]

Having been encouraged by the excellent work done by Angryson, I was trying to modify some of the floating icons. My first attempt was to create a floating icon for the ZSU-23 using APP-6a symbology.

I took the stock icon and modified the art in the red diamond. I did not touch anything outside of the diamond. However, when I put the icon in my Z folder, it shows up in the game as a red diamond in a black square.

What am I doing wrong here? I have tried using both paint and paint.net for the modifications. The icon I created is attached.

icon syr red spaa 1.bmp

[Sergei]

You will need to use a program that supports Alpha layers and then save it as a 32-bit BMP. Alpha layer handles transparency. Eg. Gimp can do that and is free.

[Allan Wotherspoon]

I figured it was something like that, now if I can only figure out the whole layer thing...

[MikeyD]

Sergei's 99% correct the but knockouts are done using alpha channels, a fourth 'color' in addition to Red/Green/Blue channels. Yeh, its even more obscure than layers!

[Allan Wotherspoon]

Anybody feel like a short tutorial for those of us brimming with enthusiasm but short on knowledge?

[Apocalypse 31]

bump this thread.

I'm in the same pool. I'm good with photoshop, but not really sure how to get my own icons in game.

[Pinetree]

Since you're using Paint.net, i'll show you how using that and a little program called AlphaConv.

Using the magic wand tool select the area you want to make transparent:

Then delete the selected area:

Then save as a 32-bit png:

Now open up AlphaConv and drag the png file onto the AlphaConv window. note the settings for AlphaConv:

Now your icon should have a transparent background:

(The edges are still a bit rough, you might have to use some anti-aliasing there and I had to assign the icon to the infantry as I don't have the shilka)

And that's one way you can do it. (smiley deleted as it exceeds image limits,lol)

[Apocalypse 31]

aHHHHH

Thank you.