Creating a GRP tutorial

[raidmax]

(It's about time someone did this:P)
This is Raid's Starcraft graphics tutorial. This tutorial will tell you how to make your custom graphics for your mods. We will be making a modified Nexus (or whatever).

If you have not already, get RetroGRP (http://www.starcraft.org/downloads/CustomsDownloads/Beginners/WinMPQ%201.62), UED77's listfile, Winmpq (http://www.starcraft.org/downloads/CustomsDownloads/Beginners/WinMPQ%201.62), and The Gimp (http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html). (this tutorial is based around the Gimp image program)

Now, to start!

1. Open stardat.mpq in your starcraft root directory with Winmpq.
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4489/screen01ru7.jpg
2. Then scroll down to unit\protoss\nexus.grp , and unit\protoss\forge.grp
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6761/screen02rs8.jpg
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3. Then, extract them each to wherever.
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http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4751/screen03ot2.jpg
4. The folder should be called "unit" and inside will be the protoss folder, and
then the actual GRPs.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1114/screen04er0.jpg
5. Then, open Nexus.grp, and select write out BMP's.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4025/screen05og5.jpg
6. Then, find and open the Nexus.grp in the new window, and select all bitmaps. Repeat this step for forge.grp.
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5403/screen06ez6.jpg
7. Now, you should have this.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5654/screen09ce6.jpg
8. Open up nexus000.bmp , and forge000.bmp with the gimp.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2756/screen10tb9.jpg
9. Now, the fun begins. Change both images to RGB.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/9917/screen11as2.jpg
10. Then, select select hand drawn regions on the main Gimp panel.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/7991/screen12su2.jpg
11. Now that you have that selected, draw around a part of the forge that you want to copy to the nexus.
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3929/screen13oo0.jpg
12. Right click on your selected area, copy, and paste it to the nexus.
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/4701/screen14iz1.jpg
13. Move it around to where you want, then click outside of the layer from the forge, this will anchor the layer to be part of the nexus.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/1681/screen15mi2.jpg
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14. Repeat these steps until you are happy with the way your building looks.
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2983/screen17bh0.jpg
15. Now, save it!
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/9714/screen18ka3.jpg
16. Now, open up nexus.grp again, and click compile to GRP. Then, find nexus.ral, and select that.
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7581/screen19od4.jpg
17. If you did this right, you should have a new grp called X_nexus.grp.
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1726/screen20uk1.jpg
18. Delete the old nexus.grp, and rename your new one from X_nexus.grp to nexus.grp
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5769/screen21vb4.jpg
19. Now open it, and you should see your new nexus.
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7976/screen22sq1.jpg

Your done! Now, just put it in your MPQ\folder under the path of unit\protoss\

Getting you GRP ingame: Two options:
1. Open WinMpq and click add, and find your GRP, then hit ok. When it say what folder, type in unit\protoss\
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/8391/screen01zp4.jpg
2. Put it into your mods folder under unit\protoss\
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8715/screen02ge4.jpg
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I will update this tutorial as questions are asked, so if something doesnt make
sense, tell me.

This process works for all buildings and units, but if your new to this, stick to protoss because most of their buldings only have one frame. Good luck!

Note to Ktan: If this helps enough people, you may want to stickey it, considering how many people want to know how to do this.

[Death505]

Good tutorial!

[U-238]

Nice job for copy paste units. :)

[West]

it's about fucking time, i cant understand most tutorials without pics =)

[rubberd91]

+ Rep.
I think it was very well done. Even the pics too.

I think I may use this... o_O,

[andman3000]

Im just wondering whats wrong form BST's tut? Besides the no pics thing.

Thats how I learned.

[Fundofundo]

Could u tell me where I could dl a precompiled version of the Gimp.

[raidmax]

Im just wondering whats wrong form BST's tut? Besides the no pics thing.

Thats how I learned.
Some people learn visually. I learned by myself.

Could u tell me where I could dl a precompiled version of the Gimp.
Try here (http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html) (assuming you have windows)

[Ktan]

Awesome. Reminds me about that tutorial thread I need to compile :P

[raidmax]

Awesome. Reminds me about that tutorial thread I need to compile :P
Which is why I said you may or may not want to stickey it :P

[U-238]

Im just wondering whats wrong form BST's tut? Besides the no pics thing.

There's nothing wrong with Rhinos tutorial. The difference is that this caters specifically to copy/pasting unit parts to create new units/buildings whereas Rhinos guide just gave advice on compiling/decompiling grps (and some info about palettes)

[West]

ok i found stardat.mpq...

how do i save the graphic changes so that it appears in broodwar, not just reg
starcraft?
because last time i tried grp changes it only showed them in starcraft, not broodwar

[raidmax]

ok i found stardat.mpq...

how do i save the graphic changes so that it appears in broodwar, not just reg
starcraft?
because last time i tried grp changes it only showed them in starcraft, not broodwar
What do you mean? Are you saving it to your mod, or the actual stardat.mpq? If your saving it to stardat.mpq, I hope you have a backup, because you just overwrote the standard GRP. Broodat probably has an extra of that GRP you are editing, so its taking the one from broodat instead of your modded one from stardat.

If you are saving to to your mod, then... im not sure... You have it in the correct folders right? (unit\protoss\)

[West]

lol uhh... yeah this is complicated! last time i tried it was easy.. i guess
im under stress. ok how do i save it to my mod folder so it appears in
starcraft broodwar? i dont no what to save it under and stuff....

[raidmax]

lol uhh... yeah this is complicated! last time i tried it was easy.. i guess
im under stress. ok how do i save it to my mod folder so it appears in
starcraft broodwar? i dont no what to save it under and stuff....
Ah, thats what you mean. You can do one of two things, open your mod in winmpq, click add, find your GRP, then when it asks for the path, type in unit\protoss\. Or, if your mod is in a folder, it would be like this:
Mymod\unit\protoss\ And then your grp in the protoss folder. Understand?

If you are completly new to modding, I do not recomend jumping into this.

I updated the tutorial, check tward the bottom.

[DeathFang]

Very well put tutorial, but I already knew how to edit graphics. =)

[Andvari]

then why did you read it? was not meant specifically for you?


Thanks Raid, Helped alot, i kept usin paint and my grps looked horrible, my other thread has my grp mods thanks to you they r pretty good ( x-cept for the toss)

[raidmax]

No problem ;) Glad to help.

[deadlyfighter10]

Sweet tut,and i never new most toss only had 1 grp!wow,my infested terran takes awhile,and is it really easier to use gimp's Free select than paints?:P

[raidmax]

and is it really easier to use gimp's Free select than paints?:P
Much easier. :)

[deadlyfighter10]

good...good...i am going to try gimp 2.0 and use it,then for the Dark Templar race in my mod it will be easier to make the buildings.:D

[U-238]

get 2.2

[deadlyfighter10]

Oh yea i meant 2.2,sorry i used to have a 2.0 of a different paint thingy.
I tested it with my infested terran race,and it works better than paint so i am going to reinfest all my buildings.:D

[andman3000]

Infested Terran race huh? I have a similier mod but the proto are robots.

I also done all the infested terran building graphics.

[raidmax]

Infested Terran race huh? I have a similier mod but the proto are robots.

I also done all the infested terran building graphics.
Dude, there are liike 10 mods dealing with infested terrans. Dont think that he is stealing your idea.

[Redhead267]

When I open up the stardat.mpq on WinMPQ, I can't find the units/protoss/nexus, most of it unknowns, can somone help?

[Mjolniir]

here's a list file, place it in your WinMPQ folder, open winMPQ, options, list file, load, find directory, load.

happy