remove nebulae

[DORN]

I was reading through the custom kit doc to find a way to remove the nebulae from the star back ground. No luck.

Is there any way to do this?


And, is there any way to do it selectively such that some systems have them and some do not?

[49rTbird]

When you start the game go to OPTIONS and if I remember right there is an option to have nebula on or off.

You can put one of the nebula modes in the folder called environment and then mode the location. I used that option before so only some had nebula an which ones had what.

[Edited on 1-31-2013 by thetiebers]

[DORN]

Yes, it used to be that way, but...


I am not seeing that option in EM 2.0


Any other ideas?

[Capt_Caveman]

you can replace selected nebula textures with blank textures in enviroment folder to remove the nebula from certain systems while leaving them in others.

refer to the customization kit for nebule file names and format.

[DORN]

I must be missing something obvious, but I don't see any mention of nebula textures in the custom kit or the environment folder.

[Marvin]

In the Customizing Kit you should find the "environment" folder. In it is a small program which converts single grapics into six-sided nebula mods. The ReadMe for the Kit explains how to use each mod and how to label each. You can use a blank graphic (black) for those nebulae you want to be empty of anything except background stars.

[Static]

Is there a way to see all of the different environment already in-game by default?

[DORN]

{smile)

Anyone have a blank graphic?

[Marvin]

Use Paint to create a blank ... just make the whole thing black. And it need not be big. As for where each nebula is assigned ... well, it's hard-coded in one of the compiled files. I made a short test awhile back, using blanks with numbers on them and discovered that there is no real order as to where various nebulae are assigned. They are scattered across the Evoverse.

[Capt_Caveman]

the nebule are assigned to different systems by color.
(check the kit readme file)

[Marvin]

the nebule are assigned to different systems by color.
(check the kit readme file)

Those are default.

The game supports a full six sided 'skybox' texturing system for a unique background. You can import completely custom backgrounds this way that provide a unique background for each 90 degree direction. You'll need to import six individual images to use this option, one for each 90 direction. To replace the background textures, use the \\environment folder and the following filenames:

starsX-0.dds or starsX-0.png = background forward direction
starsX-1.dds or starsX-1.png = background right direction
starsX-2.dds or starsX-2.png = background rear direction
starsX-3.dds or starsX-3.png = background left direction
starsX-4.dds or starsX-4.png = background down direction
starsX-5.dds or starsX-5.png = background up direction

The X can be a number from 1 to 4, 1 for the blue color background, 2 for green, 3 for purple, and 4 for brown.

Using the DDS image format will allow you to use texture compression (ie DXT5) for larger images with less memory overhead. You can use this texture option in conjunction with the background starfield option or just use one or the other by including blank textures for the option you want to omit.

Instead of using six individual graphics, you can convert one 360-degree graphic as follows:

This kit includes a cube map generator which will automatically convert a spherical texture into the six cube map images needed for the game. The program is located in the \\environment folder with this kit and is named EvochronCubeMapUtility.exe. To use the program, simply save/copy the spherical texture you want to convert in the same folder as the program using the filename spheremap.png, then launch the program. It will prompt you to select the rendering resolution for each image, then once you select a resolution, the program will automatically export the cube images images. If you find the images are mirrored from the orientation you want once the program renders them, simply flip/rotate them as desired after they are exported. The images will be named starsX-Y.png where Y is the direction number listed above from 0 to 5 and X will need to be changed to the group value you want to use for importing them into the game.

Either way, you need not conform to the colors listed. Experiment with both options to get the best background.

[DORN]

Hi all,


..... now I am just confused. I got the star background like I want. Thanks!


...and I can create a blank graphic, but what are the specific steps after that, for example, to remove all nebulae from Saphire/New Hope?

[Marvin]

...and I can create a blank graphic, but what are the specific steps after that, for example, to remove all nebulae from Saphire/New Hope?

That's where Cronic's post comes in handy. Check the color of the nebula in Sapphire and substitute a blank (black) nebula for that one. Name it accordingly, shove it into a folder, name the folder as directed (environment), and place it in your main game folder.

[DORN]

I am not comprehending a lot of this which I think is obvious to all of you. For starters...


1. Does the word back ground actually mean Nebula?


2. No where in the custom kit or the environment folder do I see any reference to the word nebula.


3. And where does one check the color of the nebula in Saphire?


Thanks

[Frost N7]

1-usually that's what we mean (as some mods are not nebulae )
2- its named the same as the others EX. 3-4 (not really) will have the nebula but not be named nebula among others 3-1, 3-2 etc.
3-i want to say purple (unconfirmed) others will know

[Marvin]

For any star system or sector, you can load the game and look at the color of the nebula. The "blue" nebula really is blue.

starsX-0.dds or starsX-0.png = background forward direction
starsX-1.dds or starsX-1.png = background right direction
starsX-2.dds or starsX-2.png = background rear direction
starsX-3.dds or starsX-3.png = background left direction
starsX-4.dds or starsX-4.png = background down direction
starsX-5.dds or starsX-5.png = background up direction

The X can be a number from 1 to 4, 1 for the blue color background, 2 for green, 3 for purple, and 4 for brown.

So, for example, you go into Emerald and notice that the nebula is green. According to the ReadMe (quoted here), green is nebula number two. Knowing this, you create your own nebula mod using either six individual graphic images or using the program included in the Kit ... and then label them thus:

stars2-0.dds or starsX-0.png
stars2-1.dds or starsX-1.png
stars2-2.dds or starsX-2.png
stars2-3.dds or starsX-3.png
stars2-4.dds or starsX-4.png
stars2-5.dds or starsX-5.png

Stick all six in the environment folder and place the folder in the main game folder.

[DORN]

So... you are saying that if I create a black background for the green nebula, all of the green nebula in all of EM will no longer exist?

[Marvin]

That is correct. The other three colors will still exist and show up where they otherwise would show up. But the green one would be gone.

[DORN]

Is there any way to just remove one nebula from one system?

[Marvin]

Not that I know of. The background nebulae are hard-coded in a compiled universe file. The distribution of each type of nebula being, for all practical purposes, random.

[DORN]

Hi Marvin,


The change with the stars2-x 6 black .png worked perfectly. No more annoying green nebula in Saphire to obscure the race course and uglify things!


Thank you all for patiently explaining everything.


PS: now the race course is facing directly into the sun. Is it possible to move the sun? Suns are moved in The House of Suns!

[49rTbird]

You can also change the number to put a different nebula in that system but the sun won't (lol) move.

[Marvin]

IIRC, the location of the race course can be altered. Try heading in a different direction when you dock. Sounds crazy but it might work.