From Reborn

For those of you interested in making skins for CNC: Reborn, this tutorial may help you accomplish just that. We give you all the links and downloads for the programs to get you on your way, and provide complete instruction on how to get the .DDS skin files you'll need so you can make your skins.

Contents 1 Method 1 1.1 Programs and Tools needed 1.2 Picking A File 1.2.1 Step 1 1.2.2 Step 2 1.3 Skinning the File 1.3.1 Step 1 1.3.2 Step 2 1.4 Applying/Testing the Skin 1.4.1 Step 1 1.4.2 Step 2 1.5 Troubleshooting 1.5.1 Black looking Skin 1.5.2 Other Problems 2 Method 2 2.1 Programs and Tools needed 2.2 Picking A File/ Preparations 2.2.1 Step 1 2.2.2 Step 2 2.3 Skinning the File 2.3.1 Step 1 2.3.2 Step 2 2.4 Applying/Testing the Skin 2.4.1 Step 1 2.4.2 Step 2

[edit] Method 1

[edit] Programs and Tools needed

• Adobe Photoshop or Jasc Paint Shop Pro
• Pluggin to edit .DDS files: Get the DXT_TOOLS.ZIP here.
• Program to extract mix files. Download XCC mixer here.

[edit] Picking A File

[edit] Step 1

Assuming you have Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, you will need to unzip the DXT_TOOLS.ZIP. Look for the pluggin called "DDS.8BI". You need to place that pluggin in your Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro pluggins folder. This will allow you to edit .DDS files with the program. Those of you using Photoshop, the pluggin goes in your "Formats" folder located inside your Pluggins folder.

[edit] Step 2

Unzip the XCC Mixer zip you downloaded. Run the.EXE program and it will automatically search and open all the mix files available for all your compatible games you have loaded. Give this program time to find and extract everything. It may take a while. Once the program has extracted all the files, in your XCC window click on file in the upper left corner, scroll down to "Found", and then to Reborn or you can click file-->open (ctrl+o) and navigate to the your Reborn data folder. You'll see all the mix files. You'll find the vehicle and unit .dds files in those mix folders. Most of what you are looking for is in the Always.dat folder. Open that one up. Below is an example of what the .DDS skin file looks like. This one is Ghoststalker. The name of the file is C_gdi_stalker.dds

While your in the Always.dat folder, you can extract any file you want by right clicking on the file name, choose extract, and then send it to your desktop or create a folder on your desktop and place it in there so you can find it easily.

[edit] Skinning the File

[edit] Step 1

Now we're ready to edit the .dds file. I use Photoshop, so I'll use that program as an example. Fire up Photoshop. Click on file, and then open and go to where you placed your .DDS file. If you placed the pluggin in the correct folder, Photoshop will be able to work with .DDS files. You'll get a small window prompt asking the following: Image has Mip Maps. Display them with the image? Select NO. Ok...once your .dds file is loaded on Photoshop, the rest is up to you to edit it as you want. You can place layers over the skin background, or just edit the skin background itself. Your only limited by your skills and imagination.

[edit] Step 2

Once you've finished your work, it's time to save it. Go to file, and then "Save As". Your going to save this as a .DDS file. You'll be getting a save options window display giving you a lot of choices. Basically not much has to be changed, but on the 'Save Format' section, which is the very first one, choose No Alpha [DXT1].

[edit] Applying/Testing the Skin

[edit] Step 1

Place your finished skin on your RenEvo/Reborn/data folder. Fire up your Reborn game. You can use the Skirmish mode to see what your new skin looks like. If you've modified one of the vehicle skins, just purchase the one you modified and check it out.

[edit] Step 2

If you like your new skin submit it for others to see! [Http://game-maps.net Game-Maps.net] host a large amount of files for Reborn and its partner site [Http://mp-gaming.com MP-Gaming] allows submission of files to the Game-Maps Site.

[edit] Troubleshooting

[edit] Black looking Skin

Those of you who get a black looking skin in the game, it is most likely you didn't save the .dds file correctly. Make sure the other options below are selected. This example is for those of you using Photoshop.

MIP maps

-select Generate MIPS

MIP map generation

-select box filter

Options

-none selected (do not select any options)

Fade mip maps

-none selected (do not select any options)

Select formats to preview

-all should be selected

Overide

-click on emulate xbox DXT1

Preview Options

-leave them as they are

Now select "2D Texture" and your all done!

[edit] Other Problems

As solutions to other problems are determined they will be posted here. If you encounter any other problems post on the talk page.

[edit] Method 2

[edit] Programs and Tools needed

• To edit the skin you need Paint.NET. Its a free easy to use and reliable program. You can find it here

• You also need a skin extractor called XCC Mixer. You can find it here

[edit] Picking A File/ Preparations

[edit] Step 1

After You have installed Paint.NET you need to extract the files from the archive XCC_Mixer.zip. [NOTE] By using Paint.NET you DO NOT need any additional plug-ins to be able to open or modify a skin.

[edit] Step 2

Extract the XCC Mixer you downloaded. Run the .exe program (Default XCC Mixer.exe) and it will automatically search and open all .mix files for all the Westwood games you have loaded. Give the program some time to find and extract all files. Once the program has extracted all the files, in your XCC window, click on file in the upper left corner, scroll down to "Open", and browse until you reach your reborn mod data folder (Default:"C:\Program Files\RenEvo\Reborn\Data"). You'll see all the mix files. You'll find the vehicle and unit .dds files in those mix files. Most of what you are looking for is in the Always.dat file. Open that one up. While you're in the Always.dat file, you can extract any file you want by right clicking on the file name, choose extract, and then send it to your desktop or create a folder on your desktop, place it in there so you can find it easily.

[edit] Skinning the File

[edit] Step 1

Now we are ready to edit a skin. Since i use Paint.NET i will use this program as an example. Start the program and press CTRL + O (fastest way) and go where you have saved your extracted skin and open it. Now its up to you to use your imagination and edit the skin the way u want.

[edit] Step 2

Once you have finished editing your skin press CTRL + SHIFT + S to save the skin. From the window that pops up you must first select the location to save your skin and then click on "Save as Type" and select DirectDraw Surface (DDS)(*.dds) example . Now click "Save". Another window will pop-up with the required settings. For most skins you must select at the Settings section :DTX1 example (if some skins will give you a black character or u have the right settings but the skin didn't work select DTX5). Make sure you have selected the other settings as they are in the next example

[edit] Applying/Testing the Skin

[edit] Step 1

Place your finished skin in your Reborn mod Data folder (Default C:\Program Files\RenEvo\Reborn\Data). Start the game and start a skirmish game to test the skin.

[edit] Step 2

If you would like your own new skin hosted on the Game-Maps.net website then please go here and attach them to your post. Game-Maps Staff will review it and place it on the downloadsite a.s.a.p.

Game-Maps.net is a MP-Gaming.com supported website.