Photoshop for backgrounds

[Babar]

I am not sure if this is the right place for my problem but... I use photoshop for making backgrounds and when I save them as BMPs I get the option to save them as 16b 24b ir 32b. I usually just leave it at 24b but if I have some stuff like gradients then they appear really badly when I import the graphic to AGS. If I save it as 16b or 32b, then when I import it to AGS a blank green screen appears ! Can anyone tell me how to get around this problem?

[Scummbuddy]

AGS will import all bmps at 24 bit graphics, I do believe.

Meaing, it will look at all bitmaps as if they were 24bit.  So saving one in 32 would not do anything extra.

[Elrich2k3]

Save them as .pcx
I had the big blank screen problem too until I tried that. See what they look like as .pcx

[Babar]

I tried converting it to PCX, but when I imported the PCX file to AGS as a background, it became REALLY UGLY. The parts where I had used gradients to move smoothly from one colour to another, the colours were all splotchy, direct from one colour to another. I opened the PCX outside AGS, but it did not seem to have this problem

[dtm1980]

Sounds funny... check your settings in AGS. Could be you have set it to 256-color or something. set it 24-bits if this is the case.

[SSH]

That's because AGS displayes them as 16-bit, so gradients always look rubbish. Gradients are usually best avoided. Try using the smudge or smoothing tools over the gradient to dither it a bit?

[Scorpiorus]

If I save it as 16b or 32b, then when I import it to AGS a blank green screen appears ! Can anyone tell me how to get around this problem?

Yes, that's known issue. For hicolor backgoruns you have to import standart 24bit bitmaps.

~Cheers

[LOGAN]

If I save it as 16b or 32b, then when I import it to AGS a blank green screen appears ! Can anyone tell me how to get around this problem?

Yes, that's known issue. For hicolor backgoruns you have to import standart 24bit bitmaps.

~Cheers

[LOGAN]

AAARG, my image editor does not support 24 bit either. WOOT WOOT????

OMG, it only supports 1, 4, 8 and 48bit.

(Very large shout come out of my mouth)

OMG why not a standard format like JPG :((((((((((((((((((((((((

[Hobbes]

Photoshop supports all that.

Convert your PCX file to 256 colours... Photoshop can do that in a breeze.

And why no JPG? Try making a JPG in 320x200... looks like rubbish.

In fact, JPG is only properly suited (and developed) for photographs. So, get used to the PCX format. It's a good format, once you get used to it.

[LOGAN]

OK 24 bit import just sucks sucks.... bah, its NOT 24 bit display.

Looks like a 256 color bitmap.

Why anyone states it supports 24-bit, as it looks UGLY!!!!

[LOGAN]

Photoshop supports all that.

Convert your PCX file to 256 colours... Photoshop can do that in a breeze.

And why no JPG? Try making a JPG in 320x200... looks like rubbish.

In fact, JPG is only properly suited (and developed) for photographs. So, get used to the PCX format. It's a good format, once you get used to it.

NO, I need photo realistic backgrounds in more than 256 colours, simple as that. I can make images look GREAT.
"Try making a JPG in 320x200... looks like rubbish" is totally whong unless you only use cartoon backgrounds.

I want to use 3D renders to make a proffessional game, so that it...

Why is it you dont want people to use photo's anyway. For cartoon look I use 256 colours, but I need the freedom to use real graphics. What's wrong with that??

[Hobbes]

So?

Create a PCX file in 16-bit colours... 24-bit or 16-bit doesn't differ that much, as the remaining 8-bit are usually used for transparacy, which Windows doesn't properly support anyway.

[LOGAN]

Thanks, I whish that my image editor supported 16-bit colour (not only-16 bit grayscale)

That seems to be the scource of my problem I guess.

[Hobbes]

Which image editor do you use?

You can download trial versions of Adobe Photoshop and JASC Paint Shop Pro through www.download.com, so maybe you'll have more luck with those programs?

[Ben]

And Jpegs only support 16-bit color anyway, so you wouldn't get better quality. just more artifacts from compression.

[LOGAN]

I agree. I don't need better quality than 16 bit.

I just need to find a program that actually saves my bitmaps in 16 bit instead of the standard 24.

I use Ulead PhotoImpact btw.