Sprite Extractor

Here is the template of the sprite extractor!

What the sprite extractor does: It allows you to browse through three different files, which contain all the " sprites/images " for the game.

Files: ( these files are in C:\program files\ bullfrog\populous\data ) hfx0-0.dat - Mostly panel sprites and misc. hspr0-0.dat - All the followers in all their different positions. edit0-0.dat - Not used in the game. May have been used in the official editor.

Ok. So open one of these files.. next you have to browse through them entirely using the " next,last,previous,first " buttons, on the bottom of the sprite extractor. Easiest way is to click " next " & hold enter, otherwise it's just a pain.. The sprites will load a preview on the left hand side under " Sprite Preview ".

Ok, so once you found the sprite you want to edit, You have to right click in the " sprite preview " section and choose " export sprite " .. now what this does is it saves your sprite on your computer in a 256 color bmp image.

ACTUALLY EDITING: This is where the pain kicked in, because I'm not one to use paint.. Ok so sprites are made by using pixels to put the image together. I tested a couple different programs, but the bmp's didn't match up and all this other stuff.. so anyways here are the best programs I found for actually Editing the sprites.

GIMP: http://www.gimp.org/downloads/ ( which is basically photoshop not a pixel editor per say, so you have to zoom in over 100x to actually get it to be a pixel editor & remember to Export as .bmp file )

GraphicsGale Free Edition: http://www.humanbalance.net/gale/us/download.html An actual pixel editor, free.

To get the correct sizes for each sprite you have to extract the sprite and balance the heighth & width to match exactly / has to be .bmp or when you try to swap sprites it will give you a " palette not the same error ".

Ok, once you made your sprite you have to " export as .bmp file " usually in Save>Export.

REPLACING SPRITE: Ok, remember when we were talking about the " sprite preview " on one side ( left side ) of the sprite editor. Ok, on the right side it has " replace sprite ". This is where you right click on this side and choose " Import Sprite. " Once you see it there just click " Replace Sprite ".. Once it's replaced you should see what you made with a transparent background. If the background is not transparent it will show up in the game as that color. Shaman with green block around her, etc.

To PREVIEW your sprite in game:IN the Sprite Editor you have to click FILE>SAVE SPRITES AS>

Save these sprites as the SAME file you EDITED. SAME NAME & EVERYTHING, so that is replaces the file you were working on earlier. EXAMPLE: Earlier I edited hspr0-0.dat, so to save my file I goto C:\Program files\Bullfrog\Populous\Data\ and click back on hspr0-0.dat. & REPLACE it.

Then you'll be able to see it in game.

I will be uploading tutorial videos soon!

If you guys have any questions dont be scared to ask me in Matchmaker Client, I am Vegeta oe E-mail me nolipstoday@hotmail.com