How to make your custom unit icons for CIV2

[Martin Gühmann]

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WARNING: backup the units.gif file situated in your CIV2 folder BEFORE changing anything.

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Well, you'll need Windows '95 or NT and the Paint Shop Pro (32-bit version) to work OK.

First of all, you may create:

a) a completely new unit or
b) one based in a former unit.

a) You may create the unit using a shareware icon editor. It is also possible to draw it using a program as Paintbrush, but I find that somehow difficult. Save your work in the *.gif format. If the program doesn't allow that, save under *.bmp or whatever and use Paint Shop Pro to convert to *.gif. Once you have it, go to the General Procedure section.

b) If you want just alter some pixels of a former unit. Open PSP 32 and use the pincel tool to modify the icon you want. Go to the General Procedure.

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General Procedure. Working with PSP 32.

1. You must get a copy of PaintShop Pro 32-bit version. It's shareware, but not freeware.
2. Open PSP 32.
3. Click "OK" to agree.
4. The only tool set you need is "SELECT". Hide the rest.
5. Load the units.gif, currently in your CIV2 directory, and set to 5:1. (Control key and + ---increase---; control key and - ---decrease---).
6. Also load your new_unit.gif (if you have read the a)--upper paragraph) and set its size to fit a blank diamond square in the units.gif.
7. Choose "rectangular" selection from "SELECT" tools.
8. Block the entire new unit gif with the crosshairs.
9. On the bar, select EDIT and then COPY.
10. Close your new unit gif.
11. Go to EDIT and PASTE "as new selection" on the units.gif
12. Move and fit the pasted gif in a blank diamond square (bottom). Overlap neither the margins (green lines) nor the horizontal corners of the diamond.
13. Click twice and the custom unit will be permanently pasted.
14. Again, repeat steps 7, 8 and 9. (NOTE: DON'T block the green lines, they are not part of the gif).
15. Repeat step 11.
16. Move the unit to be fitted in the former unit you want to change
17. Click twice.
18. SAVE the file as units.gif in your CIV2 directory as a GIF format using the "SAVE AS" option and "VERSION 89A NONINTERLACED"
19. Exit PSP 32.
20. Why are you still waiting for to play??

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This mini FAQ file was created by Antonio Leal, email:
aleal at ctv.es.

Hope this works (cross your fingers).

This work is partially based in the file "iconhelp.txt", downloaded from the Junkies' Page, and was originally created by:
tige at tiac.net