People Icons

Adding a persona to your icon graphic to strengthen the identity and setting of your scenario.

by Cam Hills (August 1999)

Creating an Identity

It is possible to add personality to customized icons by merging miscellaneous images easily found on the web. You will need a graphics package with the 'lasso' tool and the ability to sharpen images - these can be found in several graphics packages including Paint Shop Pro developed by Jasc Software. The library and some scenarios that are included with the Fantastic Worlds™ and Multiplayer Gold™ add-on packs had several icons featuring 'personalities' / faces;

Image: Select icons from the 'Master of Orion' scenario

Saving the Civ2 palette in Paint Shop Pro

If you have yet to do so, load one of the default game's image files such as 'icons.gif'. On the menu, select; Colors > Save Palette, and save it as Civ2.pal, and close the file.

Finding a Background

Many 3D image modeling galleries on the web should be fertile ground for 'borrowing' artwork to be later manipulated for the purposes of icons and even title screens for some scenarios, particularly but not exclusively for sci-fi and fantasy scenarios. Many images in these galleries in their own right require just a little manipulation in order to generate a very usable 36 x 20 pixel image for Civ2 purposes.

There are many modeling programs about, but simply using a search engine to locate image galleries that feature work created through programs such as Bryce™ (by MetaCreations) extend to the scenario developer a wide range of striking base material.

Application

In the following example we will use a 3D-modelled scene and a photographic portrait of a businessman, both derived from the web:

Image: 'Atlantis' by Dylan Bernard (left), Portrait from Corbis (right) (both reduced, 'jpg' format)

There are several features in the Atlantis image, although the electric blue fountain will form the 'feature' of the background. In the businessman image, the focus will be on the face more so than the shoulders-chest as our final image size is small.

Steps:

• With the businessman image, magnify it so it almost fills the screen and use the lasso tool to highlight around the image. Using a series of 'point-to-point' selections (rather than 'freehand') on a large screen can achieve a respectable cut-out without a lot of effort.

• Copy the selection and paste it as a new image (which will be part transparent). Note the height of the image (usually expressed in pixels).

• On the Atlantis graphic, section off an area of 1.8:1 dimensions (ultimately to be 36 x 20 pixels) that will have the fountain contained in one half.

Image: 2x1 section featuring fountain (left), selected area with transparent background (right)

• From this point reduce the size of the background so its height is about two-thirds to three-quarters of the height of the businessman image. This will in effect magnify the size of the businessman so the focus on the face can be better achieved.

• Lay the businessman image on top of the background (copy and paste-into-selection). While it is selected, you may wish to mirror the businessman so he is turned toward the fountain.

• Reduce the image down to 36 x 20 pixels.

• Use the 'sharpen' function, or if felt necessary 'sharpen more' (in Paint Shop Pro, Image>Sharpen>Sharpen).

Image: overlay (left), reduced to 36 x 20 (middle), following 'sharpening' (right)

• Load the Civ2 palette - nearest matching color - to ensure the image will operate in the game. Copy your final image into your scenario or modpack's 'icons' file. If some touching up / hand correction or additions are required, ensure that the Civ2 colors are used.

Image: following reduction to the 256 color Civ2 palette

Conclusion

Making modifications to the 'icons' file if done well can pay handsomely. There is plenty of good material on the web, particularly 3D-image galleries, that have a wealth of artwork that can be used to enhance your creative efforts. If your wonders revolve around personalities, be it Merlin, Charlemagne, Patton, or Luke Skywalker, there may be the opportunity to roll in their image to the wonder icon to reinforce your theme.