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[Simmura McCrea]

What program would I need to make a graphics set? Is Photoshop overkill? And what sort of size is available for use?

[Tenebrais]

Anything from MS Paint upwards. As long as you can edit pixels in white and magenta, and save it as a bitmap, you can make a graphics set. Although a better program would be more convenient, especially for more detailed graphics.

By size, do you mean file size? Image dimensions? Tile dimensions?

[Simmura McCrea]

Image and tile dimensions.

[Rochndil]

Good morning!

Photoshop may be overkill, but if you have it and know how to use it, go for it!

MOST (but not all) graphic sets are 16x16 pixels per character. You can either copy an existing layout (making the accompanying text file work as is) or create your own.

I'd start by opening up someone's completed set and looking at what they include and how it's laid out/formatted. That'll give you a starting point.

Rochndil, who uses Paint Shop Pro because it's cheaper and he don' know crap about PS...

[Tenebrais]

Well, 16x16 is standard for tile dimensions, but I think you can use any dimensions you like if you adjust the init settings when you implement it.
As for image dimensions, if you're changing the tileset you'll need to keep the tiles in the same layout, but if you're adding graphics for creatures and such there's no limit that I know of.

[Simmura McCrea]

Ok, I'll use Photoshop since it's available. How would I actually tell the game to use the slected tileset for that creature?

[Rochndil]

If you look in /raw/graphics, you'll see one or more TXT files that refer to the graphics files. Scan that file a couple of times and you'll see how things are referenced.

Rochndil, who figured it out about the third time through...

[Simmura McCrea]

Ah, yes. I see the pattern. Right. Thanks for the help. Now I need to spontanously develop artistic skills.

EDIT: Here's a first attempt base character. Any good, or should I redo?

[jaked122]

photoshop uses more resources than a 50+ dwarven fort. and if I<D 'I' being image editor and 'D' being Dwarf fortress, it's definitely overkill

[Simmura McCrea]

Photoshop's always run fine for me.

Anywho, pictures. Now at double size so you can see them! Okay, picture.



EDIT: Feel free to be harsh, I know I can't draw.

[Beefmo]

I just use paint for doing mine... I find photoshop has way to much clutter in terms of what I actually need it to do. However I do use it to pick my colours for my palette so it does have some uses!

And theres just one thing I can see wrong with your little sprite. Without an outline of some sort the black tail and ears will just dissapear into the DF background. So you may want to add an outline of some sort. Aint doin sprites fun!

[Simmura McCrea]

I originally had an outline but it just made the ears and tail spread out. Does it have to be black?

[Beefmo]

Black outline doesnt really do anything since again its going over a black background. So the best option is a dark shade of grey. It should make it so your tail and ears dont spread out and actually look like a border when its in game over the black background of DF.

[Simmura McCrea]

I eventually found a grey which worked. I also changed the eyes to yellow, but Photobucket is somehow managing to upload the previous file, despite it no longer existing. I'll post it when Photobucket starts cooperating.

[Beefmo]

Photobucket has given me that trouble to

If you just rename it slightly and re-upload it should work fine.