Proper Skinning

[Zone 117]

Pro Skinning
Written by Zone 117 of Team Remapped 6/4/07



Stuff Needed:

• Entity 1.3.9
• Multiple Bitmap Internalizer
• Java
• Adobe Photoshop CS2
• NVIDIA DDS Photoshop Plug-in

• • The Maps:
  • Your Multiplayer Map
  • Mainmenu.map
  • Single_player_shared.map
  • Shared.map

Information:

• This is the best, proper, professional way to skin a map.
• Credit to XboxPlayer for asking me to write this and for the files.xboxsoftmods account

Step 1: Getting Ready

• First off, you need to choose the bitmap you want to skin.
• Open your map in Entity.
• Go to the bitm tagclass.
• Scroll through the tags, to the right you will see the selected bitmap.
• Select your bitmap, at the bottom right you will see "Location:"
• If the location is anywhere besides "Internal," you must internalize it.
• If it needs to be internalized continue with step 2. If not, skip step 2.
  

Step 2: Internalizing the Bitmap

• Open Multiple Bitmap Internalizer.
  • The program is a .jar file, Winrar or some other archive program might try to open it when you click it.
  • If so, right click, "Open With," "Choose Program," select "Java Platform."
  • If you can't see "Java Platform," make sure you have it installed, then hit "browse," and find it in your "program files."
• It will ask for your map, mainmenu, shared, and single_player_shared. You need all of them.
• Select the bitmap tag your choose on Entity.
• Click "Add Tag."
• Click "Internalize."
• Ok, all done. Close this program.
  

Step 3: Extracting the Bitmap

• Open Entity.
• Go to your bitmap tag.
• Click the blue plus button at the top right.
• Click "Save Bitmap."
• Remember: At the bottom you will see "Bitmap Format." Whatever format it is, remember it.

Step 4: "Skinning" the Bitmap

• Make sure the NVIDIA DDS Photoshop Plug-in is installed.
• Open Adobe Photoshop CS2.
• Go to "File" then "Open."
• Select the DDS file you saved with Entity.
• Do whatever changes you want to it.
  

Step 5: Saving the Bitmap

• When you are done, make sure you only have 1 layer. If there are more than 1, right click and hit merge all.
• Now go to "File" then "Save."
• Remember the bitmap format in Entity, select it before hitting save. In my case it was in DXT3 format.

Step 6: Injecting the Bitmap

• Open Entity.
• Select the Bitmap you chose.
• Click the blue plus button at the top right.
• Click "Inject."
• Select the bitmap your saved and edited.
• Click "Sign" at the bottom right.
• All done.
  

[Halo4Ever]

No one has thanked you for this? I already knew how to skin but I respect the tutorial 100% man, Very very detailed for those who need to learn, amazing tutorial zone, like all of yours lol.

[wantin2mod]

I was looking for a skinning tutorial. It looks like I found it!!!

Thanks Zone for getting us noobs up to speed! Much thanks!!!



Regards,
wantin2mod

[iBotModz]

Your one of the most respected modders ever. Are you someone in disguise? How come I've never heard of you since 5 months ago.

[OwnZ joO]

I don't think so, he just seems like a pretty quick learner that is good at writing tutorials.

[iBotModz]

Not on that, he makes his tutorials so cool, that green and gray. And thats not only hes written like 3 apps that are pretty uber. My opinion lies with him as the best.

[CptnNsan0]

fantastic tutorial. It was very detailed and instructive. A great tutorial for people who don't know how to skin.

[themodderinthecloset]

like me

great tut

im gunna go do that right now

[Senor_Grunt]

How would i null a bitmap??

[OwnZ joO]

How would i null a bitmap??

Find the shader that it's in, and then null the dependency to it. ADI's reverse dependency mode is a good way to do this.

[Senor_Grunt]

wait...........i have photoshop 7.0
i cant use that?? >_<

[wantin2mod]

Hey,

I'm following your instructions to the "T" but when I try to load up the map in Halo 2, I get "Failed to load map" error.

What am I doing wrong. I am being very deliberate in following your tutorial yet I keep getting this error.

What should I do?


Regards,
wantin2mod

[WaywornMmmmm]

It would seem you forgot to sign the map.

[wantin2mod]

That is what I thought at first. But after 5 simple skinning 'tests', I get the same result each time.

I even used the same example as he did in his tutorial. The map is signed...at least I signed it using entity.

Being new to skinning and modding of maps in general, I've no idea what is wrong. Even after searching many threads.


Stumped,
wantin2mod

[wantin2mod]

Well, trying to access the previously modded maps again using Entity, I get an error that does not allow the map to open...at all. Doesn't even try. Other (clean/non-modded) maps open fine.

I'm following this tutorial exact. It seems as if the maps I'm trying to mod are getting corrupted. Anyone have an idea on why?


Regards,
wantin2mod

[wantin2mod]

Ah ha! Got it! Had to do a little juggling yet got this skinning tutorial to work and to "Load the map".

I switched back to Entity version 1.3.1 from 1.3.9 and used a different resigner to get the map to load.

btw, I was trying to skin the dune map from my tdata folder. I don't know if that caused the "Map failed to load" problems or what but it's working now.

Cool looking skins might I add...

Very Nice.

Regards,
wantin2mod

[ajerk1564]

this is a very good tut but i can't figure out why i can't open the .DDS file in photoshop i have downloaded everything and i am a total noob at this. so if you can help me i will be very happy

nvm i think i found out the problem