Sky

[alejandro]

hi... i want to create my own sky for my levels, but editart only allows me to import images not bigger than 320x200. is there any way to create a new sky such as bigorbit1, la... without replacing their existing images?

bye

[Bruce Hamilton]

There are plenty of blank spaces where you can import your own sky textures, but you're still limited to 320x200 by editart.

[alejandro]

ok... how can i remove the limit?

[WhyteTyger]

There's no limit to remove. Simply import your image into Editart.

I have textures in my files currently that are 256x256, and I definitely know you can go higher than that. Make sure you're importing non-interlaced GIFs. I've also had some luck with PCX files as well.

Usurper's Editart Guide (http://dukertcm.totalconversions.com/knowledge-base/documents-online/art-editart-guide.html#II.2) would probably help you out as well.

[ 06-08-2001: Message edited by: WhyteTyger ]

[Usurper]

To get around the fact that editart is cutting your skies off at 256 pixels high, you can either take the top and bottom of the image and import them separately into two different tiles, then use 1 and 2 to copy the image (see buildhlp.exe or editart guide under key commands) then resize the top of the image and paste the bottom in; or, more easily, you use Dukeres (available at rtcm) or Wally (www.telefragged.com/wally) to open up an art file and paste the art from the clipboard.

You can duplicate the effect of the multiframe skies without replacing them. But it's tricky, especially making the art.

Each sky has an odd repeat pattern, which makes the final sky image 1024 pixels wide. You'll want to mimic one of the other sky patterns. Here are the patterns. The numbers correspond to their frames in editart, starting with the first frame (1).

The patterns (clockwise):
LA Sky--1, 3, 4, 2, 3, 2, 4, 5.
Moonsky--1, 2, 1, 1, 3, 4, 1, 3.
Bigorbit--1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 1, 5, 1

After you've finished your map, add in one final sector separate from the rest of the map. Place the userart sky in the appropriate places. In the last sector, place the original panoramic sky that corresponds to the dimensions of your sky (parallax it of course). This will force the userart skies to use multiple frames.

[cyborg]

You can make larger tiles than 320x200.
You do not have control over the way skies are drawn - there are several set patterns to how a parallax sky is constructed from a set of adjecent tiles depending on which tile is being used - none of which is linear.