User talk:CLA

links to tileset/graphic set repos

Although commonly referred to as text or "ASCII"-graphics, DF uses a bitmap tileset with charactes from CP437, displayed in 16 colors. (exception ->Linux terminal text modelink to init file setting ). Both, colors and tileset can be changed (see below). In addition, interface text can be displayed with a TrueType font (bug link) and creatures (which normally are displayed as letters) can be assigned to separate sprite sheets (tilesets?)

[image of default tileset]

Installation

Tileset

add to data/art, change lines in init files

Creature Graphics

Set GRAPHICS to YES drop in raw/graphics and/or data/save/<your region>/raw/graphics

Color Scheme

replaces colors.txt

True Type Font

replace font.txt

Repositories

• TODO: add links to repos, dffd, forum threads

Creating your own

Creating your own Tileset

• add some info from tileset page
• dimension stuff
• bmp or png, magenta/alpha transparency
• how df blends colors/background/foreground
• easier to start with editing existing tileset
• basic editing tutorial
  • basic photoshop stuff: masks, layers, alpha channel transparency, some tools (pen, eraser, selection tool) (get someone to add GIMP equivalents)
  • good practices: non-destructive editing, using separate layers, organizing in groups, grid, debug layers

advanced stuff/raw changes

• init & raw changes, link to tileset lists
• most commonly used tiles with multiple meanings: u-d-stairs/bins/cursor/archery, male/female
• note on unused tiles
• compatibility, dependency, conflicts, maintainance across versions (file changes.txt, etc)

tricks and magic

• transparency, partial transparency (including opaque background tiles), engraving, INVERTED, animated tiles

Creature Graphics

this page

• conflicts, reminder to delete example files or better, overwrite with empty file
• link to list of creatures by tile, add names grabbed from raws with wiki template;
• testing (link to utilities#raw explorer)
• suggestions about grouping

new page 'graphic set' (listed here for drafting)

• different tiles for kids and adults, different tiles for jobs (civ/military), but not for gender (unless you do some caste modding ^[Verify]). no VERMIN either.
• add explanation of syntax, must be same size as tileset (http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/40d_Talk:Graphics_set_repository#Questions:_making_your_own_set)
• table automatically grabbing creature names, [CREATURE NAME], default letter, (what else is useful?) from raws. TODO: ->ask lethosor for bot/template?
• template in text form you can copy into text editor and only need to insert bitmap name, coordinates (assign coordinates automatically instead?). should be read from raws, too. TODO: how to group? By biome? phylogenetic? ha! I wish; include vermin? useless, but who doesn't love to draw bugs
• list of inconsistently named creatures to beware TODO: necessary considering grabbing names from raws?

TrueType Font

• bug, commonly missing symbols in existing TTF, fontforge

Colors

• add short intro
• be aware of contrasting colors, best to test how every color looks withe every other color

add it all together

• releasing your own stuff
• dffd, other file hosts
• updating to a new version, resolving conflicts: change log, file changes.txt, diff